Good morning Wilmington!

Break out the beads—it’s Fat Tuesday! Whether you’re celebrating with a festive cocktail, a plate of jambalaya, or just an extra slice of King Cakee, today is all about enjoying life’s little pleasures.

While strong winds put a damper on Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, we’ve got beautiful weather here in Wilmington—perfect for a little local revelry. So, raise a glass, grab a bite of something delicious, and let the good times roll right where you are!

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• New Bill Funds Homes for Hurricane Recovery

• Wilmington PD and Heidi’s Hope Unveil New Microchip Scanning Station

New HB 222 Allocates $217M for NC Homeowner Recovery Projects from Hurricanes Florence and Matthew

[Carolina Journal] A new bill, the C.O.O.P.E.R. Accountability Act, filed by Rep. Brenden Jones, aims to aid over 1,000 North Carolina homeowners still displaced nearly a decade after Hurricanes Florence and Matthew. It allocates $217 million from the State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund to the Office of Recovery and Resiliency to finish recovery projects, plus $1.5 million for emergency operation supplies. The legislation demands transparency with mandatory reporting and audits, addressing years of mismanagement under Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration. Jones emphasizes accountability to ensure funds reach victims, ending delays that have left families in limbo since the storms hit in 2016 and 2018.

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Wilmington PD and Heidi’s Hope Unveil New Microchip Scanning Station to Reunite Lost Pets and Reduce Shelter Overcrowding

[WECT] The Wilmington Police Department has teamed up with Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals to install a microchip scanning station at its headquarters’ visitor parking lot on Bess Street. The station allows anyone who finds a lost pet to scan it for a microchip, reuniting animals with their owners and reducing shelter overcrowding. In addition, WPD has aided the nonprofit’s Pet Food Bank, delivering over 40,000 pounds of pet food and supplies since Hurricane Helene struck.

Read More »

News Roundup

Local

• Topsail Beach mourns the loss of Mayor Morton Blanchard, with residents remembering him as someone who deeply loved the island, following his passing. (source: WECT).

• The town of Leland has announced a $53 million budget for the upcoming year, detailing its financial plans. (source: WECT).

• Drive-Through Ashes in Leland: St. James the Fisherman Episcopal Church in Leland offered a unique drive-through Ash Wednesday service last week, blending convenience with tradition (WWAYTV3).

• The NC Forest Service is urging people not to burn after two large fires in Brunswick County, highlighting safety concerns. (source: WECT).

What you need to know

• President Trump has proposed new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, aiming to address trade imbalances. Associated Press

• Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, has passed away, marking a significant loss for the country music icon. TMZ

• George @BehizyTweets  on X announced that the CEO of Taiwan Semiconductors revealed a $100 billion investment into the U.S., planning three new manufacturing plants in Arizona to create thousands of jobs. X

World

• Calls are growing in Germany to bring back military service, with political and military figures suggesting a return to conscription to address staffing shortages in the Bundeswehr. Barron's

To-Do!

✅ 8:00 PM: President Trump to address Congress. Watch on C-Span

Weather

The next three days in Wilmington, NC, will bring a mix of weather conditions, with mild temperatures and varying chances of precipitation. Tides will follow a typical pattern with two high and two low tides daily, influenced by lunar cycles. Surf conditions will fluctuate, offering decent opportunities for wave enthusiasts, though wind and swell directions will shift, impacting wave quality. Expect a pleasant start, transitioning to slightly cooler and breezier conditions by Thursday, with calmer seas returning by Friday.

Weather Forecast

• Tue Mar 04: Partly Cloudy | 64° / 50° | 20% | S 10-15 mph

• Wed Mar 05: Mostly Cloudy | 62° / 47° | 30% | SW 10-20 mph

• Thu Mar 06: Partly Sunny | 58° / 42° | 10% | NW 10-15 mph

Tide Forecast

Tue Mar 04

• 6:15 AM: 4.3 ft (High Tide)

• 12:30 PM: -0.3 ft (Low Tide)

• 6:35 PM: 3.8 ft (High Tide)

• 12:45 AM: -0.5 ft (Low Tide)

Wed Mar 05

• 7:00 AM: 4.4 ft (High Tide)

• 1:15 PM: -0.4 ft (Low Tide)

• 7:20 PM: 3.9 ft (High Tide)

• 1:30 AM: -0.6 ft (Low Tide)

Thu Mar 06

• 7:45 AM: 4.5 ft (High Tide)

• 2:00 PM: -0.5 ft (Low Tide)

• 8:05 PM: 4.0 ft (High Tide)

Surf Forecast

• Tue Mar 04: 2-3 ft waves, SE swell, S wind 10-15 mph, fair, slightly choppy

• Wed Mar 05: 2-4 ft waves, S swell, SW wind 15-20 mph, good, choppy later

• Thu Mar 06: 1-3 ft waves, NE swell, NW wind 10-15 mph, fair-good, clean conditions

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday