Good morning Wilmington!

Wilmington, you’re looking good. Southern Living just named us one of the “dreamiest places to live in the coastal South,” and Amazon just dropped a $10 billion bet on North Carolina’s tech future. Add fireworks and live music at the beach tonight, and it’s a pretty stellar Thursday.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Amazon Unveils $10 Billion AI Infrastructure Expansion in NC

• Southern Living Shines a Spotlight on Wilmington

Amazon Unveils $10 Billion AI Infrastructure Expansion in North Carolina

[About Amazon] Amazon has announced a $10 billion investment to expand its data center infrastructure in North Carolina, a move expected to create at least 500 high-skilled jobs and support thousands more in related sectors. The initiative will power Amazon Web Services' (AWS) growing AI and cloud computing needs. Amazon is also investing in the community with education and job training programs, including a $150,000 community grant fund and K-12 STEM initiatives. Governor Josh Stein called it one of the largest investments in state history, positioning North Carolina as a national leader in AI infrastructure.

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Order Maryland Crab Cakes for Dad - Get 15% off

Angelina’s 🦀 Fathers Day SALE Is Live 🦀

Now through June 15th you can get 15% off your entire order when you use the code: father15 at checkout! Skip the new socks and gift Dad the finest seafood you can get, right to his doorstep!

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Southern Living Shines a Spotlight on Wilmington: “It Just Keeps Getting Better”

[Southern Living] Southern Living has named Wilmington one of the 10 “dreamiest places to live in the coastal South,” highlighting its rising appeal, growing food scene, and beach access. The magazine praised Wilmington’s evolving vibe, pointing to the trendy Cargo District, new air carriers expanding travel options, and the city’s proximity to not one—but three—laid-back beaches. Known for its mix of neighborhoods and charm, Wilmington is once again getting national attention as a city on the rise.

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News Roundup

Local News

• New Hanover County school board is weighing design options for New Hanover High School, including building a new facility or renovating the existing campus. The board will consider detailed plans in a July 8 meeting. WECT

• Cape Fear Community College will host a one-stop enrollment night on June 17, offering help with admissions, advising, financial aid, and class registration at Union Station from 4–6 p.m. WECT

• The luxury yacht 'Skyfall' has returned to Wrightsville Beach, drawing attention on June 2. The 191-foot vessel is owned by developer Roy Carroll and named after the James Bond movie. WECT

What You Should Know

• Trump's allies in Congress are working with Palantir to expand federal data collection efforts, raising privacy concerns as the 2024 campaign looms. The company's analytics tools could be used for voter profiling or surveillance. The New York Times

• Elon Musk continues to publicly criticize Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Tax Bill, calling it a ‘disgusting abomination’. Yahoo News

• Hackers have leaked a database containing personal information of 86 million AT&T customers. The breach is linked to the ShinyHunters group, who exploited vulnerabilities in the Snowflake cloud platform in April 2024. HackREAD

What Might Surprise You

• Steve Bannon called for Senator Lindsey Graham to be jailed, accusing him of promoting endless wars in Ukraine during a fiery exchange with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation. Mediaite

• Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing serious legal challenges as prosecutors pursue charges of sex trafficking and assault, supported by newly released footage from 2016. CNN

• Karine Jean-Pierre reveals she is leaving the Democratic Party in a new book, claiming deep dysfunction inside the Biden administration and advocating for political independence. Mediaite

Thursday

FRIDAY

Shop Father’s Day Gift Deals

✅ Amazon is selling Stanley Tumblers for 40% off

✅ Amazon is selling Eufy L60 Robot vacs for 42% off–my parents have this model and they love it

✅ Amazon is selling this 230 piece Craftsman Mechanics Tool Set for 50% off