Good morning Wilmington!

Wilmington was buzzing this weekend as the Azalea Festival brought music, parades, and spring sunshine to town. Whether you wandered the street fair or caught some live music at The Bend like we did–Oc3ans crushed it–I hope you made some memories.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Wilmington’s Brooke Renshaw Advances to 'American Idol' Showstoppers Round

• Queen Azalea Joins the Party at Bluewater

Wilmington’s Brooke Renshaw Advances to 'American Idol' Showstoppers Round

[Star News Online] Brooke Renshaw, lead vocalist for Wilmington-based band Oc3eans, made it through the "Arena" round on American Idol and into the top 62 contestants. Though her performance wasn’t aired, her original song “Love Myself” impressed judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood. Renshaw will now compete in the “Showstoppers” round, airing April 6–7 on ABC. A well-known figure in Wilmington’s music scene, Renshaw continues to bring local pride to the national stage.

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Queen Azalea Joins the Party at Bluewater's Garden Get Down

[Star News Online] After the official NC Azalea Festival Garden Party, the celebration continued seaside at the Bluewater Grill in Wrightsville Beach. The Bluewater After Garden Get Down featured live music by ReSoul Band, dancing, and a casual meet-and-greet with Queen Azalea Bethany Joy Lenz. With great weather, great music, and a lively crowd, it was the perfect beachy follow-up to one of Wilmington’s most iconic spring events.

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News Roundup

Local

• A mayor in southeastern North Carolina was cited for a hit-and-run after a minor crash in a shopping center parking lot. No injuries were reported, and the incident is under investigation. WECT

• Surf City’s beach nourishment project deadline has been extended to mid-April due to weather delays and equipment issues. The work is part of a FEMA-funded recovery effort following past hurricanes. WECT

• The Cucalorus Film Foundation received a $5,000 grant from North Carolina Humanities to support year-round community storytelling and cultural programming. The foundation says the funding will help promote local voices. WWAY

• Local advocacy groups held “Hands Off” rallies across the Cape Fear region, part of a national movement opposing proposed federal restrictions on abortion and healthcare access. Participants gathered in Wilmington and surrounding towns. WECT

• Crews will close lanes on the Causeway Drive Bridge beginning next week for inspections and maintenance. The work will primarily affect traffic between Wrightsville Beach and Harbor Island. WECT

What you need to know

• Thousands protested nationwide in “Hands Off!” rallies against President Trump and Elon Musk, criticizing sweeping government cuts, mass firings, immigration policies, and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. The demonstrations spanned all 50 states and marked the largest coordinated opposition effort since Trump’s return to office. Associated Press

• 16 dead as severe storms and tornadoes devastate the South and Midwest. Floodwaters are rising, with major cities like Louisville facing historic flooding. Thousands of flights canceled as conditions worsen. NPR

What Might Surprise you

• Senator Rand Paul is breaking ranks to oppose Trump’s new tariffs, warning they will raise prices for American consumers and damage U.S. manufacturers. The senator is pushing for legislative action to counter the policy. MSN

• Anti-vaccine presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to attend the funeral of a second Texas child who died during a growing measles outbreak. His attendance is drawing criticism from public health advocates. MSN

Weather

Summary

Over the next three days in Wilmington, NC, expect a mix of weather conditions. Monday will be partly cloudy and windy with a high of 79°F, cooling down on Tuesday to 67°F with partly cloudy skies. Wednesday brings sunny conditions with a high of 62°F. Winds will shift from strong SSW on Monday to NNW on Tuesday, then ENE on Wednesday. Precipitation chances remain low throughout.

Weather Forecast

Mon Apr 07: Partly Cloudy/Wind | 79° / 55° | 11% | SSW 24 mph
Tue Apr 08: Partly Cloudy | 67° / 46° | 9% | NNW 14 mph
Wed Apr 09: Sunny | 62° / 55° | 0% | ENE 15 mph

Tide Forecast

Mon Apr 07:
10:38am: 0.31 ft (Low Tide)
4:29pm: 3.42 ft (High Tide)
10:44pm: 0.20 ft (Low Tide)

Tue Apr 08:
5:00am: 3.74 ft (High Tide)
11:22am: 0.24 ft (Low Tide)
5:25pm: 3.66 ft (High Tide)
11:34pm: 0.16 ft (Low Tide)

Wed Apr 09:
5:50am: 3.76 ft (High Tide)
12:02pm: 0.17 ft (Low Tide)
6:11pm: 3.93 ft (High Tide)

Surf Forecast

Mon Apr 07:
Surf conditions at Wrightsville Beach are 3-4 ft and choppy with a sideshore current. Winds are SSW at 23 mph, with a primary swell from the south (182°) at 5.2 ft every 7 seconds. The AM forecast shows 2-4 ft, increasing to 3-5 ft in the PM.

Weather data derived from: weather.com, tide data from marineweather.net, and surf data from surfcaptain.com.

Monday

Tuesday