If you've lived in Wilmington for years but have never made it to a Diminishing Republic Island (DRI) Latin Dance Party, this might be the weekend to change that.

Hidden in the Intracoastal Waterway near   at Wrightsville Beach, the DRI is a sandbar that appears only at low tide before disappearing beneath the water twice each day. Since around 2000, locals have transformed it into one of the area's most unique summer traditions, complete with its famous palm tree, parking meter, and the tongue-in-cheek goal of "sinking" the island by getting enough people to show up. This weekend's Latin Dance Island Party promises sunshine, music, dancing, and one of the most uniquely Wilmington experiences you'll find anywhere on the coast.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC DMV wait times down 87%

• Frying Pan Tower has a new owner

• The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is opening a free pop-up called Discovery Bay at Independence Mall

NC DMV wait times down 87% — here's what changed

Spectrum News North Carolina DMV wait times have dropped 87% statewide — from nearly three hours in spring 2025 to 20-25 minutes now. The turnaround follows 64 new hires funded by HB125 (August 2025), live online wait-time tracking, and the shift of more than 250,000 transactions to digital channels over the past six months. The improvements come after State Auditor Dave Boliek pledged a DMV audit on his first day in office in January 2025. Officials recommend afternoon visits and checking wait times online before heading in.

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Frying Pan Tower has a new owner — and the nonprofit behind it has a new mission

WWAY FPTower Inc. has transferred ownership of the Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower to a private buyer who has not been publicly identified. Built in 1964 and automated in 1979, the tower sits 34 miles off the NC coast. With the sale complete, the nonprofit is pivoting to maritime safety and marine science education across the Carolinas.

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NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher opens Discovery Bay pop-up at Independence Mall

WWAY

While the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher undergoes a major multi-year renovation, it's not going dark — it's going to the mall. The aquarium held a ribbon-cutting this morning for Discovery Bay, a free pop-up exhibit at Independence Mall located across from the arcade in the JCPenney wing. Visitors can see lionfish, seahorses, and carnivorous plants, participate in animal encounters, and explore educational programming. Education curator Karissa Bearer says the location makes the aquarium accessible to people who can't easily make the trip to Fort Fisher — the mall is on bus routes and easier for groups that don't typically reach the main site. It's free and open to the public for the duration of the renovation.

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News Roundup

Local News

Gov. Josh Stein signed North Carolina's $34 billion state budget Tuesday, ending nearly three years without a comprehensive spending plan. The budget delivers the largest starting teacher pay raise in nearly 50 years, $700 million in additional Hurricane Helene recovery funding, and double-digit raises for law enforcement. Stein signed it with mixed feelings — praising the teacher raises and Helene aid, but criticizing preserved school-choice funding, continued tax cuts for the wealthy, and provisions he called unconstitutional that strip executive branch authority. Carolina Journal

A school bus carrying a Cumberland County football team crashed in Leland Wednesday, injuring four people. The Douglas Byrd High School 7-on-7 team was returning from a South Brunswick game when the bus went down at the US-17 and US-74/76 interchange around 11:35 a.m. Of the 33 people on board — 26 students and seven adults — two adults and two children were taken for treatment. The intersection was closed for hours. WECT

What You Should Know

Gov. Josh Stein has vetoed a bill that would have banned public camping and sleeping statewide. HB 437 would have let citizens sue local governments for camping violations while providing no funding for enforcement. Stein called it a "poorly constructed bill." Republicans fell one vote short of an override despite five Democratic crossovers. WHQR

State Auditor Dave Boliek has launched an audit of North Carolina's school voucher program, which has distributed more than $588 million in taxpayer funds. The Opportunity Scholarship Program swelled from 80,000 to over 100,000 students in three years, with individual grants ranging from $3,574 to $7,942. Created in 2013 for low-income families, eligibility was later expanded to all income levels. Results are expected this fall. Spectrum News

What Might Surprise You

The FBI has seized more than 600 drones near World Cup venues since the tournament began on June 11. Authorities confiscated drones across all 11 U.S. host cities — 130 in Miami alone and 70+ in Dallas during five matches. A three-hour no-fly zone is enforced before and after each game, with violators facing fines up to $100,000, criminal charges, and drone confiscation. The Hill

National News

The U.S. Navy has identified the aviator killed after an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea as Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5. Edwards disappeared after the helicopter made an emergency water landing on July 1 while deployed aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. After an extensive 102-hour search covering more than 14,000 square miles, the Navy suspended recovery efforts and announced he will be posthumously promoted to captain. Navy Times

"Diminishing Republic" Island Party!

SAT JUL 11 · 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM · Palm Tree Island

Wilmington Latin Dance heads back to the 'Diminishing Republic' sandbar for a summer island party. Boat shuttle available — reserve your spot in advance. $20 donation requested.

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