Good morning, Wilmington.

Today is the last day of winter. The Spring Equinox arrives tomorrow — 68°F and sunny — and the weekend keeps climbing from there: 75°F Saturday, a full-on summer-preview 80°F Sunday. The Cape Fear coast at its best.

Wilmington’s future is being shaped—and your voice matters.

The City of Wilmington has been selected to participate in the North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program, an initiative focused on helping coastal communities prepare for rising risks like storms, flooding, and other coastal hazards.

Residents are encouraged to learn more, share input, and help guide the process. Even if you missed the recent in-person session at the Skyline Center, you can still take part by submitting your thoughts through the online survey.

👉 Learn more and click here to participate in the survey!

In today's Port City Pulse:

• Big tax changes hitting NC workers in 2026 — from no tax on tips to a lower state income rate

• A Wilmington Marine who lost his foot in Afghanistan is finally getting a specially adapted forever home

Big Tax Changes Hit NC Workers in 2026 — Including No Tax on Tips

Carolina Journal North Carolina workers are seeing a significant shift in the tax landscape in 2026, driven by both federal and state changes. On the federal side, the "One Big Beautiful Bill" — signed last July — exempts tip income up to $25,000 from federal tax, makes overtime pay deductible up to $12,500 for single filers, allows auto loan interest deductions up to $10,000 on US-assembled vehicles, adds a $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors 65+, and lets non-itemizers deduct up to $2,000 in charitable giving. At the state level, NC's flat income tax rate drops from 4.25% to 3.99% and standard deductions increase. One catch: North Carolina has not yet adopted the federal tip, overtime, auto loan, or senior deductions at the state level. The IRS released an updated withholding calculator on March 12 at irs.gov to help workers adjust.

Read More >>

Wilmington Marine Who Lost His Foot in Afghanistan Is Getting His Forever Home

WWAY Marine Corporal Dominic Davila, who lost his right foot while serving in Afghanistan, is finally getting a place to call home in Wilmington. The nonprofit "Homes for Our Troops" — which builds specially adapted homes that exceed ADA standards for severely injured veterans — held a ceremony Saturday at Winter Park Baptist Church to kick off construction. Davila has been in the program for seven to eight years, and says the moment still doesn't feel real. "It's been 7 or 8 years since we have applied and been in the program," he said. "It's taken this amount of time, and now that it's here, it doesn't feel real at all." A second ceremony will be held when the home is complete.

Read More >>

News Roundup

Local News

A NC man with 26 years in the US is now facing deportation after his GPS routed him through a Fort Bragg gate on his way home from a flooring job. Luis Alonso Delgadillo Perez was taken into ICE custody within the hour; he's now held at a Georgia detention center without medication for a chronic illness. His case is one of at least 10 reported since November involving civilian drivers accidentally entering military installations in eastern NC — Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, MCAS New River, and Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point among them — many of whom were simply following GPS directions. One delivery driver was deported; a 12-year-old was in the car. NC Newsline

The Wilmington Police Department swore in 14 new officers at a ceremony last week at the Convention Center — and its new chief trained right alongside them. Chief Ryan Zuidema, who came on from Virginia, was required to complete NC certification before assuming command and did so with the graduating class. "I'm excited to hit the street," said newly sworn officer Jonathan White. WECT

Spring arrives tomorrow — and so does nesting season for Canada Geese. SkyWatch Bird Rescue is asking Wilmington residents to give the birds space: geese are showing up in parking lots, near stores and mall entrances across the city, and their nests are federally protected. Moving or disturbing them is illegal. Drive slowly, keep your distance, skip the snacks — and once eggs hatch, the goslings head straight for the nearest pond. WWAY

What You Should Know

Former NC Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has launched a new coalition to give blockchain and artificial intelligence industries a stronger voice in shaping North Carolina's tech policy. The North Carolina Blockchain & AI Initiative (NCB+AI) aims to make NC a national leader in AI and crypto development, with a particular eye on the growing data center energy demands that both industries are driving statewide. Forest, who created NC's blockchain task force back in 2019, says the goal is to bridge industry experts and government officials before policymakers get too far behind the technology curve. Carolina Journal

Oscars viewership dropped 9% Sunday night — the first decline since the pandemic-era low of 2021. The 98th Academy Awards drew 17.9 million viewers on ABC and Hulu, down from 19.7 million last year, with the steepest slide among younger viewers. Host Conan O'Brien led the show; "One Battle After Another" won Best Picture and Michael B. Jordan took Best Actor for "Sinners." Fox News

The Pentagon is asking Congress for $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war — on top of the extra defense spending already passed in last year's "One Big Beautiful Bill." The request, confirmed this morning by an AP source, is aimed at urgently restocking the critical munitions the US and Israel have burned through striking thousands of targets since the conflict began February 28. The US national debt has already surged past $39 trillion just weeks into the war. Congressional support is far from certain, with Democrats sharply critical and public approval tepid. Defense Secretary Hegseth, asked about it at a Pentagon briefing: "It takes money to kill bad guys." AP / Spectrum News

What Might Surprise You

A dining robot went fully off-script at a San Jose hot pot restaurant this week, knocking over tableware, smashing plates, and sending chopsticks airborne. It was supposed to be a promotional dance routine tied to Disney's "Zootopia 2." Three employees eventually wrestled the sauce-covered bot to a stop — while observers noted there was no emergency off button anywhere in sight. Futurism

Don't Miss