TOGETHER WITH

Good morning Wilmington!

It’s not every day you get to see Todd Rundgren, Chris Isaak, or Robert Cray live—unless you live in Wilmington, apparently. The Wilson Center is bringing great talent to town this summer.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Wilmington Tops NC Rankings for Renters

• Mixed-Use Development Approved in Hampstead

Wilmington Tops NC Rankings for Renters, Cracks National Top 10

[Star News Online] Wilmington has been ranked the 6th best city in the nation for renters in 2025 by apartment search site RentCafe. The report evaluated 150 U.S. cities, factoring in cost of living, job growth, and quality of life. Wilmington scored especially well in economic performance and housing affordability — with renter incomes up 55% over five years and 42% of rental units considered high-end. The city also topped all other North Carolina cities in the rankings, including Raleigh, Charlotte, and Asheville.

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Kid’s Open Gym on Wednesdays @ Wilmington Rock Gym!

Wednesdays | June 18 to Aug 13, 2025 | $15 PER VISIT | Ages up to 13 | 1 - 4PM

Are you looking for something fun for your kids to do this summer? Bring them to the climbing gym! On Wednesdays, we'll have open gym time for them to climb and have fun! We'll have staff available each Wednesday to help them with the ropes if they want to climb higher. This isn't a class/camp but is a great way for children to join in the fun of indoor rock climbing! This is great for first time climbers and more advanced gym monkeys alike! Parents must stay with their kids.

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Mixed-Use Development Approved in Hampstead Despite Local Concerns

[Port City Daily] A revised proposal for a 20-acre property in Hampstead received conditional rezoning approval from the Pender County Planning Board. The project will include 50 townhomes, 20 single-family homes, and 3,800 square feet of commercial space. This marks a scaled-back version of a previously withdrawn plan, now reduced from 240 multi-family units and 12,000 square feet of retail. Despite board approval, nearby residents voiced strong concerns over traffic, zoning precedent, and neighborhood impact. The development will feature sidewalks, preserved wetlands, and stub roads for future expansion.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Dogs make a splash at 2025 Battleship Splash in Wilmington. The events Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve put the dog’s skills to the test as they compete against other dogs.
  WWAY

• Crews have started work on a single-lane roundabout at River Road and Independence Boulevard. Drivers can expect minor lane shifts and partial intersection closures.
  WECT

What You Should Know

• Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been indicted over an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing.
  CNN

What Might Surprise You

• The UK plans to lower the national voting age to 16 before the next general election, aiming to boost civic participation among young people. The move has drawn both support and criticism from political parties.
  Semafor

• New research shows some robots are learning by “consuming” other machines, taking them apart to learn how they work and adapt. While experimental, this could signal a leap in autonomous machine learning.
  Tech Xplore

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