Before we get started, a quick personal note: I'll be attending a funeral this week and may miss a few editions of Port City Pulse. Family comes first this week, and I appreciate your understanding.

We attended Hoggard's graduation ceremony Saturday and witnessed the controversy firsthand. Like many in attendance, we heard the valedictorian's speech and later saw a student take the microphone. In the confusion, it wasn't immediately clear what she was trying to say, but the incident has since sparked a much larger conversation throughout Wilmington.

Was the quote inappropriate? Should school officials have caught it during the approval process? Was the interruption justified? Or is this simply a case of people interpreting the same words differently?

Have your say in today's survey below 👇️ 

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• A Kanye quote, a cut mic, and a private diploma ceremony

• NC AG gives Ticketmaster one week to explain the Canes presale disaster

Hoggard valedictorian speech controversy divides graduation

WWAY Hoggard High valedictorian Kyler Hosek quoted Kanye West without attribution in his commencement address. A classmate grabbed a mic mid-ceremony to point out the quote's full context — her mic was cut and she received her diploma in a private ceremony. Hosek's family says the speech was about AI vs. humanity’s potential; school officials say it was reviewed and approved before graduation.

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Jeff Jackson takes on Ticketmaster over Stanley Cup ticket chaos

CBS17 NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson has given Ticketmaster one week to explain why Hurricanes season ticket holders with priority codes were pushed to the back of the queue during Stanley Cup Final presales — leaving many to pay thousands on the secondary market. Jackson wants answers on technical failures, bot activity, and fan compensation. The inquiry comes as Live Nation and Ticketmaster are already in the remedies phase of a federal antitrust case.

Read More >>

News Roundup

Local News

The federal case against the man charged with stabbing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail has been put on hold after a judge found Decarlos Brown Jr. not competent to stand trial; he'll receive mental health treatment before proceedings can resume. Carolina Journal

What Might Surprise You

Raleigh is considering selling the naming rights to its downtown convention center to Atlantic Union Bank for $525,000 a year over 15 years — totaling more than $9 million; the city council will hold a public input session at its June 16 meeting before deciding. Spectrum NC

Netflix revealed the first real-dog version of Scooby-Doo, a Great Dane puppy starring in the live-action series Scooby-Doo: Origins — set to premiere globally in 2027 with Mckenna Grace, Abby Ryder Fortson, and Paul Walter Hauser. Deadline

Argentina's President Milei proposed legislation to create "non-human corporations" run entirely by AI agents, with human shareholders optional, as part of a push to make Buenos Aires a global AI hub with zero regulation. Futurism

Trump was booed at NBA Finals Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, then told reporters it was "mostly cheers" — calling the league "a little left-wing" but "great entertainment" on his way back to Air Force One. The Hill

National News

Nithya Raman advanced past Spencer Pratt to face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the LA mayoral runoff, with late-counted votes tilting a formerly nail-biting race toward an all-Democrat November matchup. NBC News

Border czar Tom Homan vowed a major ICE surge into New York City, saying "you're going to see more ICE than you've ever seen" after Gov. Hochul signed a bill restricting ICE operations in her state. 1010 WINS