Good morning Wilmington!

Forget haunted houses — this Halloween, prepare for the extraterrestrial kind of scares. “The Age of Disclosure” reveals government secrets about non-human intelligence and has a trailer that’s already blown up online. Strange days folks!

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC DMV Sees Surge in Online License Renewals Following New Law

• Battleship North Carolina Seeks Schoolchildren Who Helped Save Her

NC DMV Sees Surge in Online License Renewals Following New Law

Carolina Journal - North Carolina drivers are increasingly renewing licenses online after Senate Bill 245 expanded digital access. In just two weeks, more than 18,000 online renewals were completed, reducing in-person traffic and easing pressure on DMV offices. The law allows both REAL ID and non-REAL ID holders to renew online for a second consecutive time. Additional DMV examiners have been hired, teen license upgrades will soon be available online, and new scanning technology is expected to improve efficiency further. The DMV aims to move up to 400,000 transactions online annually while keeping in-office services accessible.

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Port City 2025 Halloween Guide

🎃 Your Ultimate 2025 Wilmington Halloween Guide — From haunted parties to costume contests and live music, find every spooky event happening around town this weekend! 👻

Check out the 2025 Port City Jams Halloween Guide»

Battleship North Carolina Seeks Schoolchildren Who Helped Save Her

WWAY News - The Battleship North Carolina is seeking to reconnect with the schoolchildren and community members who helped save the ship in 1961. Students across the state donated nickels, dimes, and spare change to raise over $300,000, rescuing the ship from the scrap yard and turning it into a memorial honoring WWII service members. The museum is inviting stories, photos, and videos from those who contributed, to preserve their legacy in a digital archive and future exhibits.

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News Roundup

Local News

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is joining 25 other states in suing the USDA over delayed SNAP benefits, citing a worsening hunger crisis. Nearly 1.4 million North Carolinians could go without food assistance next month, despite the USDA having $6 billion in contingency funds, and the lawsuit seeks a court ruling to prevent further hardship. WECT

The Wilmington Housing Authority has approved the demolition and rebuilding of the Hillcrest complex, aiming to replace aging units with around 500 new residences. The project, supported by a $5.2 million grant and planned in four phases starting summer 2026, will ensure current residents are not displaced during construction. WECT

A new study finds high levels of previously overlooked PFAS chemicals in the blood of Wilmington residents, raising concerns about long-term health risks. Researchers detected multiple types of these “forever chemicals,” including TFA and PFMOAA, in nearly all samples, with the Chemours Fayetteville Works Plant identified as a major source. WECT

What You Should Know

Amazon is planning to cut up to 30,000 corporate jobs, affecting nearly 10% of its corporate workforce, as part of efforts to reduce expenses and streamline operations. The cuts may impact divisions including HR, operations, devices and services, and Amazon Web Services, marking the company’s largest reduction since late 2022. Reuters

Hurricane Melissa has devastated parts of the Caribbean, leaving towns in Jamaica “unrecognizable” and at least eight people dead as the storm barrels toward the Bahamas. The Category 2 hurricane caused widespread flooding, power outages, and destruction across Jamaica and eastern Cuba, stranding thousands of tourists as rescue efforts begin. Daily Mail

What Might Surprise You

Donald Trump was presented with an extravagant gold crown during his visit to South Korea, leaving him in a “state of future reflection,” according to a body language expert. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung gave Trump the replica of one of the largest Silla-period gold crowns, along with a gold medal, during a lavish welcome. The Mirror

National News

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces a pivotal moment as Zohran Mamdani, her endorsed candidate, heads into the NYC mayoral election. A win for Mamdani could boost Ocasio-Cortez’s prospects for a future Senate or presidential run, while a loss might tie her political brand to his outcome. The Hill

FBI Director Kash Patel blocked a probe into potential foreign involvement in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, sparking a feud with the counterterror chief Joe Kent. Kent had reviewed FBI files to explore whether foreign powers aided Kirk’s alleged killer, but Patel intervened, arguing it interfered with an ongoing investigation. Daily Mail

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