Could we finally be done changing our clocks twice a year?

The U.S. House has passed the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. If the bill also clears the Senate and is signed into law, we'd stop "springing forward" and "falling back" every year—keeping longer evening daylight all year long.

Supporters say it means more daylight after work, fewer disruptions to sleep schedules, and potential economic benefits. Opponents argue darker winter mornings could affect schoolchildren, commuters, and overall safety.

What do you think? We'd love to hear from Wilmington. Be sure to vote in today's Port City Pulse survey below. 👇️ 

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC wins $666K from $18M settlement

• How did your child's school perform?

NC wins $666K from $18M settlement over 23andMe genetic data breach

WECT North Carolina will receive $666,242 from an $18 million multistate settlement with genetic testing company 23andMe over a 2023 data breach that exposed the information of 6.9 million customers — including genetic ancestry data. Hackers used stolen usernames and passwords in a credential-stuffing attack; 23andMe took months to detect the breach, initially denied it occurred, and then blamed customers' account settings. Some stolen data was later offered for sale on the dark web. Attorney General Jeff Jackson, who joined 41 other states and DC in the settlement, also helped block the bankrupt company from selling its genetic data to a for-profit buyer — North Carolinians' data was transferred instead to a nonprofit tied to one of 23andMe's co-founders. The settlement requires stronger data security and preserves customers' right to delete their data.

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How did your child's school perform? NC releases 2024-2025 report cards

WECT The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has released school report cards for the 2024-2025 school year, grading every public school in the state based 80% on academic achievement and 20% on growth. Locally: New Hanover County has 10 low-performing schools, with Wrightsville Beach Elementary and Masonboro Elementary among the top performers; Brunswick County has 5 low-performing schools, with Brunswick County Early College High at the top; Pender County has 3 low-performing schools, led by Pender Early College High and Topsail High. Biology and NC Math 1 show up as persistent trouble spots across multiple counties. You can look up any school in the state at the NC School Report Card portal.

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News Roundup

Local

A Brunswick County traffic stop is causing headaches for the Belichick family. Jennifer Schmitt Belichick — wife of UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and daughter-in-law of head coach Bill — was clocked at 88 mph in a 70 mph zone on I-140 near Mt. Misery Road back in May. She missed her July 10 court date, and an arrest order was issued July 13. She filed a motion to recall the order the following day. WECT

A Brunswick County nonprofit is swapping out streetlights near the beach — and the turtles are the whole reason. The Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization is funding the installation of amber "turtle-safe" lights to replace white streetlights that confuse hatchlings into heading inland instead of toward the ocean. White lights mimic the moon; amber wavelengths are largely invisible to baby turtles. Eight of the 20 closest-to-beach streetlights have been replaced so far, with more planned through 2028. A state bill that would have mandated turtle-friendly lighting died in committee in 2023-24 — advocates are pushing for its revival. WHQR

What You Need to Know

The House voted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent — passing the Sunshine Protection Act 308-117. The bill would lock in the extra hour of evening light year-round, ending the twice-annual clock change. States with existing standard time exemptions (Hawaii, most of Arizona) could opt out. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where its path is less certain — at least one Republican leader has signaled he may try to block it. NBC News

NC State Highway Patrol is launching a crackdown on street takeovers in Charlotte. "Operation Queen City Overwatch" brings together the NCSHP, Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD, and the Mecklenburg County SO to target illegal racing, reckless driving, stolen vehicles, firearms, and fugitives. Last year, officers tracked 35 planned street takeover events in the Charlotte area — a 25% increase — and made 112 arrests, seized 62 vehicles, and confiscated 61 guns. WRAL

One of North Carolina's largest school districts has removed explicit references to sexual orientation and gender identity from its anti-bullying and equal employment policies. The Johnston County Board of Education voted 5-2 to replace the specific language with a reference to the state's bullying law, with supporters arguing the change protects all students equally while critics say removing the language sends the wrong message to LGBTQ+ students and staff. News & Observer

What Might Surprise You

Your electricity bill is going up — and data centers are mostly to blame. PJM, the electricity grid operator covering 13 states including the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the South, just released auction results showing capacity prices have jumped 76% — from $28.92 to $329.17 per megawatt-day. Data centers account for 63% of that increase, adding an estimated $6.3 billion in costs to households and businesses over the next three years. PJM projects data centers will account for 30 of the 32 gigawatts of new peak demand expected by 2030. New York Times

A western North Carolina horse sanctuary has been waiting nearly two years for FEMA to fix their bridge — and keeps getting denied. Missed Path Sanctuary outside Asheville rehabilitates abused horses, but Hurricane Helene destroyed the only bridge connecting the property to the road. Owners Marc DiFrancia and Mike Cooper applied for FEMA assistance in October 2024 and have been denied multiple times — with FEMA repeatedly focusing on whether the house was safe to live in rather than whether the damaged bridge and access route qualified for aid. Their most recent appeal was denied as a "final decision" in August 2025. Spectrum News

National and World News

Two fatal ICE shootings within a week — in Maine and Houston — have prompted a major policy shift at DHS. On July 7, an ICE agent shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston while he was driving his construction crew to a job site. On July 14, agents fatally shot 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero during an enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine. Neither man was the target of the operations. Neither agent wore a body camera. Following public outcry, DHS announced it is pausing most traffic stops and expanding body camera use among ICE agents. CNN