Happy Fat Tuesday, Wilmington.

Pull out your purple, green, gold — and add a splash of red. Today is Mardi Gras and the start of the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse.

While downtown fills with brass bands and Hurricanes, Lunar New Year tradition says wear red for luck, skip black and white, don’t sweep (you’ll sweep away good fortune), and if it’s not too late… maybe hold off on washing your hair. It’s all about starting the year — and the party — the right way.

If you’re heading out, Waterline’s Annual Mardi Gras celebration brings live music tonight from 6–9PM, followed by a traditional Second Line march under the bridge. Or step into full masquerade mode at The Blind Elephant starting at 5PM, where the cocktails are classic New Orleans and the decor is doing the most.

Two traditions. One very lively Tuesday in the Port City.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Two Senior Wilmington Employees Dismissed Amid Fraud

• ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Coming Back to Wilmington

Wilmington Fires Two Top Public Services Officials After Internal Investigation

WHQR The City of Wilmington has fired Public Services Director Dave Mayes and Recycling and Trash Superintendent Rick Porter following an internal investigation that substantiated claims of timecard fraud, substance abuse issues, bullying, hiring misconduct, and interference with the probe. Officials cited widespread misconduct, systemic management failures, and a breakdown of internal controls within the Recycling and Trash Services Division, prompting the terminations after more than a decade of service from both employees.

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Amazon Bringing ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Back to Wilmington for Movie

StarNews A movie sequel to Amazon Prime Video’s hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty is reportedly set to begin filming in Wilmington in late April, according to industry sources cited by Brit + Co and Production Weekly. The wildly popular show, based on Jenny Han’s book trilogy and filmed locally for all three seasons, became a global phenomenon, with stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno drawing massive fan followings. The sequel would mark yet another major production for the Port City.

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News Roundup

Local News

A University of North Carolina Wilmington women’s basketball player has been arrested on multiple felony drug charges after authorities say she was found with marijuana packaged for distribution near a local high school. Paige Smith, 20, was allegedly in possession of about half a pound of marijuana in a parking lot near New Hanover High School, and UNCW confirmed she was already serving a program suspension prior to her arrest. WWAY

What You Should Know

The Transportation Security Administration will now require agents to refer to non-U.S. citizens as “aliens,” aligning its language with federal immigration law. The change, approved by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, updates TSA terminology to match the statutory wording of the Immigration and Nationality Act, reversing efforts during the Biden administration to limit use of the term. The U.S. Sun

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has died at 84, leaving a lasting impact on America’s fight for racial justice. Tributes poured in from across the political and activist spectrum, with leaders like President Donald Trump, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Bernice King honoring Jackson’s legacy as a “voice for the voiceless” and a transformative figure in the Democratic Party. CNN

Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning star of The Godfather, The Great Santini and Tender Mercies, has died at 95. A towering figure of American cinema, Duvall earned seven Academy Award nominations over a decades-long career that included iconic roles in Apocalypse Now, Network and To Kill a Mockingbird, with his death announced by his wife, Luciana Duvall. Variety

What Might Surprise You

Anderson Cooper is leaving 60 Minutes after declining a contract renewal offer from CBS News. The longtime correspondent, who has earned multiple Emmy nominations and wins during nearly two decades with the program, also reportedly turned down discussions about anchoring CBS Evening News, choosing instead to step away from the network’s flagship newsmagazine. Mediaite

11^th Annual Mardi Gras Celebration

TUE FEB 17: 6-9PM @ Waterline Brewing Co. - DT
Get ready to laissez les bons temps rouler with Port City Players LIVE at Waterline Brewing Co.!

🎺 Don’t leave after the show! Stick around as we take the party to the streets with a traditional Second Line march under the bridge with the band leading the way!

Costumes encouraged. Good times guaranteed. Let’s celebrate Mardi Gras the Waterline way! 🎉

Learn More »

✅ Today marks 40 Years for Five Guys burgers and they are celebrating! You can score a BOGO free burger when you are logged into your Five Guys account and use the code: 40FGBDAY.

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