Good morning Wilmington!

It’s Friday the 13th in the Port City—and with Father’s Day coming up, don’t forget to show some love to Dad. Looking ahead? The Cape Fear Blues Festival returns next weekend, bringing three days of music, food, and feeling to The Rusty Nail.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Trump Moves to Dismantle FEMA

• Neighbors Push Back on Developer

NC Leaders Push Back as Trump Moves to Dismantle FEMA, Shift Burden to States

[Carolina Journal] President Trump announced plans to eliminate FEMA following the 2025 hurricane season, calling it a “failed experiment” and vowing to shift disaster response responsibilities to state governments. The move has sparked concern in North Carolina, where Gov. Josh Stein warned that the change could create a funding crisis and undermine public safety. FEMA’s replacement would see states managing emergency response with limited federal backup. Critics warn most states lack the infrastructure and experience to handle major disasters alone.

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Neighbors Push Back as Developer Aims to Expand Into Wetlands in Carolina Beach

[Port City Daily] A second phase of the Fisher’s Reserve subdivision in Carolina Beach has sparked public outcry due to its plans to fill nearly two acres of wetlands. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now accepting public comment on the permit, with some residents urging denial and requesting a public hearing. Developer Westcott Butler claims the wetlands must be filled to build infrastructure and has proposed purchasing mitigation credits. Critics, including neighbors and planning commissioners, are calling for stronger environmental protections amid ongoing flooding issues. The town still has the authority to deny the second phase.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Southport officials have tabled discussions on paid parking through at least December, responding to public concerns over preserving the town's character.
  WECT 

• Two individuals have been arrested in New Hanover County as part of a human‑trafficking investigation, based on a joint effort involving the sheriff’s office, FBI, and Homeland Security.
  WECT

• Wilmington community members participated in a flag exchange event, exchanging weathered flags aboard the Battleship for properly retired ones courtesy of the Boy Scouts.
  WECT

What You Should Know

• Sen. Rand Paul says he and his family were excluded from a White House picnic as punishment over political disagreements, sparking criticism of partisan retaliation.
  MSN

• NPR’s early years were steeped in counterculture, complete with cocaine, sex, and a “revolutionary” newsroom culture, according to a new tell-all book by veteran journalist Steve Oney.
  The Independent

• Rescue workers raced to the crash site of an Air India Dreamliner in a residential neighborhood in Ahmedabad, as emergency crews scrambled to put out intense fires following the deadly incident.
  NDTV

• Israel reportedly launched a major airstrike targeting Iranian nuclear sites and military commanders, citing concerns that Iran could produce material for up to 15 nuclear weapons within days. The strikes, carried out by dozens of aircraft, mark a significant escalation and triggered sirens in anticipation of a potential Iranian military response.
  Jerusalem Post

What Might Surprise You

• A British man is the sole survivor of the Air India Boeing 787 disaster in Ahmedabad, walking away with injuries after 241 others perished in the crash. Eyewitnesses described a horrific scene with bodies and debris scattered across a residential area, and the survivor’s miraculous escape reignites debate over aircraft seating and crash survivability.
  Daily Star

Friday

Saturday

Sunday