Good morning Wilmington!

Travel plans? Avelo Airlines is rolling out four new routes from ILM starting today. Meanwhile, Southport is wrangling an all-time high number of alligators, and we say goodbye to Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Avelo Airlines Expands ILM Service with Four New Cities

• Wilmington Named One of America's Most Entrepreneurial Cities

Avelo Airlines Expands ILM Service with Four New Cities

[WWAY] Avelo Airlines is adding four new nonstop routes from Wilmington International Airport (ILM) this week, boosting travel options just in time for summer. Flights begin today, June 11, to Houston (Hobby Airport) and will be followed by service to Detroit, Long Island (ISP), and Washington D.C. (Dulles) later this week. Each destination will see twice-weekly service: Wednesdays and Saturdays for Houston; Thursdays and Sundays for Detroit and Long Island; and Mondays and Fridays for D.C. This expansion offers more direct travel options from the Port City to key U.S. cities.

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Wilmington Named One of America's Most Entrepreneurial Cities by GoDaddy

[StarNewsOnline] Wilmington, NC has earned a spot in GoDaddy’s Top 10 Most Entrepreneurial Cities of 2025. With 6,734 new small businesses launched and a 36% year-over-year growth rate, the Port City is outpacing major business hubs. GoDaddy's Small Business Research Lab cited Wilmington’s unique mix of coastal charm, growing tech and creative sectors, and strong local support as key drivers of success. This recognition underscores a national trend: small cities with big heart and ambition are redefining where business thrives.

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News Roundup

Local News

• The City of Wilmington is giving away free mulch on the third Saturday of each month at its Devon Street facility. Residents can self-load up to 1 cubic yard and take home nutrient-rich groundcover for their gardens and landscaping needs.
  WWAY

• A new inclusive playground has opened at Maides Park in Wilmington, designed to accommodate children of all abilities. The project is part of the city’s continued effort to upgrade its parks and make recreational spaces more accessible.
  WWAY

• The SeaWitch Tiki Bar in Carolina Beach will no longer be forced to shut down over a zoning dispute, after town officials reversed course. Owners and patrons celebrated the outcome, which preserves a popular live music venue.
  WECT

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Maritime Supply Chain Resiliency Act, introduced by Rep. David Rouzer of North Carolina. The bipartisan bill aims to boost American port infrastructure and protect maritime commerce.
  WECT

What You Should Know

• California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the state during escalating protests against ICE raids and the deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, urging calm and defending immigrant communities.
  C-SPAN

• ICE is reportedly preparing a coordinated enforcement operation targeting five Democrat-led cities, including Los Angeles, which is already experiencing lockdown measures due to heightened tensions.
  Daily Mail

• Lamonica McIver, a New Jersey councilwoman, was indicted on federal charges in connection to ICE-related corruption investigations, adding to a growing list of political figures entangled in immigration enforcement scandals.
  NBC News

• An Air India Boeing 787-8 flight bound for London crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all 242–244 people aboard, including 169 Indians and 53 Britons. This tragic incident marks the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 and the deadliest aviation disaster in India in decades.
  AP News

National News

• Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson has died at age 82, the family announced on June 11, marking the end of the life of a musical icon behind hits like “Good Vibrations” and “Pet Sounds.” He had been battling dementia and was under conservatorship since 2024.
  Reuters

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