Good morning Wilmington!

After nearly two years of work, a Wilmington artist has unveiled an exhibition honoring twenty local veterans — not just through portraits, but through the stories and sacrifices behind each face.

“It’s Not Black and White” runs through Aug. 22 at Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NHC commissioners join growing debate over Flock Cameras

• NC courts aerospace and defense firms

NHC commissioners join growing debate over Flock license plate readers

WECT Investigates New Hanover County commissioners are publicly raising concerns about Flock license plate reader cameras for the first time. Commission chair LeAnn Pierce posted on Facebook that she's "concerned" and won't support future funding without more answers; Commissioner Dane Scalise called it a tension between public safety and personal privacy. The county's $219,000 contract covers 20 LPRs operated by the sheriff's office — locations are undisclosed. Critics from the "DeFlock" group plan to speak at the Aug. 17 commissioners meeting.

Read More >>

NC courts aerospace and defense firms to build on growing hub

Carolina Journal North Carolina officials traveled to the Farnborough International Airshow to meet with Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, part of a coordinated push to grow the state's defense-manufacturing footprint. The trip follows the May launch of the First in Defense Coalition and the creation of NC ALIGN, a new statewide advisory council. Venture investment into early-stage defense companies hit a record $49 billion in 2025, and NC is competing against South Carolina, Kansas, and Ohio for the next wave of contracts.

Read More >>

News Roundup

Local

Investigators have confirmed the Murrayville deaths were a murder-suicide: Tracey Parker Willetts shot her husband Stephen before taking her own life. A smartwatch automatically called 911 after detecting a hard fall or lack of pulse. Stephen was a retired Army veteran; the NHC Sheriff's Office says there is no threat to the public. WECT

Two adults drowned Sunday at Holden Beach after rescue crews were unable to resuscitate them. The incident occurred near Ocean Boulevard West; the identities of the victims have not been released. WRAL

Laney High School students held a sunrise paddle-out at Wrightsville Beach to honor classmate Jacob Fernandez-Villa, killed last week in a single-vehicle crash. Dozens of students paddled out near Crystal Pier at the south end; Laney's principal sent a letter to families and grief counselors remain on-site. WECT

What You Should Know

The U.S. depleted roughly 65% of its Patriot missile interceptors during the Iran conflict — leaving an estimated 1,000 units remaining — and rebuilding the stockpile could take years. A CSIS analysis found U.S. forces fired through reserves faster than production lines can replace them, creating a significant readiness gap. Military Times

National

Capital One says it closed Trump Organization accounts over anti-money laundering concerns — not as retaliation for January 6. The bank told a federal judge the closure followed a monthslong internal review of roughly 385 accounts, and was unrelated to the Capitol attack. NPR

An armed bystander at a Twin Falls, Idaho In-N-Out Burger may have saved lives by distracting a gunman who had opened fire with an AR-style rifle. The shooter, Chad Williams, 24, ultimately shot himself; an off-duty state trooper also returned fire. Officials say the bystander's intervention helped prevent further casualties. NBC News

Elon Musk's America PAC is preparing to spend $100–120 million on Republican voter turnout operations ahead of the 2026 midterms. The push will focus on door-to-door canvassing, digital ads, and direct mail in competitive states — bringing Musk's total 2026 political spending close to $200 million. The Gateway Pundit

World

Iran-linked hackers are suspected in a sweeping cyberattack on water systems across seven states, forcing some facilities to abandon digital controls and revert to manual operations. Minnesota bore the heaviest impact, with disruptions across more than 30 municipal water systems. No water supply has been reported contaminated, and no ransom demands were made. The New York Times

President Trump announced he was canceling planned strikes on Iran after saying "the perimeters of a deal" had been reached — but Iran denied any talks were planned. Trump said any agreement would require Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and abandon its nuclear program; the White House said negotiations would begin Monday. Politico