Good morning Wilmington!

This weekend, Wilmington celebrates one of its most cherished green spaces — Greenfield Lake Park — turning 100 years old! From morning tributes and a time capsule ceremony to a free afternoon concert, the city’s oldest park is pulling out all the stops for its centennial. It’s a perfect excuse to get outside, enjoy the fall weather, and celebrate a century of community memories.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC Copyright Battle Over Blackbeard

• School Choice Surges in North Carolina as Opportunity Scholarships Grow

NC Copyright Battle Over Blackbeard Images Faces Skeptical Appeals Panel

Carolina Journal - A federal Appeals Court panel appeared skeptical that a decade-old copyright lawsuit over images of pirate Blackbeard’s flagship can continue. Frederick Allen and Nautilus Productions accused North Carolina of misusing images of the Queen Anne’s Revenge, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the state had sovereign immunity. The case was reopened in 2021 by a district judge, prompting the state to appeal again. Judges questioned whether the plaintiffs’ new legal theories justify revisiting a matter the Supreme Court had already resolved, with concerns over delays, fading memories, and legal precedent.

Read More >>

School Choice Surges in North Carolina as Opportunity Scholarships Grow 204% in Two Years

Carolina Journal - The Opportunity Scholarship Program in North Carolina is approaching 100,000 students, a dramatic increase from just two years ago. The statewide K-12 voucher program allows families to choose private education, with total awards projected to reach nearly $560 million this year. Enrollment growth reflects expanded eligibility and increased award amounts, with Wake and Mecklenburg counties receiving the most funding. The program also shows potential state savings, as scholarships generally cost less than public per-pupil allocations. Lawmakers continue to explore a federal tax-credit scholarship to further expand school choice statewide.

Read More >>

News Roundup

Local News

Construction has resumed on Wilmington’s Riverwalk near the Convention Center as part of a city-led refresh project. Crews are replacing decking along the stretch and plan to continue work southward through the new year before returning to Ann Street to complete the upgrades along the Cape Fear River. WWAY-TV

SNAP benefits for 1.4 million North Carolinians could be delayed in November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. While October benefits were issued on schedule, the USDA has not authorized the use of contingency funds, leaving the state unable to maintain assistance for thousands of residents until federal funding resumes. WWAY-TV

What You Should Know

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and its allies will draft a ceasefire plan within 10 days, following a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to freeze the conflict along current frontlines. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine is seeking easily operable U.S. weapons as battles with Russian forces intensify in the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk. Sky News

Jamaica is being battered by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm bringing catastrophic winds, flooding, and landslides in what forecasters call the island’s most powerful hurricane on record. The National Hurricane Center warned residents to take cover immediately as humanitarian groups prepare emergency aid, with up to 1.5 million people expected to be affected. Al Jazeera

What Might Surprise You

A newly discovered butterfly species has been named after Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee murdered in Charlotte, North Carolina, to honor her memory. Lepidopterist Harry Pavulaan named the butterfly Celastrina iryna (“Iryna’s Azure”) after being moved by her story, describing the species as a symbol of peace and serenity. The Gateway Pundit

Today

Wednesday

Thursday