Good morning Wilmington!

The holiday season brings joy, gifts—and unfortunately, porch pirates. North Carolina officials are urging extra caution as package theft spikes.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Wilmington Police Spread Holiday Cheer with Annual Santa Cop Shopping Event

• New Federal Spending Bill Could Wipe Out Popular THC Products

Wilmington Police Spread Holiday Cheer with Annual Santa Cop Shopping Event

WECT The Wilmington Police Department continued a decades-long holiday tradition with its annual Santa Cop event, pairing officers with local children for a special Christmas shopping spree at Walmart on Sigmon Road. Each child received a gift card and spent time shopping alongside officers, helping strengthen trust and relationships between law enforcement and the community. Now in its 35th year, the program is funded entirely through donations from local individuals, businesses, and organizations and focuses on building positive connections with the next generation.

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New Federal Spending Bill Could Wipe Out Popular THC Products

WECT New limits tucked into a federal spending bill could dramatically reduce the availability of THC products, making it illegal for consumable items to contain more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container starting in November 2026. Local shop owners, including Wilmington’s Sugar Buzzed, say the rule could eliminate up to 40% of their inventory. While business owners acknowledge the need for regulation—such as age limits and quality controls—they warn the measure functions more like a ban, threatening a hemp industry that generates billions nationwide.

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News Roundup

Local News

Tim Merrick, a New Hanover County School Board member, has officially filed to run as a Democrat for North Carolina’s District 20 House seat, aiming to flip it from Republican control. He will face Republican Dane Scalise, who was recruited to run after current Rep. Ted Davis announced he would not seek reelection; Merrick’s priorities include supporting public schools, small businesses, and lowering the cost of living. WECT

New Hanover County Fire Rescue responded to multiple reports of a strange odor near Eastwood Road, Landfall, and Mayfaire but determined it was harmless swamp gas. Officials said the smell comes from natural methane released by decomposing organic matter and is not something emergency crews can mitigate. WECT

What You Should Know

The U.S. government has admitted liability in the deadly mid-air collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people earlier this year. The Justice Department acknowledged that Army pilots failed to maintain proper separation and altitude, directly causing the January 29, 2025 crash between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River. The collision is the deadliest U.S. commercial aviation disaster in over 20 years, and the NTSB will release its full report early next year. New York Post

What Might Surprise You

Dr. Philip Nitschke, the controversial creator of the Sarco euthanasia pod, unveiled a new device called the “Kairos Kollar,” which he says can cause death by applying pressure to the neck without drugs. Presented at assisted-dying workshops in the Netherlands, the collar is described by Nitschke as fast, simple, and legally difficult to restrict, further fueling ethical and legal debate around assisted suicide technologies. Daily Mail

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