Good morning Wilmington!

Big congratulations to the Richards family, Rukus and Port City Rock Jam on receiving Arts Council funding and recognition for the 2026 Port City Rock Festival. It’s exciting to see a homegrown music festival earn support for the joy it brings to our community—and even better knowing the best is still ahead.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Indochine’s Solange “Niki” Thompson

• Lumbee Tribe Gains Full Federal Recognition After Decades-Long Fight

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Indochine’s Solange “Niki” Thompson

WECT Solange “Niki” Thompson, founder and owner of Wilmington’s beloved Indochine restaurant, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 18, surrounded by family at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center. Thompson opened Indochine in 2000 as a tribute to her Vietnamese and French heritage, shaping it into one of the city’s most iconic dining destinations. Remembered as a respected culinary voice and community figure, she leaves behind a lasting legacy through her family, restaurants, and the many lives she touched.

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Lumbee Tribe Gains Full Federal Recognition After Decades-Long Fight

WRAL North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe has officially gained full federal recognition after President Donald Trump signed a sweeping defense spending bill that included the Lumbee Fairness Act. The move ends a 137-year effort by the tribe to secure recognition, making Lumbee members eligible for federal services and benefits. The provision passed with strong bipartisan support from North Carolina lawmakers and backing from Gov. Josh Stein, who called the recognition long overdue and historically significant for both the tribe and the state.

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News Roundup

Local News

NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children Emma and Ryder were among seven people killed in a devastating plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. Authorities described it as one of the worst crashes they had seen, and family statements highlighted Biffle’s legacy as a devoted father, philanthropist, and one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers. Motorsport.com

Former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, the state’s longest-serving governor, has died at age 88. Hunt served four terms between 1977–1985 and 1993–2001, and was widely credited with shaping modern North Carolina through major investments in education, economic development, and public health initiatives. WWAY

Republican Michele Morrow has entered the GOP primary for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, seeking a political comeback after her 2024 statewide loss. The former school superintendent candidate joins a crowded Republican field vying to replace retiring Sen. Thom Tillis, despite former President Donald Trump already endorsing another contender. WRAL

The Pink Pirate Ghostship, captained by Rick Brown, won first place in the 2025 Topsail Christmas Flotilla along the Intracoastal Waterway. The holiday event, hosted by the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, awarded cash prizes to the top three boats and continues to draw large crowds each December. WWAY

What You Should Know

The suspect in a shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine others, who was also accused of fatally shooting an MIT professor, was found dead after a multi-state manhunt. Authorities said Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a former Brown student and Portuguese national, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a New Hampshire storage facility, ending a five-day search. NBC News

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