Good morning Wilmington!

Nearly 6,000 students will descend on UNCW next week — and if you live, work, or drive anywhere near campus, now's a good time to plan ahead.

Move-in runs Wednesday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 16, with students arriving in staggered windows by residential area. UNCW is rolling out a new self-guided model this year — residential parking lots will be closed all week to keep unloading zones clear. Full details and maps are on UNCW's move-in page.

Expect heavier traffic on Racine Drive, College Road, and surrounding streets all week. Give yourself extra time — and if you pass a student struggling to maneuver a futon into an elevator, maybe hold the door.

In today's Port City Pulse:

• FAA proposes major airspace upgrade at ILM

• County Commissioner calls for end to bus bench wars

County Commissioner Calls for End to Political Bus Bench Wars in Wilmington

WWAY New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise is calling for an end to politically motivated bus bench installations after the Proud Boys repainted one of 30 benches installed by the Democratic Socialists of America, changing the message to read "Socialism is Slavery." Scalise characterized both groups as "extremists" and said the benches — which don't require permits because they're on public right-of-way — have turned a functional transit amenity into a political battleground.

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FAA Proposes Airspace Upgrade at Wilmington International Airport

WECT The FAA is proposing to reclassify ILM's airspace from Class D to Class C — a major upgrade that would double the controlled zone from 5 to 10 nautical miles and require pilots to radio air traffic control before entering (currently optional). A Terminal Radar Service Area would let controllers track every aircraft overhead, cutting near-miss risks between commercial jets and smaller private planes. The change follows a nearly 60% jump in ILM passenger traffic since 2021. Airport spokesperson Erin McNally says the upgrade won't affect the average traveler's experience. Public comments are due by Sept. 3.

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News Roundup

Local News

New Hanover County is holding Child Support Amnesty Days next week for parents with active arrest orders — attend the event, avoid being arrested, and have your order recalled by making a payment. The free event runs Aug. 13–15 at the New Hanover County Public Library, 230 Grace St.; parents can have an order recalled by paying one month’s support or $300, whichever is greater. Call 910-343-3355 for info. WWAY

Surf City’s Beach Access 25 reopened Thursday after a 24-day closure triggered by a flea infestation — the result of pesticide treatments that town officials say were successful. The infestation, first reported July 14, involved fleas typically found on domestic pets; the town said it doesn’t know how they ended up at the beach access. WECT

Brittany Boltinhouse’s reign as 2026 Miss North Carolina USA has ended after racist social media posts from 2017 resurfaced, prompting pageant officials to conclude her title. The Leland resident had been crowned earlier this year; first runner-up Myla Hadley has assumed the crown and is expected to compete for Miss USA at the end of August. WWAY

What You Should Know

The U.S. economy unexpectedly shed 23,000 jobs in July — the first monthly payroll decline in months — missing forecasts of 83,000 new jobs by a wide margin. Losses were concentrated in local government education, retail, and leisure/hospitality; health care added 22,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% as labor force participation fell to a five-year low. CNBC

What Might Surprise You

Two Watauga County high schoolers started a project to rebuild the little free libraries wiped out when Hurricane Helene devastated their mountain community. Lily Thompson and Sophie Parker won a $500 grant, got council approval, and invited local kids to help paint the library boxes — the first is now installed outside the Jones House Cultural Center in downtown Boone. WUNC

North Carolina

Pender County’s planning board voted 3-1 to recommend denial of a Bill Clark Homes proposal for 1,023 single-family homes on 630 acres near Rocky Point, citing infrastructure concerns and inconsistency with the county’s land use plan. The rezoning now goes to the Board of Commissioners for a final vote, expected at the Sept. 21 meeting. WilmingtonBiz

National News

Major airlines are pushing back against ICE’s expanded enforcement operations inside U.S. airports, asking federal agents to stop boarding aircraft and making arrests at gate areas and ticket counters. Carriers met with DHS officials seeking clearer boundaries after operations spread to hubs including Miami, San Francisco, and Kansas City. WSJ

Homes are selling below asking price in 38 of the 50 largest U.S. cities, giving buyers more negotiating power than they’ve had in years. The shift is most pronounced in Sun Belt metros that saw the biggest pandemic-era price run-ups; coastal cities like New York and Boston still favor sellers. CNBC