Good morning Wilmington!

Some close friends came to visit Wilmington this week, and the best thing—besides the great company & catching up—was rediscovering Wilmington through their eyes. Hosting reminded me just how much our hometown has to offer when you slow down and enjoy it. I’ll share more on that next week. For now, here are some ways you can make the most of Wilmington this weekend!

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC Bill Could Push Fishermen Off the Water

• NC to Mail 200K Voters for Missing Info

NC Bill Could Push Fishermen Off the Water

[WECT] A new amendment to House Bill 442—originally aimed at reopening flounder and red snapper seasons—has sparked major backlash after tacking on restrictions to shrimp trawling. If passed, the bill would ban shrimping within a half-mile of shore, devastating long-standing operations like High Rider Seafood in Brunswick County. Fishermen say it threatens jobs and small businesses, while conservation groups support the move to protect habitats. A companion bill, H.B. 441, proposes financial transition aid for impacted shrimpers, but debate rages on. One lawmaker has promised to start from scratch if needed.

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NC to Mail 200K Voters for Missing Info After DOJ Lawsuit and GOP Pressure

[WRAL] North Carolina's State Board of Elections will soon send mailers to around 200,000 voters requesting missing ID information—like a driver's license number or Social Security digits—from their registration records. The move follows a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit and a legal battle over a state Supreme Court seat. While the effort aims to comply with federal law and boost trust in voter rolls, critics warn it could disenfranchise those who face hurdles in responding. The first two rounds of mailers may cost up to $450,000 and could impact voters’ ability to cast full ballots.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Topsail Beach Town Manager Michael Rose has announced his resignation, set to take effect Sept. 30. Rose, who has served since 2021, did not give a specific reason but said it was the right time to “move on to new opportunities.” The town board will begin searching for his replacement soon.
  WECT

What You Should Know

• The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to limit the power of federal judges to pause executive orders, a win for President Trump. While the ruling does not determine the constitutionality of ending birthright citizenship, it temporarily blocks Trump’s order for 30 days. If it takes effect, it could immediately halt birthright citizenship in 28 states that did not file legal challenges.
  The New York Times

• Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old socialist, is poised to become the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor after a surprise grassroots primary win. In his victory speech, Mamdani vowed to confront “Trump’s fascism” and build a party unapologetically fighting for working people.
  MSN

• Ron Paul warns that a new executive order signed by President Trump may lay the groundwork for a sweeping surveillance state. The order enables designated officials to access all unclassified data across federal agencies, and reports suggest a collaboration with Palantir to create a unified citizen database.
  Orange County Register

What Might Surprise You

• California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the network of falsely claiming he lied about a phone call with President Trump.
  The New York Times

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