Good morning Wilmington!

COVID is back in the headlines—but this time, it’s about North Carolina’s lawmakers, not case counts. From lawsuits over Roy Cooper’s lockdowns to a controversial mask-ban bill, state policies are making waves that could affect us all.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC Supreme Court Greenlights Trial Over Cooper’s COVID Lockdowns

• NC Senate Passes Bill Banning Public Mask-Wearing

NC Supreme Court Greenlights Trial Over Cooper’s COVID Lockdowns

[AP News] The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled 5–2 that bar owners can proceed to trial in lawsuits challenging former Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-19 lockdowns—declaring that emergency orders preventing people or businesses from earning a living may violate constitutional rights. The court upheld that claims based on the “fruits of their own labor” clause are valid, allowing bar owners to seek financial restitution. Democratic justices dissented, warning such rulings could hinder future public safety responses.

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NC Senate Passes Bill Banning Public Mask-Wearing

[WRAL] North Carolina’s Senate has approved House Bill 237—a measure that would prohibit wearing masks in public for health reasons, with exceptions primarily aimed at preventing criminal concealment during protests. Skirting pandemic-era norms, the Republican-backed bill passed 30–15 along party lines despite opposition from Democrats and health advocates, who warn it could penalize immunocompromised individuals. While supporters argue it curbs abuses by masked protesters, critics call the move dangerous and insensitive, especially for vulnerable populations. The legislation now heads to the House for further consideration.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Five people and a dog were rescued after their boat capsized near Wrightsville Beach on Saturday. Wrightsville Beach Ocean Director Sam Proffitt advised against navigating through Masonboro Inlet into the ocean unless you are confident in your piloting skills or have a large boat.
  WECT

• A man jumped off the Thomas Rhodes Bridge in an attempt to evade arrest, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities were able to rescue him from the water, and he is now in custody.
  WECT

What You Should Know

• Chicago leaders reject Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard, calling it unnecessary and a “manufactured crisis.”
  MSN

What Might Surprise You

• Virginia Giuffre’s memoir “Nobody’s Girl” will be released this October, six months after her death. The book promises disturbing new revelations about Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Prince Andrew, aiming to expose systemic failures in fighting sex trafficking.
  Daily Mail

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