Good morning Wilmington!

Port City Rock Jam hit all the right notes this weekend. The Hatch Brothers, Oc3ans, The Kind Thieves—and of course, Rukus—each lit up the stage in their own way. Between the live music, live painting, and local vendors, there was something for everyone. And thankfully, the clouds kept the heat in check!

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Non-Profit Pushes for Professional Hockey and Major Events in Wilmington

New Non-Profit Pushes for Professional Hockey and Major Events in Wilmington

[WWAY] Wilmington native and professional hockey player Michael Vollmin is spearheading the Wilmington Arena Project, a non-profit aiming to bring a 10,000-seat multi-use venue to the Cape Fear region. The arena would be large enough to attract an ECHL professional hockey team and could host concerts, monster trucks, curling, and more. A recent fundraiser drew over 100 attendees to help fund a feasibility study, which could be completed in 2-3 months. Vollmin and supporters believe the project would generate major economic benefits and strengthen community ties, creating a central hub for sports and entertainment.

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News Roundup

LOCAL NEWS

• Three New Hanover County nonprofits are receiving a combined $1.2 million from The Endowment to support teachers, sexual abuse survivors, and nonprofit capacity-building.
  WECT

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• El Salvador’s top court cleared the way for President Nayib Bukele to run for reelection, despite a constitutional ban on consecutive terms.
  New York Times

WHAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

• A federal jury in Miami has ordered Tesla to pay $243 million in damages after ruling that its Autopilot technology was partly to blame for a deadly 2019 crash that killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and injured her boyfriend.
  New York Post

• Record 700,000 bikers descended on South Dakota for the 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which runs through mid-August and brings a massive economic boost—and public safety concerns—to the region.
  The Sun

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