Good morning Wilmington!

Wilmington had a true whiteout weekend. Snow began falling Saturday afternoon, and by Sunday morning much of the area had between 6–8 inches on the ground — while our friends just north of us saw closer to a foot.

Sunday quickly turned into fun day. Families flocked to the College Road and Military Cutoff overpasses, sledding down hills on everything from classic sleds to surfboards and inflatable unicorns — a rare and unforgettable snow day for the Port City.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Weather Triggers Widespread Shutdowns

• North Carolina’s Infrastructure Earns a C-Minus in 2026 Report Card

From UNCW to Local Schools, Weather Triggers Widespread Shutdowns

WECT Schools and colleges across southeastern North Carolina are adjusting schedules as hazardous winter weather impacts the region. Multiple districts, including Brunswick County Schools and New Hanover County Schools, announced closures, remote learning days, and campus shutdowns through midweek. Higher education institutions like CFCC, UNCW, and Brunswick Community College are also closed or operating remotely, with officials citing unsafe road conditions and the need for facility assessments. Updates on reopening plans are expected as weather conditions improve.

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North Carolina’s Infrastructure Earns a C-Minus in 2026 Report Card

WUNC News North Carolina’s infrastructure received an overall C-minus in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2026 report card, with concerns spanning roads, bridges, dams, drinking water, and stormwater systems. Aging water utilities, underfunded dam repairs—especially after Hurricane Helene—and declining gas tax revenue are major challenges as the state’s population grows. While recent federal and state investments have helped, engineers warn current funding levels won’t be enough to keep pace with rising costs and long-term needs, especially heading toward 2030.

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News Roundup

Local News

A rare snowfall turned downtown Wilmington’s Ann Street into an impromptu sledding hill, drawing residents out to celebrate an unusual snow day in the Port City. Locals used everything from vintage sleds to surfboards and boogie boards, enjoying nostalgia, laughter, and a brief taste of winter rarely seen in the area. WWAY TV3

What You Should Know

AI-powered bots on a humans-only-excluded social network called Moltbook are posting hostile content that discusses “total human extinction.” The platform, which claims over 1.5 million AI users, hosts thousands of forums where autonomous agents share anti-human rhetoric, geopolitical opinions, and manifesto-style posts framing humanity as a destructive error. Metro

What Might Surprise You

Jeffrey Epstein is alleged to have run a massive “honeytrap” operation for Russian intelligence, using women to compromise powerful figures, according to intelligence sources and newly released documents. The files reference Moscow and Vladimir Putin extensively, include disputed claims involving Bill Gates, suggest long-monitored Russian connections by Western agencies, and speculate on Epstein’s ties to Robert Maxwell, though no direct documentary proof links the Kremlin to his crimes. Daily Mail

Monday

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Wednesday