TOGETHER WITH

Good morning Wilmington!

Bitcoin is up, and so are your kids—on the climbing wall, that is. Wilmington Rock Gym’s summer open gym is a great way to keep them active on Wednesdays.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• New Study Finds PFAS Pollution Linked to Wastewater Plants

• Stein Signs Parents Protection Act, Vetoes Bills He Calls “Mean-Spirited”

New Study Finds PFAS Pollution Linked to Wastewater Plants, Including Cape Fear

[WECT] A nationwide study by the Waterkeeper Alliance reveals that 98% of tested waterways—including Cape Fear—contain toxic PFAS “forever chemicals,” with levels significantly higher downstream of wastewater treatment plants. The chemicals, often coming from industrial sources, are difficult and expensive to remove. Local advocate Kemp Burdette says the problem is preventable if industries are held responsible for their waste. Although the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority has made improvements, concerns remain for those using well water and for long-term health risks. A state bill addressing PFAS discharge remains stalled in the Senate.

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Kid’s Open Gym on Wednesdays @ Wilmington Rock Gym!

Wednesdays | June 18 to Aug 13, 2025 | $15 PER VISIT | Ages up to 13 | 1 - 4PM

Are you looking for something fun for your kids to do this summer? Bring them to the climbing gym! On Wednesdays, we'll have open gym time for them to climb and have fun! We'll have staff available each Wednesday to help them with the ropes if they want to climb higher. This isn't a class/camp but is a great way for children to join in the fun of indoor rock climbing! This is great for first time climbers and more advanced gym monkeys alike! Parents must stay with their kids.

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Stein Signs Parents Protection Act, Vetoes Bills He Calls “Mean-Spirited”

[WHQR] Democratic Governor Josh Stein signed the controversial "Parents Protection Act" into law, allowing foster and adoptive parents in North Carolina to raise transgender children according to their "biological sex" without being labeled abusive. The law also bars adoption agencies from discriminating against parents based on race or refusal to affirm a child's gender identity. While Stein did not elaborate on this decision, he vetoed four other Republican-backed bills he called “mean-spirited,” including one that added anti-trans provisions to a previously bipartisan measure on sexual exploitation.

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News Roundup

Local News

• A man passed away after being struck by lightning along the Pender County coast last Thursday. The incident occurred near South Anderson Boulevard on Topsail Island. A Celebration of Life will be held July 17 at First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington.
  WECT

• ICE arrests in North Carolina have surged 160% since March, with nearly 1,600 people detained statewide under the Trump administration’s renewed immigration enforcement.
  WHQR

• Oak Island has revised its beach ordinance to address concerns about dangerous holes being dug in the sand. The updated rules aim to reduce the risk of injuries and protect sea turtles and beachgoers.
  WECT

What You Should Know

• Democrats are now demanding the Trump administration release all Epstein-related files, after previously blocking GOP efforts to subpoena his flight logs. Lawmakers like Reps. Ro Khanna and Marc Veasey are introducing resolutions to force disclosure, questioning who is being protected and pressing for transparency amid renewed public outrage.
  Daily Wire

• Bitcoin soared past $120,000 as Congress kicked off its long-anticipated “Crypto Week.” Lawmakers are discussing regulatory clarity and innovation in the space, sparking investor optimism.
  MSN

What Might Surprise You

• In response to renewed Epstein scrutiny, Trump said, “Let Pam Bondi do her job,” deflecting further questions. His brief comment follows mounting pressure on his administration to disclose more about Epstein’s ties to the powerful.
  The Hill

Today

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