TOGETHER WITH

The Red Cross offers another way to help people in Western NC. Recent floods and wildfires have devastated communities nationwide, and volunteers are urgently needed to provide food, shelter, and relief to those affected. Wilmington’s own Cape Fear Red Cross says disaster response teams are stretched thin as extreme weather ramps up.

If you’re interested in volunteering with the Red Cross, you can visit their website. 

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• UNCW Partners with Oak Island to Tackle Erosion

• NC Lawmakers Push to Rein In Unregulated Hemp and Cannabis Products

UNCW Partners with Oak Island to Tackle Erosion with Living Shorelines

[UNCW] The UNCW College of Science and Engineering has signed a three-year partnership with the Town of Oak Island to study living shoreline techniques for reducing erosion in May Moore Park and Veteran’s Park. Students and researchers from the UNCW Benthic Ecology Laboratory will evaluate a range of shoreline protection strategies, including oyster shell bags, open reef structures, sills, and sediment traps. The data collected will help determine the most effective methods to safeguard and restore local marshlands, while offering UNCW students valuable hands-on research experience in coastal resiliency.

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

Wednesdays | June 18 to Aug 13, 2025 | $15 PER VISIT | Ages 5 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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NC Lawmakers Push to Rein In Unregulated Hemp and Cannabis Products

[NC Health News] North Carolina leaders are weighing sweeping regulations on hemp-derived and cannabis products after years of debate over the unregulated market. Currently, people of almost any age can purchase THC-infused gummies, drinks, and vape products. Governor Josh Stein formed a 24-member advisory council to recommend comprehensive regulations as lawmakers consider bills that would ban sales to anyone under 21, require retailer licensing, and tighten packaging restrictions. Both the House and Senate versions of House Bill 328 would also ban delta-8 and delta-9 THC on school grounds. The proposals come amid a rise in pediatric ER visits linked to cannabis ingestion and growing concern over youth access.

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News Roundup

Local News

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced he is running for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2026, seeking to flip the seat left vacant by Sen. Thom Tillis' retirement. Cooper, a Democrat, emphasized his bipartisan track record and focus on protecting voting rights and expanding healthcare.
The Hill

Wrightsville Beach police are investigating after lifesaving beach rescue equipment was stolen from Greensboro Street and Mason’s Inlet on the north end on July 24.
WECT

What You Should Know

• The United States and the European Union agreed on Sunday to a trade framework setting a 15% tariff on most goods. “It was a very interesting negotiation. I think it’s going to be great for both parties,” Trump said.
  AP News

• Dan Bongino shared a cryptic post saying FBI revelations "shocked me to my core," “I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned,” he said.
  Mediaite

What Might Surprise You

• China launched a high-profile investigation into Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the legendary Shaolin Temple, over alleged corruption and abuse of power, sending shockwaves through the Buddhist community.
  CNN

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