Good Monday morning, Wilmington! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday weekend.

Our hearts go out to the people in Texas and the Chapel Hill area dealing with severe flooding. We send our heartfelt support to everyone affected while rescue and recovery efforts are underway.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NHC Offers Retirement Incentives

• Gov. Stein Vetoes Anti-DEI Bills

NHC Offers Retirement Incentives, Plans Layoffs to Balance Budget

[WHQR] New Hanover County’s newly approved budget includes nearly $10 million in staffing cuts, achieved through retirement incentives and three scheduled rounds of layoffs. The plan freezes dozens of vacant roles and eliminates 70 active positions. While some departments like the sheriff’s office and 911 center are spared, most face 5% operational cuts. Eligible employees have until July 21 to opt into early retirement incentives. Layoffs are scheduled for August 18, September 15, and October 21. County officials opted not to tap into a $300M reserve fund that could have softened the blow.

Read More »

💸 Ready to start your crypto journey?

Sign up using this referral link. Or enter code: cc3389gs during signup.
Once you trade $200, we both get $50. No catch—just crypto!

Gov. Stein Vetoes Anti-DEI Bills, Signs Licensure & Parental Rights Measures

[Carolina Journal] Governor Josh Stein vetoed multiple Republican-led bills that would have eliminated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across public schools, universities, and state agencies. He denounced them as distractions from more pressing issues like teacher pay and DMV delays. However, Stein did sign eight bills into law, including protections for parental rights aligned with biological sex, a streamlined licensing process for professionals from neighboring states, and expanded health services in schools. This move reflects a balancing act between opposing GOP-led cultural legislation and enacting practical reforms.

Read More »

News Roundup

Local News

• Heavy rains from Tropical Depression Chantal caused devastating flooding in central North Carolina, especially in Durham, Orange, Moore, and Person counties, forcing dozens to evacuate and leading to over 100 road closures, including major highways like I-40/I-85. Two kayakers remain missing at Jordan Lake in Chatham County, where search efforts continue. More than 17,000 Duke Energy customers are without power, and states of emergency have been declared in Moore and Orange counties.
  WRAL

• A brief EF-0 tornado touched down Sunday morning in New Hanover County, damaging roofs and trees near the Monkey Junction area. No injuries were reported, and cleanup efforts were swift.
  WECT

• Tropical Storm Chantal has weakened to a tropical depression but poses flash flooding risks for central North Carolina and south-central Virginia, with rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches and local amounts up to 6 inches expected. Dangerous surf and rip currents are forecasted along the Atlantic coast through the mid-Atlantic states.
  WRAL

• A Wilmington teen has been charged with murdering his father, following a fatal shooting inside their home on Colonial Drive.
  WWAY

What You Should Know

• Texas flood death toll is expected to surpass 100 as officials quietly shift focus from rescue to recovery. While the public message remains hopeful, internal communications reveal the state is preparing for mass fatalities, with DNA testing underway to help identify victims—including 11 missing girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic. As of Sunday, 69 deaths were confirmed.
  Daily Mail

• The Trump administration is deploying 200 Marines to Florida to provide logistical support for ICE deportation raids, part of a broader effort including deployments in Louisiana and Texas. The Marines will assist but are barred from direct contact with detainees.
  New York Post

What Might Surprise You

• A Florida man who won $4 million in the Powerball was revealed to be a convicted felon, now facing charges for allegedly defrauding a senior citizen.
  The Smoking Gun

• The DOJ and FBI have concluded that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and did not maintain a “client list” for blackmail purposes. A newly released memo and video surveillance support the medical examiner’s original finding and show no one entered Epstein’s cell the night he died.

  MSN

National News

• Actor Michael Madsen has died at 67 from apparent cardiac arrest, just days after being cleared in a recent health check. He was best known for roles in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill.
  TMZ

Monday

Tuesday