TOGETHER WITH

Good morning Wilmington!

Calling all music lovers and community builders: Port City Rock Jam is around the corner! What started as a dream from the members of Rukus is turning into a feel-good, sound-filled, all-ages event celebrating Wilmington’s growing music scene. The best part? You can help make it happen by becoming a sponsor.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC Rolls Out Text-Based Check-In Program to Speed Things Up

• $3M in State Grants to Fuel $52M in Rural Investment Across North Carolina

Shorter DMV Lines? NC Rolls Out Text-Based Check-In Program to Speed Things Up

[Spectrum 1] North Carolina's DMV is testing a new system aimed at cutting wait times in half. Instead of standing outside in the summer heat, customers will be checked in by an examiner and then receive a text when it’s their turn to enter. The system launched in four offices and is expanding to nearly 60 more—covering 88% of the state’s DMV traffic. While it won’t fix everything overnight, DMV Commissioner Paul Tine says new tech, scanners, and all-day walk-ins are already helping. Still, if you can avoid a visit for now—do.

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Scarpa Climbing Shoe Sale – Don’t Miss Out!

All in-stock Scarpa climbing shoes are 20% off now through July 5th! We’ve just added the Women’s Instinct VSR and Generator to our shelves—come snag your size before they’re gone.

💥 Heads up: Due to manufacturer price hikes, prices will increase starting July 6th. Note: Discount cannot be combined with other offers.

Upgrade your gear while the deal’s still hanging on!

Learn More »

$3M in State Grants to Fuel $52M in Rural Investment Across North Carolina

[NC Voices] North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced the approval of $3 million in rural infrastructure grants, expected to attract an additional $52 million in public and private investment. The grants will help repurpose vacant buildings, improve water and sewer systems, and support local business expansion. Communities like Boone and Williamston are already receiving funds to create pedestrian corridors and community event hubs. The projects aim to enhance public safety, encourage job creation, and breathe new life into downtowns—making rural NC a more attractive place to live, work, and grow.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Wrightsville Beach celebrates first sea turtle nest of the season, marking a positive milestone for conservation efforts in the area. Volunteers and officials emphasized the importance of protecting these endangered species.
  WECT

• Topsail Beach has appointed an acting town manager following the departure of its former leader. Town officials say the move will ensure continued stability and leadership during the transition.
  WWAY

• Officials are urging boaters to stay safe and sober ahead of the July 4th holiday surge, highlighting an increase in waterway traffic and potential hazards. Law enforcement will increase patrols to prevent accidents and DUIs on the water.
  WWAY

What You Should Know

• A GOP-backed provision to block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood will remain in the Senate’s sweeping tax and spending bill, after the chamber’s parliamentarian ruled it does not violate procedural rules. Though the bill doesn’t name Planned Parenthood directly, it bars Medicaid payments to clinics that provide abortions — effectively targeting the organization.
  The Hill

• President Trump’s “BIg Beautiful Spending Bill” has passed the senate with VP JD Vance casing the tiebreaking vote. Three Republicans, Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against it. The bill is over 1,000 pages long and can be accessed in it’s entirety here.

• Trump unveils ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ migrant detention center: President Trump, alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, unveiled a new Everglades-based migrant detention facility surrounded by alligator-infested swampland. The compound, built in just eight days and modeled after El Salvador’s notorious Cecot prison, has sparked backlash from human rights advocates and environmentalists.
  The Telegraph

What Might Surprise You

• Trump threatens to scrutinize subsidies to Elon Musk’s companies: President Trump lashed out at Elon Musk on Truth Social, threatening to have the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) investigate federal support for Musk’s ventures, including SpaceX and Tesla.
  NBC News

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