Good morning Wilmington!

A buddy called me last night, said he caught a string of lights drifting across the sky. No, not aliens—just another pass of the Starlink satellites. If you haven’t seen them before, it’s a pretty surreal experience.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Pine Valley Market Expanding to Former Sweet n Savory Spot

• $82M Bridge Project at Military Cutoff Draws Criticism from Locals

Pine Valley Market Expanding to Former Sweet n Savory Spot Near Wrightsville Beach

[WWAY] Pine Valley Market is opening a second location near Wrightsville Beach in the former Sweet n Savory Café space at Pavilion Place. Unlike its South College Road spot, this new café will include seating, breakfast and lunch service, an enclosed patio, and a broader selection of gourmet retail items. With significant renovations underway to bring the building up to code, PVM aims to welcome guests by the end of July. Local foodies, this one’s for you.

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$82M Bridge Project at Military Cutoff Draws Criticism from Locals

[WECT] A long-discussed NCDOT project aimed at easing congestion near Eastwood and Military Cutoff roads is now drawing criticism. The proposed 25-foot-tall grade separation bridge would allow traffic on Eastwood to flow uninterrupted over Military Cutoff. However, residents—especially near Landfall and Eastport—aren’t thrilled. Many feel the $82M project could be better spent elsewhere, like fixing the Causeway bridge. Construction is set to begin in September 2027 and last four years.

Read More »

News Roundup

Local

• Wilmington Police shot and critically injured a barricaded man who fired at officers during a standoff early Thursday morning on Whitner Drive. After hours of negotiations and multiple gunshots from the suspect, officers used less lethal methods before returning fire when the man raised his rifle again. The State Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case. WWAY

• Carolina Beach Police installed a second microchip scanning station to help reunite lost pets with their owners. It’s part of a broader effort in New Hanover County to improve animal welfare resources. WECT

• Surf City completed renovations to its public boat ramp, making it safer and more accessible for boaters just in time for the busy summer season. The improvements were funded by a state grant. WECT

What You Need to Know

• Health Secretary RFK Jr. says autism cases are rising at an “alarming rate” and promises new research into environmental causes, following a CDC report showing 1 in 31 U.S. children are now diagnosed with autism. Experts attribute the rise to better awareness and diagnostics, but Kennedy says more answers are needed. C-SPAN

• A federal judge is launching contempt proceedings against the Trump administration, accusing officials of defying a court order by continuing deportation flights to El Salvador. The ruling could result in sanctions or further legal action. MSN

• A United Airlines flight experienced an engine fire after takeoff, likely caused by a rabbit strike, prompting an emergency return to Chicago O’Hare. No injuries were reported. WWAY

• Donald Trump is again calling for the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates, saying Chair Jerome Powell should be removed “as fast as possible” and blaming him for weakening the U.S. economy. CNBC

What Might Surprise You

• A Third Pentagon official has been suspended amid a leak investigation, part of an ongoing probe into unauthorized disclosures of classified military information. Politico

• Pam Bondi defended the deportation of a father despite his U.S. citizen family, saying the man’s wife and child are “better off” without him — a statement that drew harsh criticism from immigrant advocacy groups. MSN

• Scientists say they’ve found the strongest evidence yet of extraterrestrial life, detecting chemical signatures on a distant planet that suggest biological activity. The discovery has energized the search for life beyond Earth. MSN

• A 2-year-old boy who wandered miles from home in Arizona was guided to safety by a ranch dog, who stayed by his side until rescuers found them. The toddler was found unharmed. MSN

Weather

Summary

Wilmington, NC, will experience pleasant weather from Thursday to Saturday, April 17-19, 2025. Mostly sunny to sunny conditions are expected, with highs rising from 69°F to 74°F and lows from 59°F to 64°F. Precipitation chances are minimal, ranging from 1% to 6%. Winds will shift from easterly to south-southwesterly, strengthening from 11 to 17 mph. Tides will follow a consistent pattern with two highs and two lows daily. Surf conditions will remain small, with ankle-to-knee-high waves, increasing slightly to 1-2 ft by Saturday.

Weather Forecast

Thu Apr 17: Mostly Sunny | 69° / 59° | 1% | E 11 mph
Fri Apr 18: Sunny | 73° / 63° | 4% | SSE 14 mph
Sat Apr 19: Mostly Sunny | 74° / 64° | 6% | SSW 17 mph

Tide Forecast

Thu Apr 17:
4:46am: 0.45 ft (Low Tide)
10:58am: 3.02 ft (High Tide)
4:35pm: 0.45 ft (Low Tide)
11:25pm: 3.91 ft (High Tide)

Fri Apr 18:
5:31am: 0.62 ft (Low Tide)
11:43am: 2.92 ft (High Tide)
5:16pm: 0.60 ft (Low Tide)
12:12am: 3.85 ft (High Tide)

Sat Apr 19:
6:30am: 0.74 ft (Low Tide)
12:30pm: 2.90 ft (High Tide)
6:13pm: 0.70 ft (Low Tide)
12:12am: 3.85 ft (High Tide)

Surf Forecast

Ankle to knee-high ESE short-period wind swell with 1 ft waves in the morning, increasing to 1+ ft in the afternoon. Conditions start glassy with NNW winds at 3 mph, becoming semi-choppy as winds shift to NE at 10-15 mph by midday, then ease to E at 8 mph by afternoon.

Weather data derived from: weather.com. Tide data from: marineweather.net. Surf data from: surfcaptain.com

Thursday

FRIDAY