Good morning Wilmington!

Wilmington’s future won’t look like its past. Most of the county’s projected growth will come from newcomers — not natural population increases — putting pressure on housing, transportation, and environmental resilience.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Destination NHC 2050

• GOP Senator Tillis to Block Trump’s Fed Nominees Amid Powell Investigation

More Than 100,000 New Residents Expected in New Hanover County Over 30 Years

WECT New Hanover County’s population is projected to grow by nearly 48% over the next 30 years, adding more than 107,000 residents by 2050, according to the county’s draft Destination 2050 comprehensive plan. Most of the growth is expected to come from people moving into the area, prompting leaders to focus on long-term planning for land use, transportation, infrastructure, environmental resilience, and quality of life as the region continues to expand.

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Get Fiber Optic High-Speed Internet!

T-Fiber is now available in certain neighborhoods in Wilmington! For a limited time you can secure a $70 all-in-pricing 10-year price lock for 2gbps fiber internet uploads AND downloads. All you have to do is call or email Lewis and ask for the Port City Pulse Founder’s Club deal. Lewis will walk you through the entire process.

Contact Lewis at 443-926-2769
or by email at [email protected]

GOP Senator Tillis to Block Trump’s Fed Nominees Amid Powell Investigation

CNBC — Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., announced he will block any Trump nominees to the Federal Reserve, including the upcoming chair, until the Justice Department’s investigation into Jerome Powell’s potential perjury is resolved. This move complicates Trump’s plans to replace Powell, as Tillis’ opposition could create a stalemate in the Senate Banking Committee, highlighting intra-party friction over the independence of the Fed and concerns about political pressure on monetary policy.

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News Roundup

Local News

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is opening its fifth location in Brunswick and New Hanover counties, expanding to the Myrtle Grove area of Wilmington. The new cafe will open Feb. 2 at 5621 Carolina Beach Road, with a grand opening celebration set for Feb. 13–15 featuring giveaways, special offers, and a ribbon-cutting with local leaders. WWAY

New Hanover County will offer free tax preparation and filing services starting in early February to help residents save money during tax season. Beginning Feb. 2, IRS-certified volunteers will provide assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and AARP Tax-Aide programs, primarily serving low- to moderate-income residents regardless of age. WWAY

The historic Williams–Bordeaux Cottage, a Wrightsville Beach landmark built in 1917, has been moved to Wilmington as part of a preservation effort. The century-old home remained in the same family for more than 77 years and notably survived both the devastating 1934 fire and Hurricane Hazel in 1954; its exact new location has not been disclosed. WWAY

What You Should Know

A widespread Verizon wireless outage disrupted cellular voice and data service for millions of customers, triggering emergency alerts in major cities like Washington, D.C., and New York City. Verizon said engineers are working to resolve the issue, which began around midday Wednesday, while competitors like T-Mobile reported their own networks were functioning normally. NBC News

A federal agent shot and injured a Venezuelan man during an attempted immigration arrest in Minneapolis, sparking hours of clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Officials say the man fled a traffic stop and assaulted the agent before being shot in the leg, an incident that comes just one week after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in the city. The New York Times

President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act as tensions escalated in Minneapolis following a federal officer shooting a man during protests tied to immigration enforcement. Thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents have been deployed, clashes with protesters have involved tear gas and flash bangs, and state leaders have accused the federal government of an “occupation” amid growing unrest. NBC News

The Trump administration has completed its first $500 million oil sale involving Venezuela, marking the first deal since the U.S. ousted former President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. officials say proceeds are being held in U.S.-controlled accounts, including one in Qatar, with more sales expected as American oil companies prepare to invest in restoring Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. The Hill

Iran signaled a halt to executions and closed its airspace amid warnings that a U.S. military strike could be imminent under President Donald Trump. Iranian officials told Trump that executions have stopped in an apparent effort to avert action, while protests continue and Western officials say tensions suggest a possible U.S. attack remains on the table. The U.S. Sun

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