Good morning Wilmington!

Wilmington isn’t the sleepy little town it used to be. Growth is happening fast—and with it, some serious growing pains. If you care about how this place grows, you’ve got to get involved. By reading this newsletter, you’re already taking the first step: staying informed and connected to what’s happening right here at home.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Growing Pains

• Forever Chemicals Force Port City Java to Filter

As Wilmington Grows, Can Its Infrastructure Keep Up?

[Carolina Public Press] Wilmington has transformed from a sleepy coastal town into a bustling hub of economic growth and development. But with land constraints, rising housing costs, and an exploding population, questions about sustainability are growing louder. Residents are divided—some celebrate the boom while others fear the loss of the city’s natural environment, affordability, and small-town charm. With surrounding counties growing rapidly and 20,000 housing units needed, the region must navigate how to grow responsibly—before it becomes unlivable.

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Forever Chemicals Force Port City Java to Filter Water Themselves—Without State Help

[WUNC] In Wilmington, Port City Java CEO Steve Schnitzler has spent thousands installing water filtration systems across all café locations to protect customers from PFAS—so-called “forever chemicals.” Despite improvements by local utilities, state-level regulation remains minimal, largely due to lobbying from the NC Chamber. A proposed bill holding PFAS polluters accountable has repeatedly stalled, blocked by business interests. Schnitzler and advocates like Cape Fear River Watch’s Dana Sargent are pushing back, calling for responsibility, transparency, and urgent regulatory reform.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Governor Josh Stein has ordered U.S. and state flags to fly at half-staff on May 15 in honor of North Carolina law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The gesture coincides with Peace Officers Memorial Day. WECT

• UNCW celebrated a historic milestone as a student became the university’s first-ever recipient of a doctorate in pharmaceutical chemistry, a degree launched just five years ago as part of the school's growing research focus. WWAY

• Lifeguard stands are being added to the four-wheel-drive beach at Fort Fisher, marking the first time this popular stretch will have designated lifeguard coverage to improve visitor safety during the busy summer season. WECT

What You Should Know

• U.S. energy officials are investigating Chinese-made power inverters after discovering undocumented communication devices inside them, raising national security concerns about potential remote access to critical infrastructure. These inverters, widely used in solar and wind energy systems, could be vulnerable to firewall circumvention via hidden cellular radios and other rogue components. MSN

• Trump's immigration team, led by Stephen Miller, is preparing mass deportation plans that may challenge constitutional protections like habeas corpus, with legal scholars raising red flags about civil liberties violations. CNBC

• A group of Afrikaner families has arrived in the U.S. seeking asylum under a program advanced by Trump, marking the first wave of white South African refugees brought in as part of a controversial pilot policy. Washington Post

• NOAA is asking employees to temporarily relocate to understaffed National Weather Service offices, as the agency faces critical staffing shortages at forecasting hubs across the U.S. The Hill

To-Do!

✅ Watch interview with UNCW Chancellor, Dr. Aswani K. Volety as he discusses his leadership and plans for UNCW

Thursday

FRIDAY