Good morning Wilmington!

The Powerball jackpot is closing in on a billion dollars — and tonight's not the drawing, which means you've still got time.

The jackpot has hit $975 million, making it the eighth-largest in lottery history, with no winner in months. Tomorrow night's drawing could be the one. The lump-sum cash option is $422.3 million. Odds of winning: 1 in 292 million. But hey, somebody's got to win it.

Catch the drawing Wednesday night on WITN, just before the 11 o'clock news.

In today's Port City Pulse:

• UNCW Chancellor Named to 2026 Business NC Power List

• NHC Invests $2M Blue Clay Road Townhomes Below Market Rate

UNCW Chancellor Aswani Volety Named to 2026 Business NC Power List

UNCW News — UNCW Chancellor Aswani K. Volety has been recognized on Business North Carolina's 2026 Power List, which highlights the state's most impactful leaders in business, education, and public life. NC Labor Commissioner Luke Farley sent a congratulatory letter marking the honor. Since joining UNCW in 2022, Volety has led major initiatives in research expansion, regional economic development, and community partnerships — building UNCW's profile as both an academic institution and an economic engine for the Cape Fear region.

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NHC Sheriff Announces Flock Camera Policy Changes After WECT Investigation

WECT Investigates — After months of scrutiny and sustained WECT coverage, New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon stepped before cameras Monday to address the county’s controversial Flock license plate readers — and announced a slate of new accountability measures. McMahon cut the agency’s data retention period from 90 days to 30, launched a public Flock transparency portal, and committed to monthly internal audits of how the system is used (previously annual). The NHCSO’s 19 cameras captured 774,174 unique plate reads in the last 30 days, and staff searched the system roughly 6,000 times since June 1. McMahon read a prepared statement to WECT but answered just one follow-up question before removing his microphone and returning to his office. Flock critics with the DeFlock advocacy group are expected to address county commissioners on Monday, Aug. 17.

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News Roundup

Local News

The Powerball jackpot has hit $975 million ahead of Wednesday's drawing — the eighth-largest jackpot in lottery history — with no winner yet. Lump-sum cash option: $422.3 million. Odds: 1 in 292 million. Catch the drawing Wednesday night on WITN before the 11 p.m. news. WECT

What You Should Know

President Trump signed an executive order Monday directing that the MMR vaccine be split into three separate shots — measles, mumps, and rubella — delivered at different doctor visits. No standalone vaccines currently exist; any changes would require new clinical trials. Doctors and public health officials pushed back broadly. The Hill

What Might Surprise You

Trump reportedly boarded Air Force One in Turkey last month, slipped out a back door into a catering truck, and flew to Britain on a separate military plane — leaving journalists and staff on what officials called a "decoy" aircraft. The Washington Post broke the story; online reaction was swift and fierce. Mediaite

Ben Jones — Cooter Davenport, the mechanic who kept the Duke boys rolling on "The Dukes of Hazzard" for all seven seasons — died Sunday at 84 after a heart attack at his Virginia home. Jones later served two terms in Congress from Georgia. Spectrum News

North Carolina

Roy Cooper leads Republican Michael Whatley by 8 points (50%–43%) in a new HPU poll in the NC U.S. Senate race — virtually unchanged since May. A separate Fox News poll puts the gap at 9 points. The Hill

National News

A mother and her 5-month-old daughter died Saturday when their boat capsized near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. The unlicensed, over-capacity boat operator was arrested on 13 federal counts; 12 others were injured. AP/HuffPost