UNCW students move in this weekend, and that means more than just full dorms — it’s going to affect traffic across Wilmington. Expect heavier-than-usual congestion along South College Road, on campus, and in nearby neighborhoods Friday and Saturday. The move-in kicks off UNCW’s “UNCWelcome” series of events, including a brand-new HawkFest with rides, food trucks, live music, and even a drone show.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• 8,000-Year-Old Artifacts Found at Ashe County Archaeological Dig

• Wilmington Joins Nationwide Protests Against Avelo Airlines’ ICE Contract

8,000-Year-Old Artifacts Found at Ashe County Archaeological Dig

[App State] An archaeological team from Appalachian State University has uncovered an ancient Native American campsite beneath the vegetable garden at the Blackburn Vannoy Estate and Farm in Ashe County. Led by Dr. Alice Wright, the team discovered dozens of artifacts — including quartz projectile points, pottery shards, a storage pit, and a hearth — dating back between 8,000 and 1,000 years. The site likely served as a seasonal hunting and gathering location for ancestors of the Cherokee, Catawba, and other tribes. The dig reveals long-standing human resilience and adaptation to the region’s unique landscape and environmental challenges.

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Wilmington Joins Nationwide Protests Against Avelo Airlines’ ICE Contract

[WHQR] Local advocacy groups in Wilmington, including the Immigrant Allies Forum, Indivisible Wilmington, and the Democratic Socialists of America, joined a nationwide protest against Avelo Airlines over its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct deportation flights. Protestors positioned themselves near Wrightsville Beach to reach vacationers, urging them to choose airlines that align with their values. Organizers argue that county funds have supported Avelo’s marketing, despite the human rights concerns tied to ICE deportations. The protests are part of a broader national campaign to pressure the budget airline, which recently opened a base in Wilmington, to drop the deal.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Two Oak Island firefighters received the Medal of Heroism for bravely rescuing a pilot from a burning plane crash, acting swiftly despite the dangerous conditions.
  WECT

• The Willie Stargell Foundation has exceeded $1 million in donations to the Novant Health Dialysis Center in Wilmington, significantly supporting patient care and treatment access.
  WWAY

What You Should Know

• President Trump is preparing federal measures targeting crime and homelessness in Washington, D.C., including a possible National Guard deployment—though city officials dispute his depiction of escalating crime.
  New York Times

• The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow immigration profiling in Southern California, arguing that appearance, language, and location could justify stops—moves that critics say are discriminatory and unconstitutional.
  San Francisco Chronicle

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday