Good morning Wilmington!

It's the kind of week where you don’t need to travel far to find something good—especially if you're chasing live music. Topsail Beach brings back its free summer concert series, Topsail Sounds - starting tonight at 6:30 with Dear Maribella.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC House Takes First Step Toward Privatizing DMV Services

• NC Cities Cash In on Chemical Discharges Into Drinking Water

NC House Takes First Step Toward Privatizing DMV Services

[Carolina Journal] North Carolina lawmakers are exploring a major shift in how DMV services are delivered. The NC House’s proposed budget includes a pilot program allowing private vendors to handle driver’s license renewals in Guilford and Harnett counties starting in 2027. Aimed at easing long-standing frustrations with DMV inefficiencies, the move follows years of complaints and attempts to modernize. Additional pilot programs will test in-home renewals and allow driving schools to give road tests. While state offices will remain open, this initiative could mark a permanent shift in DMV operations — if it works.

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Toxic Trade-Off: NC Cities Cash In on Chemical Discharges Into Drinking Water

[Carolina Public Press] Three North Carolina cities — Asheboro, Greensboro, and Reidsville — won a legal battle in 2024 to continue dumping large amounts of 1,4-dioxane, a likely human carcinogen, into rivers that feed the Cape Fear. Despite mounting health concerns and downstream opposition, the cities are being paid by industries to release the chemical. The EPA recently stepped in, pressuring NC regulators to tighten discharge permits — or risk federal takeover. Local water utilities and communities are bracing for potential long-term consequences.

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News Roundup

Local News

• Emergency crews responded to a car that veered into a pond in Monkey Junction, where a bystander helped the driver escape before authorities arrived. New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
  WECT

• Traffic disruptions are expected in Wilmington due to film production, with closures and intermittent delays occurring in downtown and other areas. The city is working with production crews to minimize the impact on drivers.
  WECT

What You Should Know

• Colorado Molotov-Cocktail Suspect Disguised Himself as Gardener, in what authorities are calling a targeted killing. Police say the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, had multiple weapons and fled the scene before being apprehended.
  Wall Street Journal

• Mount Etna erupted in Sicily, sending lava fountains and a massive ash cloud into the sky, grounding flights and prompting warnings for residents near the volcano. Authorities are monitoring activity as the eruption continues.
  CBS News

What Might Surprise You

• An internal report reveals that FEMA staff were left confused by leadership decisions during a major 2023 disaster, citing communication breakdowns and unclear roles. Some employees described the response as chaotic and demoralizing.
  Yahoo News

• Walt Disney's granddaughter claims the family never wanted his image revived as a robot, responding to rumors and speculative projects about recreating Disney with AI or robotics. She insists the late mogul valued imagination—not artificial immortality.
  MSN

Tuesday

Wednesday