Good morning Wilmington!

Enjoy this great weather before the yellow haze sets in!

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC Auditor Announces Major Reviews of Lottery, Bonds, and UNC System

• $1.3B Cape Fear River Dredging Plan Faces Pushback

NC Auditor Announces Major Reviews of Lottery, Bonds, and UNC System

Carolina Journal North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek says his office will soon release several major audits examining how public money is spent, including reviews of the North Carolina Education Lottery, voter-approved general obligation bonds, and the UNC system. Boliek says the effort is part of a broader push for transparency and accountability, with additional investigations underway into potential criminal activity at several municipalities and entities. The auditor’s office is also modernizing operations with new technology, expanded analytics, and a partnership with Microsoft to strengthen oversight of state finances.

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Wilmington Harbor Deepening Project Meets Environmental Concerns and Official Objections

WHQR A proposed $1.3 billion plan to deepen the Cape Fear River channel from 42 to 47 feet to accommodate larger cargo ships is facing growing opposition from state regulators and local residents. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has formally objected to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Wilmington Harbor 403 Project, citing environmental concerns such as PFAS contamination, ecosystem damage, flooding, and erosion. Wilmington City Council has also voiced concerns, requesting additional studies before the project moves forward.

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News Roundup

Local News

DISH Network may remove WECT from its lineup on March 10 if a renewal agreement is not reached, potentially cutting off access to local news, NBC shows, and sports for subscribers. Viewers can still watch WECT through alternatives like antennas, streaming apps, or other providers such as DIRECTV, Spectrum, YouTube TV, Hulu Live, and Fubo. WECT

The Brunswick County Planning Board approved three new residential developments totaling over 5,000 homes, despite resident concerns about infrastructure, schools, and quality of life. The projects—Cherry Tree, Mirasol, and Canopy Planned Development—will add homes ranging from 340 to 3,700, including a large senior housing component, prompting debates over overdevelopment and loss of farmland. WECT

What You Should Know

Ibrahim Kayumi and Emir Balat have been charged after improvised explosive devices were thrown near the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, an incident authorities say may be “ISIS-inspired” terrorism. Police say the devices were designed to injure or kill and were thrown during protests near Gracie Mansion, prompting a federal investigation and terrorism-related charges. NBC News

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a direct warning to Donald Trump, telling him to “watch himself” or face elimination amid escalating regional tensions. The threat comes as missile and drone attacks linked to Iran were reported across parts of the Middle East, including near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, raising fears of a broader conflict. Metro

Donald Trump held a news conference addressing the ongoing U.S.-Israel military strikes in Iran, discussing the conflict and taking questions from reporters. During the briefing, he also responded to topics including voter ID legislation, relations with Venezuela, and the possibility of regime change in Cuba following a Republican policy retreat in Florida. C-SPAN

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