Good morning Wilmington!

Big wins happen on and off the field. Special Olympics New Hanover County is preparing for the Fall Games and needs 250 volunteers to help athletes shine. Whether you can lend a hand setting up or simply bring the energy to cheer them on, your support makes all the difference.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Public Safety Traffic Cameras being installed in Wimington

• Town of Carolina Beach Marks Centennial with Public Time Capsule Event

Red Light Cameras Out, Public Safety Traffic Cameras In for Wilmington

Wilmington is replacing its old red light camera system with a new network of traffic cameras focused on public safety rather than issuing fines. The city will install upgraded cameras at 13 intersections where the previous red light cameras were located, costing $271,000 over the next five years. Unlike red light cameras — which automatically issued $50 tickets when drivers ran a light — these new cameras are designed to assist law enforcement by livestreaming and recording video for investigations.

Wilmington Police Department will be able to access camera feeds in real time through its real-time crime center, helping officers reconstruct accidents, identify suspects, and respond more effectively when no witnesses are present. City council member David Joyner says the system represents a smarter investment in local safety infrastructure rather than revenue generation.

These traffic cameras differ from red light cameras in both purpose and function:

• Red light cameras were automated enforcement tools designed to ticket violators.

• Traffic cameras collect video to improve investigations, traffic management, and emergency response — not to issue fines.

View photos and locations of all 13 intersections where the new cameras are being installed here: Star News Online.

Town of Carolina Beach Marks Centennial with Public Time Capsule Event

[WECT] Carolina Beach is celebrating 100 years with a Centennial Time Capsule Ceremony today, from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. outside the council chambers at 1121 N. Lake Park Boulevard. Town leaders, including Mayor Lynn Barbee, will reflect on the town’s past century and its future. The event will feature remarks from local officials, a special poem reading, and the symbolic burial of the Centennial Time Capsule, which will preserve artifacts and memories from this historic year. The public is invited to attend and take part in this milestone celebration of Carolina Beach’s community and heritage.

Read More »

News Roundup

Local News

A 4-year-old boy was bitten by a copperhead snake at a North Carolina day care, and his family claims staff failed to call 911, forcing his guardian to rush him to the hospital. The day care has declined to comment on whether other parents were notified about the incident. WRAL

Wilmington City Council is set to vote on a public camping ordinance that would ban sleeping or camping on city property from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., aiming to address homelessness and public safety concerns. The ordinance, first introduced by Councilman Luke Waddell, was tabled last month but has prompted significant community discussion. WECT

What You Should Know

Israel launched an airstrike targeting Hamas’ leadership in Qatar, marking the second time Doha has been directly attacked since the Gaza war began, as tensions rise amid stalled ceasefire negotiations. Qatar condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation” of international law. AP News

A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack on a Charlotte train, and suspect Decarlos Brown has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. CATS has banned Brown for life, and city officials are facing renewed calls to improve public transit safety. ABC11

What Might Surprise You

President Donald Trump shared a video promoting the theory that vaccines cause autism, featuring figures whose medical practices have been widely condemned. The post comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine policies and ahead of upcoming CDC advisory meetings. Politico

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