Happy April Fool's Day Wilmington!

It's easier than ever to get fooled thanks to the accessibility and capability of Artificial intelligence. That coupled with the fact that REAL EVENTS in the news can be so hard to believe. Keep your wits about you Wilmington and don't get fooled. Thankfully the April Fool's holiday is just one day.

Case in point: NASA is literally launching a crew to the moon tonight at 6:24 PM EDT. That's real. Artemis II — four astronauts heading for a lunar flyby, the first crewed mission to the moon's vicinity since Apollo 17 in 1972. You can't make that up, even today.

One more thing before we get to the news: Britt's Donuts opens this Friday, April 3. First season without Bobby Nivens. The Pleasure Island Chamber says there'll be a small ceremony before the first donut comes off the wheel. Mark your calendar.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• Mark Robinson's Family Nonprofit Still Owes NC $101K

• NC Leads Nation in Crypto Investment Scams 💸

Mark Robinson's Family Nonprofit Still Owes NC $101K — Now in Collections

Balanced Nutrition — a child care nutrition nonprofit run by former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's wife, Yolanda Hill — still owes $101,142 to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, and the state has now referred the debt to a collection agency.

NC DHHS referred the balance to collections on March 24. The nonprofit was ordered to repay the funds in early 2025 after a state investigation found that child care nutrition grant money had been misused. Following the review, Robinson family members were banned from future participation in state-run child care nutrition programs. Balanced Nutrition closed abruptly in April 2025 shortly after DHHS launched its inquiry.

As of this writing, no payment has been received.

Read more at WUNC →

One Click, Everything Gone: NC Leads Nation in Crypto Investment Scams 💸

North Carolina ranks first in the nation for cyber investment scam complaints, according to a new WRAL investigation — and the numbers are staggering. In February 2026 alone, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of NC seized $61+ million in USDT (Tether) tied to so-called "pig butchering" schemes, where scammers build fake romantic or investment relationships before draining victims' accounts.

Twenty-five NC victims lost a combined $3.4 million to crypto ATM scams in 2024 alone — an average of $133,000 per person. The primary targets are elderly and isolated individuals. Scammers now use AI-generated pitches, manipulated charts, and fake investment dashboards to appear legitimate.

State leaders have announced a statewide initiative targeting crypto ATM fraud specifically. If someone you know is sending money through a crypto ATM based on an online relationship or investment tip, that's the signal. Full investigation at WRAL →

News Roundup

Local News

NC Highway Patrol is working to fill nearly 300 vacancies — NCHP has roughly 285–300 open trooper positions statewide — about 2–3 per county. The core problem: North Carolina ranks 49th nationally for starting trooper pay at $55,000/year. At least 30 other agencies offer better starting salaries. No current recruitment window is open. WECT

CFCC named a Top Ten Military Friendly School for 2026–2027 — Cape Fear Community College earned its Military Friendly® designation again, ranking as a Top Ten Large Community College and Military Spouse Friendly School. CFCC supported 1,093 veterans and military-affiliated students in 2025 — a 22% increase. New this year: veterans can use VA education benefits for CDL and EMT certificate programs. The college also recently opened a Veterans Support Center at its Surf City location. WWAYTV3

Wilmington's No Kings rally was part of the largest single-day protest in American history — Saturday's downtown demonstration was one of 3,300+ No Kings Day events across the country that drew an estimated 8–9 million total participants. Locally, two marches converged on Thalian Hall with thousands turning out. U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester was among the speakers. WWAYTV3

What You Should Know

Artemis II launches tonight — first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972 — NASA's Artemis II mission lifts off from Kennedy Space Center tonight at 6:24 PM EDT. Crew: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch (NASA), and Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency). The 10-day mission will conduct a lunar flyby — not a landing, but the closest humans have been to the moon in 54 years. Glover is the first person of color and Koch is the first woman to travel to lunar vicinity. 80% favorable launch weather. If you want to watch: NASA's YouTube stream starts around 4 PM. AP News

Not April Fool’s

Kristi Noem's husband has some explaining to do — Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was reportedly "devastated" after the Daily Mail published photos allegedly showing her husband Bryon living a double life — including online fetish forum activity and roughly $25,000 sent via PayPal and Cash App to contacts in those forums. The family requested privacy and prayers. People

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz claims the U.S. has recovered non-human spacecraft, adding fuel to ongoing debates about unidentified aerial phenomena. The comments, reported by a conservative outlet, highlight continued speculation and political discussion surrounding government transparency and alleged extraterrestrial technology, though such claims remain unverified by mainstream scientific or defense authorities. The Gateway Pundit

National News

Tiger Woods DUI affidavit: hydrocodone found, not guilty plea entered — New details from the affidavit show officers found two white hydrocodone pills in Woods' pocket and observed bloodshot eyes, extremely dilated pupils, and profuse sweating despite the AC being on. His BAC tested at 0.000 — twice — meaning no alcohol. He refused a urine test for controlled substances. Woods has entered a not guilty plea on two misdemeanor charges and has announced he is seeking treatment. CNN

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday