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Port City Daily •

Bringing Oak Island’s shoreline to life: Town partners with UNCW on resilience project

OAK ISLAND — Oysters may be the saving grace for Oak Island’s marsh shorelines as a new partnership between the town and the University of North Carolina Wilmington begins with the goal of testing nature-based solutions for coastal resilience.

On July 8, the Oak Island Town Council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with UNCW, establishing the framework for a three-year investigative project using livi...
Port City Daily •

‘First in flight, first in business’: Governor visits downtown as NC named top state for business

NORTH CAROLINA — Gov. Josh Stein and a national media outlet appeared at the Battleship North Carolina Thursday morning to make the announcement that the Tar Heel State ranked on a popular poll as the top place to do business nationwide.

CNBC’s annual “America’s Top State for Business” study nods to the state’s economy and workforce opportunities. This recognition is a natio...
Port City Daily •

Leland brewery gets artsy with beer-fueled gallery

LELAND – A brewery that unexpectedly closed in December will gain new life — and more color — as new owners are taking over a commercial space in Leland, with plans to open before the end of summer.  

The Museum of Beer and Art is preparing to open its doors at 9600 Ploof Road, with the goal of blending beer, art and live music. Though the opening date is uncertain, the owners hope to start serving in August, pendi...
Port City Daily •

Southport planning chair not reappointed, political retaliation questioned by board members

SOUTHPORT — In a contentious vote, Southport’s aldermen has chosen a new leader to conduct business on its planning board.

After serving since 2022, Sue Hodgin was not reappointed to her position on the board Monday, despite support from some current planning board members and aldermen. The Southport Board of Aldermen voted to fill her seat, 4-2, with a new appointee, Doug Luehe, during a tense meeting....
Port City Daily •

Hampstead development pitched for residential and commercial use

HAMPSTEAD — A proposed mixed-use development in Hampstead may bring 70 new homes and commercial space to a 20-acre property after receiving conditional rezoning approval this week. 

On Tuesday, July 1, the Pender County Planning Board voted 4-1 for CKBuff Enterprises to change the zoning of the 20.35-acre site on the east side of US Highway 17. Once residential performance, it’s now planned development with the...
Port City Daily •

Balancing conservation and construction: Threatened woodpecker still faces pressure in growing city

BOILING SPRING LAKES — As housing developments begin to push deeper into Boiling Spring Lakes forests, developers risk colliding with the federally protected red-cockaded woodpecker, a species facing endangerment since 1973. However, the city is upholding its long-standing protections.

The red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) — a small, black-and-white bird that thrives in longleaf pine ecosystems — is facing moun...
Port City Daily •

Free therapy partnership aims to support Wilmington firefighters

WILMINGTON — Mental health struggles have Wilmington’s firefighters battling more than flames. Through a new initiative, the Wilmington Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 129 plans to address their members’ psychiatric needs as they navigate their roles as first responders.

Through a partnership with Allora Rise Counseling and Therapy, the initiative aims to provide mental health support through...
Port City Daily •

Leland planning board backs new flood development rules, now primed for final vote

LELAND — Brunswick County’s fastest-growing town is poised to expand development rules in its most vulnerable areas — a move that could reshape how and where homes are built across thousands of acres.

Following a unanimous approval that was made by the Leland planning board on Tuesday, June 24, town council will soon vote at its July 17 meeting to adopt an amendment to the town’s flood damage prevention ordinance. The goal i...
Port City Daily •

Popular Surf City brewery eyes third location, could have city government as its landlord

SURF CITY — A third location for the Salty Turtle Beer Company may be on the horizon as Surf City looks to lease their welcome center.

Surf City Town Council voted 4-1 to advertise a potential lease agreement with the Salty Turtle Beer Company to occupy space in the town’s welcome center during last week’s June 20 workshop. The lease proposal will return to the council for final approval in August...
Port City Daily •

Southport passes budget, avoiding $1.4M anticipated deficit

SOUTHPORT — Six months after facing a projected $1.4-million budget shortfall, the Southport Board of Aldermen voted on a budget that closed the gap without raising property taxes or dipping into reserves. 

The Southport Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to adopt their FY25-26 budget a week ahead of their deadline. They approved the budget during a special meeting on Monday, June 23. 

When Southport’s budget process beg...
Port City Daily •

Investigation into Leland townhome explosion continues, debris clearing next

LELAND — A month after a townhouse exploded in a Leland neighborhood, investigators are still looking into the cause of the incident, however, they will begin cleanup now that insurance agencies have assessed damage.  

Investigators began clearing debris Thursday, June 19, from a collapsed townhome at the center of a May 16 explosion on Suncrest Way in Leland. This work should be completed by Saturday, June...
Port City Daily •

1,400 homes on the way to Brunswick, additional 1,700 in Leland tabled to next month

BRUNSWICK COUNTY – Despite public opposition over traffic and overdevelopment, the Brunswick County planning board approved this week three developments to cumulatively bring 1,405 new units to the county.

But not included in the total is another 1,722 single-family units on approximately 594 acres on Hooper Road in Leland. The applicant, Colliers Engineering and Design, asked to table the proposal at the...
Port City Daily •

Petition against Southport paid parking takes off, city to table program consideration

SOUTHPORT — Business owners in one Brunswick County town are voicing their disapproval of the board of aldermen’s consideration of paid parking in Southport, following a presentation from parking vendor Otto Connect earlier this month. The aldermen will consider tabling discussion further at this week’s meeting. 

Pamela Sexton, who has owned the gift shop Cattail Cottage for 17 years, fears if paid parking were to be im...
Port City Daily •

Proposed Brunswick County budget won’t have tax change

BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Brunswick County’s proposed budget will keep the current tax rate  going into next fiscal year, as the county continues to face a growing population.

Last month, Brunswick County Manager Steve Stone presented the $416-million balanced budget, which represents a 6.2% increase over fiscal year 2024-2025. He stated the budget would not include an ad valorem tax rate change from the current 34.2...
Nebraska News Service •

From conservation to career: How the Lincoln Children’s Zoo teaches the next generation of environmentalists

With one of the most renowned zoos in the U.S. only 60 miles away, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo can sometimes be overshadowed. However, the zoo offers the community an opportunity to connect with endangered species in the hope of fostering a connection with the animals it cares for. 

Founded in 1965, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited institution aims to be an educational family destination where parents and children can learn about and interact with nature.

As an AZA-accredited instit...
Nebraska News Service •

Turn N Burn barrel racing series brings people together through competition

Between hoots and hollers, horses pounded across the arena of the Sandhills Global Event Center as riders competed in the Turn N Burn barrel races on March 7-9. 

With events like barrel racing, goat tying, steer riding, chute dogging and more, youth and adult participants competed for cash prizes as well as horse nutrition products. 

The Turn N Burn barrel racing series takes place at the Sandhills Global Event Center and is ran by wife and husband Shelley and Mike Schaefer of. Like this race, the...
Nebraska News Service •

Minority Health Disparities Initiative aims to engage in health equity solutions during annual conference

As guests filed into conference rooms of the Nebraska Innovation Campus the Minority Health Disparities Initiative led them through talks about barriers to healthcare minority communities in Nebraska face.

The Minority Health Disparities Initiative hosted its annual Health Equity Conference Feb. 28, 2025, highlighting a variety of demographics such as immigrant and rural populations, centered on providing the Nebraska community with inclusive and equitable healthcare.

The conference offered guests, whether medical professionals or interested members of the public, opportunities to gain insight into recent research and data about what is creating barriers to healthcare for patients.

“While we face uncertain times our team of staff and researchers have continued to conduct pivotal research for Nebraska this past year,” said Devan Crawford, Minority Health Disparities research support staff member.
Nebraska News Service •

LUX Center for the Arts creates inclusive spaces for Lincoln artists

For 48 years, the LUX Center for the Arts has been a facet of the Lincoln community working to provide the public with an opportunity to appreciate and participate in the arts. Today, they are also helping to reestablish the University Place neighborhood as a bustling arts district. From its conception, the LUX has been a place of learning and community. That is still true today. It is the goal of Joe Shaw, executive director of the center, to make the LUX a hub for creativity that is accessible...
The Daily Nebraskan •

UNL community celebrates LGBTQA+ Center anniversary, history on campus

A joyful spirit filled the Wick Alumni Center Wednesday evening as about 88 people gathered to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s LGBTQA+ Center.

University staff, students and faculty gathered together to commemorate the LGBTQA+ Center’s history as they spent the evening conversing with one another, posing together in a photo booth and flipping through flyers, photos and articles about the center over the last 15 years.

In addition, Chancellor Ronnie Green, the...
The Daily Nebraskan •

Dinner event with Czech ambassador celebrates Czech culture in Nebraska

Amid Czech folk music and socializing, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln welcomed the ambassador of the Czech Republic to Nebraska during a diplomatic mission dinner party at the Nebraska East Union on Wednesday.The goal of the event was to celebrate Czech culture in and outside of Nebraska, showcase the collaboration between the Czech Republic and the state thus far and highlight connections the Czech embassy hopes to make with the state in the future.The dinner began with a welcome of Czech f...
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