Today
in Wilmington
Friday, January 9th, 2026
Good morning, Wilmington. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 9th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Asta, the oldest Asian small-clawed otter at the aquarium, died Wednesday, Jan. 7 after being humanely euthanized at Fort Fisher due to age-related decline; she outlived her typical lifespan (12–15 years) by reaching 17½ years. WECT
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Chick-fil-A opened its eighth location on Shipyard Boulevard on Thursday, Jan. 8 with cow-themed festivities and free kid’s meals for customers in cow print. The new store, owned by Bennett Goss, donated $25,000 to Feeding America and created about 90 local jobs. Wilmington Star-News
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The Public Archaeology Corps is working to find a new lab after an eviction notice forces it to vacate its Front Street space by the first week of February — volunteers are racing to secure a home for historical artifacts documenting local life. FOX Wilmington
- ➤ This weekend offers varied live events for locals: Sam Jay and Donna the Buffalo perform on Friday while a floating lantern ceremony takes place Sunday at CAM’s Reflection Pond (where visitors launch lanterns to honor hopes and memories). Port City Daily
- ➤ Wilmington is set for an exciting weekend of live music and theater — locals can head to the 17th annual hard rock music festival Lamefest at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern on Jan. 9-10 and watch the 80s-themed rock musical Rock of Ages at Thalian Hall. Wilmington Star-News
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Wilmington Fire Department released its 2025 performance statistics on Monday, highlighting 20,000 calls, rescues of 472 people from burning structures, and helping 2,263 residents return to their homes (saving over $3 billion in property value). Assistant Chief Derek Mickler said the report shows the department’s positive impact on the community. WWAY
- ➤ City officials are looking for a partner to run a low-barrier homeless shelter on a city-owned property and envision a 30- to 40-bed facility, though no site has been chosen yet. The council also revamped the Housing Affordability Committee by adding two community seats to better address housing needs. Port City Daily
- ➤ The City of Wilmington held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 7 for its new Parks Operations Facility. WECT
- ➤ A power outage has affected 419 Duke Energy customers in downtown Wilmington since 8:13 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 (near N. 3rd St. and Walnut between N. Front St. and N. 7th) with power set to be restored near the Isabel Holmes Bridge by 12:30 p.m. WECT
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Thomas Construction Group is expanding MedNorth Health Center with a new medical building next to the clinic at 925 N. 4th Street in Wilmington; work is underway with the facility scheduled to open this spring, and renovations of the existing building will follow to improve operations. WECT
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Floating Lantern Ceremony
2-7 p.m. — Cameron Art Museum — Free outdoor event — Create and float a lantern while enjoying live music and reflecting on special moments.
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Charleston Cougars at UNC Wilmington Seahawks Women's Basketball
7-11 p.m. — Trask Coliseum — Tickets available — Catch the action as the Cougars take on the Seahawks in a thrilling women's basketball matchup.
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Hampton Pirates vs. UNC Wilmington Seahawks Women's Basketball
7-11 p.m. — Trask Coliseum — $15 — Experience an exciting women's basketball matchup between the Pirates and Seahawks.
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