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Temperatures are expected to stay in the 90s, with the "real feel" outside pushing into the triple digits, through next weekend

USA TODAY NETWORK

Summer is off to a sizzling start in the Cape Fear region as temperatures surge into the 90s and, throw in the humidity, spike into the triple digits.

The hot start to summer, which officially began Friday, June 20, is due to a heat dome that has set up shop over much of the eastern half of the United States, leaving temperatures rising and folks choking on stuffy heat as they crank the air conditioning and search for ways to stay cool.

What is a heat dome?

According to the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a heat dome is when a strong high-pressure system in the atmosphere traps warm air over an area, pushing hot, humid air toward the ground. Winds out of the south also will push warm, humid weather from the Gulf up the Eastern Seaboard, helping keep temperatures toasty.

More than 15 million peoplefrom the Mid-Atlantic area to parts of Florida are under a major heat risk starting this weekend through most of next week, according to NOAA's National Weather Service.

Although highs will top out in the mid-90s, it will feel a lot hotter, with the heat index − how it actually feels outside, including humidity − in the triple digits. That will make it feel especially sticky, hotter and limit the ability of buildings and human bodies to cool overnight.

What can we expect in Wilmington?

According to the National Weather Service's Wilmington office, temperatures in the Cape Fear region will start rising this weekend, with temperatures creeping into the low to mid-90s and heat indexes pushing into triple digits − especially inland.

Temperatures will then stay in the sticky 90s through next weekend, with the "real feel" outside into the 100s on most days.

Even the usual pop-up thunderstorms the Port City sees a lot during the summer might not help cool us down, with dry weather forecast for most days, said Lauren Warner, a meteorologist with the local weather office.

So any good news on the immediate weather front?

"I mean it's going to be sunny and we're going to have a break from the rain," Warner said with a wry laugh.

Is something like this new?

Researchers have warned that spates of extreme heat are a symptom of our warming weather tied to climate change, with many communities and people unaware and unprepared to deal with the impacts from the unusually hot weather.

Five of North Carolina's six warmest years ever have occurred since 2016. According to the N.C. State Climate Office, last year's statewide average temperature of 61.5 ranks as the second-warmest year on record − just behind the warmest year in 2019. Each year in the past decade also ranks among the top 22 warmest on record dating back to 1895. In Wilmington, the average daily temperature in 2024 was 66.1 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The normal average temperature is 64.4.

Heat safety basics

Contributing: Joel Shannon from USA TODAY.

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at [email protected] or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

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Nearly two years into a relatively new industry in Wilmington, the amount of filming was set to ramp up.

According to a story in the Wilmington Morning Star on June 29, 1985, at least nine films would be connected to Dino De Laurentiis' movie studio on 23rd Street (now Cinespace Studios) by the remainder of the year into early 1986.

Some of those movies, such as "Maximum Overdrive" and "Blue Velvet," are now well-known in the Port City.

The studio, which was completed in 1984, was part of the North Carolina Film Corporation. A year earlier, "Firestarter" was the first major motion picture filmed in Wilmington. In the meantime, De Laurentiis was in the process of building the studio.

While the studio was ready to handle the extra business, not all went to plan.

According to the article, "Red Dragon" was on the docket for 1985. However, it was called "Manhunter" when released in 1986. Based off a 1981 book called "Red Dragon," it was the first screen appearance by serial killer Hannibal Lecter.

Years after leaving Wilmington, De Laurentiis produced "Red Dragon" in 2002. It became part of the Hannibal Lecter franchise of "Silence of the Lambs" fame and brought back Anthony Hopkins as Lecter.

Another missed film? "Triple Identity" was scheduled to begin shooting in September 1985 with Arnold Schwarzenegger set to film in Wilmington. However, that might have been a working title for "Raw Deal," which Schwarzenegger filmed that year in the Port City.

The former chief marketing officer for a Wilmington digital banking firm has been indicted in New York state on allegations he embezzled millions from at least two former employers then splurged on things like lavish trips, gourmet meals, luxury brands and a $150,000 engagement ring.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced June 23, 2025, that Michael J. Collins, 61, has been indicted on one count of grand larceny in the first degree, one count of grand larceny in the second degree, and six counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.

A statement from the Manhattan DA's Office alleges that between March 8, 2016, and April 28, 2024, Collins embezzled nearly $5 million while employed as the chief marketing officer of a financial education company before leaving in 2022. Then $1 million from an education-technology company where he was the chief marketing and revenue officer.

The allegations

The Manhattan DA alleges that Collins used the same scheme at both companies.

"He created and controlled two fictitious marketing consulting companies, Quattro Quadrati LLC and Regiondrivers LLC, which he incorporated in New York. To make them appear legitimate, he obtained multiple email addresses, phone numbers, websites, and bank accounts for each," the release said.

"COLLINS then used his position as a marketing executive to purportedly hire Quattro Quadrati and Regiondrivers as marketing vendors and consultants and submitted invoices for non-existent work which his employers paid."

The release alleges 144 fraudulent invoices were submitted to the financial education company and five invoices to the education-technology company.

Collins also allegedly transferred the funds from the bank accounts of the shell companies directly to his personal bank accounts "and used the stolen funds for executive club memberships, luxury brands, fine dining, and extensive travel and lodging, including over 150 flight tickets purchased during this period."

It's said that the engagement ring was purchased at a boutique jewelry store and paid for with the bank account of the fraudulent Quattro Quadrati LLC.

On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, a spokesperson for nCino Inc., headquartered in Wilmington, with its main campus in Mayfaire on Parker Farm Drive, said via email that Collins was "no longer associated with nCino.

"As this matter is actively being investigated by law enforcement it would be inappropriate for us to comment further," said Mara D'Auria, executive director of nCino's Global Brand and Communications.

On a LinkedIn page that appears to belong to Collins, it states he was employed as the chief marketing officer at nCino since June and before that, as executive director of global market strategy there, beginning in January 2025.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July have become a tradition to celebrate the date when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.

You can see fireworks displays on Independence Day at four locations in the Wilmington area.

Wilmington

The city of Wilmington presents the 4th of July fireworks display. It will be held downtown on Friday, July 4, beginning at 9:05 p.m. and will be viewable anywhere along the riverfront. Note that there will be a boating safety zone for 30 minutes after the fireworks around the launch site. No thru boating traffic will be allowed.

North Carolina 4th of July Festival at Southport

The North Carolina 4th of July Festival at Southport will be held on Friday, July 4 from 9-9:30 p.m. at Waterfront Park 146 E. Bay St., Southport.

Ocean Isle Beach

The town of Ocean Isle Beach will hold its fireworks celebration on Friday, July 4. The fireworks will be launched at 9:15 p.m. from the Ocean Isle Beach Pier at 1 W. First St. No individual fireworks should be launched.

Surf City

The town of Surf City is hosting an Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 3 from 6-9 p.m. at Soundside Park, located at 517 Roland Ave., Surf City. Along with fireworks, food trucks will be on hand as well as live music by Dalton Davis.

Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at [email protected].