Biden visits Wilmington updates: Airport temporary flight restrictions begin
Wilmington International Airport to soon see Air Force One
By early afternoon, President Joe Biden’s expected arrival time at Wilmington International Airport’s Aero Center remains 3:55 p.m.
About two hours before Biden’s expected arrival, Wilmington International Airport appears not too busy. Some New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and Wilmington Police Department vehicles are in the area.
According to the airport’s website, flights for General Aviation users will be restricted between 1:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
-- Madison Lipe
By noon, Wilmington Convention Center relatively quiet
Aside from a heavy police presence in the area, things were largely quiet at the Wilmington Convention Center early Thursday afternoon. Several Wilmington Police Department vehicles were in the area, and deputies with the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office were also nearby.
Students made their way around Cape Fear Community College’s downtown campus Thursday afternoon, where classes were seemingly being held as usual.
-- Jamey Cross
More on Biden's speech, including a visit with Wilmington students
The White House released more details about President Joe Biden's expected remarks in Wilmington on Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled to speak at the Wilmington Convention Center at 4:30 p.m.
According to a morning news release, Biden is expected to announce a $3 billion investment to replace toxic lead pipes during his Wilmington presidential visit. Biden’s announcement “delivers funding to every state and U.S. territory to help address lead in drinking water while creating good-paying jobs,” the release reads. It added $76 million in funding from the president’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be allocated to lead pipe replacement across North Carolina.
Biden is expected to meet with faculty and students from a Wilmington school that replaced a water fountain with high levels of lead with funding from the president’s American Rescue Plan, according to the release. The total project will replace up to 1.7 million lead pipes nationwide.
-- Molly Wilhelm
Biden heads to Charlotte, then Wilmington
President Joe Biden will be visiting Wilmington today to talk about address environmental issues and infrastructure in the city and surrounding region.
After departing Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Air Force One around 11:45 a.m., his first stop will be in Charlotte to pay respects and meet family members of four law enforcement officers who died on Monday in a shootout.
Biden will leave Charlotte at 3:10 p.m. and should arrive at Wilmington International Airport around 3:55. Then he will head to the Wilmington Convention Center, where he will discuss his Investing in America agenda and how it is rebuilding infrastructure and creating jobs in Wilmington and across the country, according to an email announcement from the White House.
Biden in Wilmington: From arrival to traffic, here's more about the president's visit
Although Biden is seeking reelection in November, his visit is not a campaign visit, but a presidential visit.
"It cannot come at a more-critical time during a more-critical election year in a more-critical place," according to a statement Monday from the New Hanover County Democratic Party.
Biden's visit comes nearly two weeks after Donald Trump's campaign rally in Wilmington was postponed due to severe weather. A date has not been set yet for his return.
As for the issues Biden could be addressing, it is uncertain which ones he will cover, but PFAS filtration could be one on the list as well as the need for a Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement.
-- Madison Lipe
Check back here for updates throughout the day.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Updates on Joe Biden's visit to Wilmington, NC
