Gov. Roy Cooper has taken steps to to assist Bertie and surrounding counties hit by the tornado during Hurricane Isaias Aug. 4 as officials in Brunswick County, where the storm made landfall, meet with state officials to address damage.
Bacteria Levels High at 2 NC Water Accesses
State recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in water at accesses in New Hanover and Carteret counties that exceed state and EPA recreational water quality standards.
SQUIRRELS! Art Exhibit Opens Saturday
Airlie Gardens in Wilmington will showcase Aug. 22-Nov. 30 it’s eighth annual art exhibit, SQUIRRELS!, which features 10 oversized, fiberglass squirrel sculptures placed throughout the grounds.
Online Tool Details 1898 Wilmington Coup
New Hanover County’s Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, Public Library and Information Technology Department worked together to create a map and timeline documenting the Wilmington Massacre and Coup d’état of 1898.
Pamlico Sound Ferries Back to 2 Trips a Day
With the return of M/V Silver Lake to Ocracoke, ferry routes taking passengers to and from Ocracoke from both Swan Quarter and Cedar Island returned Sunday to two-boat schedules.
Chemours Must Cut GenX Water Pollution
Conservation groups and state environmental regulators announced Thursday an agreement under which the Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility must reduce by at least 99% GenX and other polyfluoroalkyl substances from reaching the Cape Fear River and downstream drinking water supplies.
Lake Mattamuskeet Plan Virtual Meeting Set
A virtual meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 on efforts to implement the Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan approved in August 2019 to restore the lake’s water quality and reduce flooding throughout the watershed.
Citations Available As Flounder Season Begins
Catch a flounder worth bragging about? Starting again next week, you can prove your fish tale true with help from the state.
Washington Mayor Mac Hodges Dies
Washington Mayor Mac Hodges, 69, died Wednesday as a result of COVID-19 complications.
CRC Subcommittee to meet Thursday
A state Coastal Resources Commission subcommittee will meet by video conference at 3 p.m. Thursday to continue the discussion of the development line and static line exception options on oceanfront beaches.
Science Advisory Board to Meet Aug. 31
The state Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board will meet virtually at 10 a.m. Aug. 31 to discuss public health and environmental standards for hexavalent chromium and new mammalian toxicology studies for standard setting on GenX.
Webinars Set on New Resilience Grants
State Division of Coastal Management staff are hosting on Aug. 18 and Aug. 25 interactive webinars on a new grant funding opportunity for resiliency projects by local governments in the 20 coastal counties.
Pocosin Lakes Draft Plan Public Input Sought
The public can submit to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service until Aug. 31 comments on the Draft Water Management Plan and Environmental Assessment for Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
Onslow Shellfish Leases Hearing Sept. 15
The state Division of Marine Fisheries is holding a public hearing Sept. 15 on proposed shellfish leases in Onslow County near Topsail Sound, near Permuda Island and in New River below the N.C. 172 bridge.
Explore NC Aquariums, Jennette’s Pier Online
The N.C. Aquariums and Jennette’s Pier are together offering virtual programs and opportunities for the public to connect with nature and learning and stay engaged with animals and staff.
Federation Named for Oyster Project Funding
The North Carolina Coastal Federation, in partnership with the Division of Marine Fisheries, has been recommended for $750,000 to add up to 15 acres of new oyster reef habitat to the Swan Island Oyster Sanctuary in Pamlico Sound.

















