The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting public comment until Jan. 14 on Draft Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.
News Briefs
Cape Lookout is now a certified International Dark Sky Park
Cape Lookout National Seashore in Carteret County is the first Atlantic coastal Dark Sky Place in the National Park Service to receive the certification from the International Dark Sky Association.
Work begins to restore historic African American church
Restoration work on Reaves Chapel, one of the Cape Fear region’s culturally and historically significant African American structures, has begun.
Carteret to hold hearing, may vote on land-use plan update
A public hearing and possible vote on Carteret County’s Coastal Area Management Act land-use plan is set for 6 p.m. Monday in Beaufort.
Christmas bird counts set for Ocracoke, Portsmouth
Christmas Bird Counts will be held on Portsmouth Dec. 30 and Ocracoke Dec. 31 and will be entered into the NC Bird Atlas, in its first of a five-year project to gather information about the state’s bird populations.
Four ferry routes to run on reduced schedules Dec. 24-25
Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach, Hatteras-Ocracoke, Southport-Fort Fisher and Currituck-Knotts Island ferry routes will be on a reduced schedule Dec. 24-25.
NC public safety secretary now FEMA deputy administrator
Erik Hooks, North Carolina’s previous secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security adviser, has been sworn in as FEMA’s new deputy administrator.
State reminds public of blue crab harvest closures
Annual blue crab harvest closures will take place early next year in North Carolina waters to help end overfishing.
NC, Ohio to celebrate 118th anniversary of first flight
Nonprofits in North Carolina and Ohio that celebrate aviation history are joining together to celebrate Friday the 118th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight.
Coast Guard oversees removal of grounded shrimp trawler
The Coast Guard is working with the owner of a shrimp trawler that ran aground Dec. 7 to remove the vessel.
Severe drought conditions cover half of NC, including coast
Nearly all coastal counties are experiencing severe drought conditions and officials warn the dry conditions could continue through winter.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail friends to be under new direction
Brent Laurenz is joining the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail nonprofit organization as the new executive director.
Wright Brothers Memorial to host first flight anniversary
Wright Brothers National Memorial and the First Flight Society are celebrating the 118th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first heavier-than-air, controlled, powered flight.
Wind leasing draft environmental assessment up for review
Federal regulators are asking for public comment on a draft supplemental environmental assessment related to proposed wind energy leasing options off the coast of North Carolina.
Brunswick County deputy manager to transition to new role
Steve Stone, who has been serving as Brunswick’s deputy county manager, is to begin as county manager in January.
Residents can weigh in on Topsail Island resiliency needs
An open house is set for next week to give the public a chance to hear about and share their thoughts on climate change and resiliency issues on Topsail Island.
