As smoke from Canadian wildfires travel south, officials determined that Wake County, the northern coastal plain, and the Triad region are under a Code Orange Air Quality alert until 11:59 p.m. Friday because of fine particle pollution.
News Briefs
State selects new executive director for Tryon Palace
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has selected Chrystal Regan, currently with the N.C. Museum of HIstory, as the new executive director of Tryon Palace in New Bern.
State lifts swimming advisory for Colington Harbour beach
State recreational water quality officials lifted the water quality swimming advisory June 21 at the Colington Harbour swim beach at the end of Colington Drive in Kill Devil Hills.
Mattamuskeet carp removal project bidding ends June 20
Bids are due by 5 p.m. June 20 for a large-scale project to remove thousands of pounds of common carp from Lake Mattamuskeet.
Large-scale survey of Albemarle Sound underway for NOAA
Morehead City-based Geodynamics has begun the first significant charting survey of the sound in more than 100 years.
Moores Creek Battlefield’s community day set for June 24
Representatives from numerous agencies and organizations plan to be on hand for the event at the Pender County site, with scheduled programs and guided tours.
Southern hognose snake gets chance at national protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed Monday to consider granting Endangered Species Act protections to the nonvenomous southern hognose snake found in southeastern North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Science Advisory Board to discuss PFAS rulemaking
The Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board is to meet virtually at 10 a.m. Wednesday to consider rulemaking recommendations for PFAS.
NOAA predicts near-normal Atlantic hurricane season
Though one tropical storm formed Friday, the day after the start of the 2023 hurricane season, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters predict a near-normal season.
$600K in grants go to 10 eastern NC resilience projects
The N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency and Duke Energy Foundation selected the 10 projects for funding through the Duke Energy Resilience Accelerator Grant Program.
Portsmouth middle passage marker to be unveiled June 10
New research has found documents confirming that Portsmouth Village was a middle passage arrival site, meaning it was directly involved in the trans-Atlantic human trade.Â
Watershed protection nomination to go before commission
The Coastal Resources Commission, during its meeting June 15 in New Bern, is to decide whether a nomination to make a Beaufort watershed an area of environmental concern should move forward.
Chemours misses deadline to complete groundwater barrier
After failing to finish the work by March 15 as initially required, Chemours Co. was given until May 31 to complete a mile-long underground barrier, but the DuPont spinoff company has again failed to meet the deadline.
Coastal food waste reduction projects receive grant funding
Projects in Wilmington and Hubert are among the 11 awarded funding through a grant program to help reduce food waste in landfills.
State revises rules for closing shellfish waters near marinas
The rule change ensures that the state remains in compliance with National Shellfish Sanitation Program requirements, officials said.
Brunswick County travelers, residents asked for feedback
Brunswick County and representatives from the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study are inviting the traveling public to share their input on the future of the Holden Beach Causeway Corridor.
