During a beachfront ceremony on Tuesday, state and local officials, and the North Carolina Land Trust gathered to officially transfer the Topsail Nature Preserve at the south end of Topsail Island to state management.
News Briefs
Coastal Habitat Protection Plan steering committee to meet
members are to discuss possible updates for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality that focuses on “long-term enhancement of coastal fisheries through habitat protection and enhancement efforts.”
State readies for hot weather during Heat Safety Week
Gov. Josh Stein has declared Monday through Friday as North Carolina Heat Safety Week, an effort to highlight state resources to keep residents and visitors safe from extreme heat.
Nearly 36,000 gallons of raw sewage spills in Jacksonville
“At no time was city drinking water compromised and there is no danger to the public,” according to the state-mandated announcement.
Marker to recognize court case that reshaped voting rights
Nancy Bazemore, 47, of Bertie County, won a court case against the county board of elections that in the early 1960s reshaped voting rights in the state.
Coastal Land Trust to host 16th annual Flytrap Frolic June 6
The N.C. Coastal Land Trust’s 16th annual Flytrap Frolic scheduled for June 6 in Wilmington will include carnivorous plant-themed games, arts and crafts and a limited number of ethically-sourced flytraps for sale.
Wildlife Resources, Highway Patrol urge safe holiday boating
Though the number of boating incidents reported in North Carolina is down slightly this year, compared to 2025, boating fatalities have increased.
Sea turtle program coordinator Matthew Godfrey to speak
Godfrey, the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project coordinator for the Wildlife Resources Commission, is the the featured guest this month for the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s “Green Drinks” speaker series in Morehead City.
Corbett, Coastal Studies Institute executive director, to lecture
The public is encouraged to attend Dr. Reide Corbett’s lecture, “Holding the Line? Coastal Change and Barrier-Island Dynamics on the Outer Banks,” May 28 in Wanchese.
Carteret hurricane preparedness expo scheduled for May 30
Carteret County Emergency Services, Carteret County government and the National Weather Service’s Newport/Morehead City office are offering the expo ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
Island Farm to host interpretive program on Corolla horses
Island Farm on Roanoke Island is set to host Corolla Wild Horse Fund Herd Management Coordinator Kirsten Morse for a special program Friday, May 15.
Dr. Lela Schlenker joins Coastal Federation as advocate
Schlenker, the new advocate with the North Carolina Coastal Federation in Wanchese, is a fisheries ecologist with a research career spanning topics such as the effect of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on mahi-mahi, how climate and weather affect the state’s shrimp populations, and the impact of catch-and-release fishing practices on white marlin.
Utility relocation set for summer at Wrightsville Beach bridge
NCDOT contract crews are expected to begin relocating utilities at the smaller of two West Salisbury Street bridges in Wrightsville Beach this summer.
Slow down, Outer Banks, the tourists are coming
The speed limit on portions of N.C. 12 through a series of villages and towns will drop by 10 mph ahead of the summer tourism season.
Graveyard of the Atlantic unveils ‘Raid on Ocracoke Inlet’
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras has unveiled a temporary display detailing events that took place on Ocracoke between patriots and loyalists during the American Revolution.
Boardwalk removal start of Jacksonville park improvements
The removal of the storm-battered waterfront boardwalk at Jacksonville’s Northeast Creek Park is the first step in an improvement and expansion project at the site.
