The Ocracoke Health Center is one of those necessary institutions that keeps the island going, but that doesn’t always translate into fiscal health.
News & Features
Park, Partners Sculpt Plan to Curb Debris
Summer interns patrolling for sea turtles at Hammocks Beach State Park found few visitors but gobs of trash, setting in motion a campaign with stakeholders using a sculpture to educate folks about marine debris.
Visible Change: Alligator River ‘Ghost Forests’
The effects of climate change on the N.C. coast are especially pronounced at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, where the rising sea level is visibly transforming habitats.
Brown Says Wind Energy Bill Dead For Now
Sen. Harry Brown said last week during his testimony in a partisan redistricting trial that his measure to limit sites for wind energy projects won’t be taken up again this session.
Albemarle Algae’s Return Stumps Scientists
Researchers want to better understand what’s causing the large algal blooms in the Albemarle region, which returned four years ago after a long absence.
Law Shifts Recovery Funds to Topsail Towns
Gov. Roy Cooper has signed into law a bill that transfers $5 million marked last year for a Winston-Salem nonprofit to Topsail Island towns for hurricane recovery projects.
Officials Plan Next Bogue Banks Sand Project
Officials hope to begin an estimated $30 million beach renourishment project on Bogue Banks this fall, on the heels of the $21 million project completed in April.
NCDOT Gets OK for Short-Term Erosion Fix
After losing more than 70 feet of shoreline in the past year, NCDOT has been granted special permission to install sandbags in ways not generally allowed by state rules.
Vibrio Survivor, Wife Warn of Bacteria’s Risks
Richard Flaherty of Oriental was just helping a neighbor last year after Hurricane Florence hit the area, but hours later he nearly died after exposure to bacteria in the standing water.
Swamp No More: New Plan Ahead for River
No longer classified as a swamp, work is to begin on a new plan to address the Lower Cape Fear River water quality problems that prompted the attempted regulatory end run.
Seismic Firm Moves to Override NC Decision
WesternGeco, a company that conducts seismic exploration for offshore oil and gas, has filed an appeal of the state’s recent permit denial to the U.S. Commerce Secretary.
Study Examines PFAS Data From 3 States
A three-year study is underway to better understand the extent of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances contamination in North Carolina, Colorado and Michigan and its effects on residents.
Recyclers Grapple With Contamination Costs
Garbage mixed with recyclables is compounding problems and raising costs in the recycling industry, as here on the coast, operators ask folks to be mindful of what they throw in the bin.
Swan Island Oyster Reef Nearly Complete
Work is wrapping up this week on a three-year habitat restoration project in Pamlico Sound that’s intended as an insurance policy for the state’s oyster population.
CRC to Discuss Challenge to Setback Rules
The Coastal Resources Commission meets Wednesday in Beaufort and will likely go behind closed doors to discuss a lawsuit over the denial of permits to rebuild an oceanfront house on Seagull Drive in Nags Head.
Drilling Opponents Look West For Support
Elected officials on the N.C. coast are turning toward the state’s interior and shifting attitudes there as signs of increasing support in the ongoing fight against offshore drilling.
