Brunswick and New Hanover counties each saw more than 15 inches of rainfall over the past two days as the storm that formed off the East Coast came ashore near Myrtle Beach.
New Hanover County
Observe the Moon Night Saturday at Cape Fear Museum
For all ages, International Observe the Moon Night is being offered at no charge from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the museum in Wilmington.
Blaze the plover returns from Illinois after rearing chicks
Blaze, a piping plover shown here on the beach in Waukegan, Illinois, has returned for the second consecutive year to winter at Masonboro Inlet in New Hanover County. The small, but determined piping plover was abandoned before she hatched and became among the first captive-reared chicks to be released from the University of Michigan Biological Station in 2023. Within about two months of her release into the wild, Blaze migrated south to spend the winter at Masonboro Inlet, according to Audubon North Carolina. Audubon officials spotted Blaze Aug. 15 at the inlet, returning from Waukegan, where she successfully raised three chicks. Photo courtesy of the Lake County (Illinois) Audubon Society.
Program helps commercial property owners reduce runoff
Wilmington’s green infrastructure cost-share rebate program is making thousands of dollars in rebates available to businesses and large-scale property owners who want to help reduce polluted stormwater runoff reaching two city watersheds.
Coastal counties see continued strength in visitor spending
Following a record-breaking increase of 15% in 2022, spending statewide rose 6.9% to $35.6 billion in 2023, setting another record year in visitor spending, according to data the North Carolina Department of Commerce released Tuesday.
State Ports Authority year-end results ‘mixed, yet balanced’
The authority said strong cash flow from operations and state appropriations allowed it to pour $80 million into its Wilmington and Morehead City seaports and its inland facility in Charlotte.
New Hanover County eyes riverside conservation, cleanup
The board of commissioners agreed to take time to draft changes to the county’s 2016 comprehensive land use plan to create a new conservation designation for the riverfront site across from downtown Wilmington
Federal court backs EPA’s GenX health advisory
Chemours vows to continue legal challenges against the regulatory agency; and while environmentalists view the ruling as a victory, some legal experts suggest an unpredictable regulatory landscape going forward.
Coastal locals love these 10 seafood restaurants; here’s why
Residents understand that seafood is a big part of coastal culture, and visitors who’ve sampled these restaurants know they don’t just serve tasty food, they also forge connections that keep diners coming back.
USDOT awards $242M grant to replace Cape Fear bridge
The state has been selected for a $242 million federal grant to go toward replacing the 1969 Cape Fear Memorial Bridge in Wilmington.
Permeable pavement project underway at UNCW
Partners say that by replacing conventional asphalt with permeable pavement on the UNCW campus, they will help improve water quality in the nearby Bradley Hewletts Creek Watersheds.
Emergency response training for Spanish speakers set
Being offered in Spanish, the course is scheduled for July 12-14 in Wilmington, and is through the Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, program.
Shoreline stabilization of Snows Cut topic of public meeting
The Corps’ Wilmington District is hosting a public meeting to discuss a proposal to stabilize and protect the erosion-battered shoreline at Snows Cut in New Hanover County.
Public can weigh in on Wilmington Harbor expansion plan
The Army Corps of Engineers has kicked off a public review and comment period for its environmental study of the State Ports Authority’s controversial plan to deepen and widen Wilmington Harbor to accommodate larger ships from Asia.
Segregation-era beaches to be commemorated with marker
The North Carolina Highway Historical Marker program is featuring Seabreeze, built in 1922, and Freeman Beach, built 1951, with a dedication set for Friday near the intersection of Carolina Beach and South Seabreeze roads.
12 derelict vessels to be removed from New Hanover waters
The North Carolina Coastal Federation, marine contractors, local governments and the Wildlife Resources Commission are working together this week to remove a dozen vessels from different locations in New Hanover County, including Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach.