Forest Service officials have issued a ban on all open burning and canceled all burning permits across the state because of the increased risk of fire.
public safety
Officials urge residents to prepare for colder temperatures
As eastern North Carolina plunges headlong into winter-like conditions, as if right on cue with Winter Awareness Week, residents are advised to get ready for the season and pay attention.
Precautionary swim advisory lifted for most oceanside sites
State recreational water quality officials lifted Wednesday the precautionary swimming advisory issued last week before Tropical Storm Debby’s sweep up the eastern Atlantic.
Bald Head Island proposes curfew to curtail juvenile antics
Village officials have drafted an islandwide curfew for people younger than 18 in an effort to curb the water-balloon-wielding perpetrators and sign stealers behind recent rashes of 911 calls.
Forecasters, lifeguards warn: Rip currents are deadly
Rip currents have killed four times as many people in the Carolinas since 2000 as tornados, floods and wind combined, a National Weather Service official said.