The Butterfly Highway, a project to protect habitat and build advocacy and awareness for pollinators, has so far protected more than 30,000 acres.
special report
Planting For Pollinators Brings Benefits
Habitat loss and pesticide use have made planting for pollinators more important than ever, and adding native, diverse plants can help create a haven for pollinators and wildlife.
Derelict Boats Remain A Local Issue In NC
The N.C. General Assembly has granted certain local governments authority to manage and remove derelict or abandoned vessels in public waters, but there’s no law addressing the problem statewide.
State Law Dictates Displaced Boat Response
When the Coast Guard and other agencies and contractors responded after Hurricane Florence to the preponderance of storm-tossed and damaged boats, they were restricted by state law in what they could do.
Hundreds of Derelict Boats in Storm’s Wake
As communities continue to clean up from Hurricane Florence, officials are turning to the problem of derelict and abandoned vessels that sank or washed ashore during the storm.
Sutton Spill: Selenium Levels Before, After
Elevated selenium levels were found in Sutton Lake before Hurricane Florence flooded Duke Energy’s coal ash pond. Now researchers plan to study the breach’s long-term effects.
Sutton Spill: Debate Over Data Continues
Duke Energy says its sampling of the Cape Fear River shows no significant harm resulted from the Sutton Plant coal ash spill, but others contend the utility’s own results and state standards raise red flags.
Sutton Spill Damage: Answers Lie Below
Activists sounded the alarm about the recent Cape Fear River coal ash spill as Duke Energy downplayed the damage, but researchers say determining the true extent of contamination requires digging deeper.
State Set to Step Up Water Quality Testing
New, additional funding for shellfish sanitation and recreational water quality testing in the state could go a long way in protecting public health.
Closures Result of Record Rainfall in July
Many North Carolina waters were closed to harvesting shellfish and recreational water use after the deluge that made July one of the wettest months on record.
Test Case for Oceanfront Development Risks
In real estate, location is everything, and the perilous site of the Kure Beach condominium complex called The Riggings make it a textbook example of challenges in managing coastal development.
New Rule Latest Effort to Save The Riggings
The legislature in June threw a lifeline to The Riggings, a condo complex in Kure Beach threatened by erosion since its construction, but the sandbag rule change is just another short-term fix in a losing battle with the ocean.
GenX Aware: Old Assumptions, New Attitudes
In the second and final part of our series on the anniversary of the first GenX news report, we examine what has changed in terms of the public’s awareness, behavior and how they may vote.
GenX Wake-up Call, Legislative Snooze Button
It’s been a year since news was first reported of GenX and other contaminants in the Cape Fear region’s drinking water, but despite all the attention, little progress has been made to protect public health.
Blueprint Employs Oysters’ Restorative Ability
In the final installment of our special report on the Lower Cape Fear River Blueprint for restoring and protecting the river’s coastal area, oysters play an important role.
Blueprint: Water Quality, Living Shorelines
In the second installment of our series on the Lower Cape Fear River Blueprint, we explain the plan’s goals and strategies for protecting the river’s vulnerable natural resources.
