The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division is currently experiencing an uptick in schedule interruptions on its Cedar Island, Swan Quarter and Hatteras routes due to unexpected mechanical issues and positive COVID-19 tests among crews. Currently, three of the ferries on the Pamlico Sound routes and one on the Hatteras route are not running due [...] Local News |  Full Article

In a bit of serendipity, the North Carolina Ferry Division celebrated its 75th anniversary Monday morning by christening its modern new vessel, the Ocracoke Express, the first and only passenger ferry in the system. “It’s been a long time coming,” North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Eric Boyette said to a small gathering under the shaded terminal [...] Local News |  Full Article

Lee Nettles on plans to manage OBX’s exploding visitor business According to its Executive Director Lee Nettles, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is embarking on a number of initiatives at this moment. One of them, “Careers Beyond the Counter,” is designed to encourage local students to pursue rewarding vocations in the tourism industry. On June [...] Local News |  Full Article

Severe weather is possible for the Outer Banks on Thursday afternoon and evening, per an update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport / Morehead City office. There is a risk of scattered to numerous thunderstorms, some severe, which is forecast for late this afternoon and tonight across eastern North Carolina. The main threats will [...] Local News |  Full Article

Gaskins to face Murphy in 3rd Congressional District contest Incumbent Dare County Commissioner Ervin Bateman will return for another term while the county’s current state senator, Bob Steinburg, was defeated in a redrawn district in the May 17 Republican primary election. At the same time, two Dare County Republicans were defeated a three-way race to become [...] Local News |  Full Article

State recreational water quality officials today notified the public that testing of ocean waters along parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore showed bacteria levels that meet state and federal standards for swimming and water play. Test results of ocean water samples collected on May 16 in areas of Rodanthe and Buxton showed bacteria levels well [...] Local News |  Full Article

There are three candidates in Republican primary race for a District 1 District Court Judge’s seat. They are Jennifer Bland, who has held the post since last September after being appointed by Governor Roy Cooper; Kill Devil Hills attorney and Town Commissioner Bernard (B.J.) McAvoy; and Hertford attorney and District 1 Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey [...] Local News |  Full Article

Four candidates are challenging incumbent Third District Congressman Greg Murphy in the Republican primary to be held on March 17 Aside from Murphy, of Greenville, the candidates include Tony Cowden of Harrells; Eric Earhart of Eure; Brian Friend of Wilmington; and George Papastrat of Richlands. They are running for what has been considered a safe [...] Local News |  Full Article

Beginning on Tuesday, May 17, there will be two work zones on N.C. Highway 12 that will require temporary lane closures, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The first lane closure, on the Marc Basnight Bridge, will be to install permanent navigation lights on the bridge structure, and the closure should [...] Local News |  Full Article

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for renovated Dare County Department of Health & Human Services building to be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the recently renovated Dare County Department of Health & Human Services facility in Manteo will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. The project consisted [...] Local News |  Full Article

A new navigational channel, the Hatteras Connector, has been established in Hatteras Inlet by Coast Guard Sector North Carolina allowing unimpeded vessel traffic offshore. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge, Merritt, finished a two-week dredging project in Hatteras Inlet on May 6 to create the new waterway. On March 22, the Coast Guard issued a [...] Local News |  Full Article

After the official Monday christening ceremony of the brand new Ocracoke Express, passenger ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke Village began for the summer season on Tuesday, May 17. The new ferry will carry up to 129 passengers on three round trips daily, departing Hatteras at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., with return [...] Local News |  Full Article

With peak travel season for the Outer Banks on the horizon, N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) crews will be changing the speed limit signs along sections of N.C. Highway 12 starting this week. In mid-May, the speed limits in the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, and Frisco drop from 45 mph to 35 mph [...] Local News |  Full Article

Two assistant district attorneys are competing in the Republican primary to succeed their boss, District 1 District Attorney Andrew Womble, who is running for Superior Court Judge. The race pitting Jeff Cruden against Kim Pellini also features two Navy veterans. Cruden, who served for seven years in the Navy and has spent 28 years as [...] Local News |  Full Article

In the Republican primary race for a reconfigured NC House District 79, Edwin Hege is challenging incumbent Keith Kidwell for a seat that now represents the southern part of Dare County, with the dividing line running through Kill Devil Hills. Kidwell, who resides in Chocowinity, is a businessman and former Beaufort County GOP Chairman and [...] Local News |  Full Article