As a number of coastal officials voice their opposition to the ferry tolling plan in the new state budget, NCDOT’s Ferry Division has announced it will hold five public listening sessions in September as it moves to put the plan in effect.

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Dare County has announced it will host three community meetings in early October to provide residents with information about the one-quarter cent ($0.0025) sales tax referendum that will appear on the November 3 ballot in the county.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) will hold a series of public hearings starting in late September on Dominion Energy’s request for a rate hike for customers in the state.

By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
Update: The hot topic of Flock cameras is now on the agenda for three board of commissioners or town council meetings this week.

On paper, the Dare County occupancy and meals collections for June 2026 look pretty good. But in discussing the numbers, Outer Banks Visitor Bureau Executive Director Lee Nettles offered a more nuanced view, given the impact of rising costs.

Dare Commissioners to approve resolution at Sept. 1 meeting
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
At their meeting on Sept. 1, the Dare County Commissioners are expected to approve a multi-county resolution asking Governor Josh Stein and NCDOT to waive all tolls and fees associated with NC ferry routes for locally registered vehicles.

By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice
A NCDOT project calling for improvements at the intersection of NC12 and US158 in Kitty Hawk appears to “essentially be shelved and not pursued,” according to NCDOOT Division One Project Development Engineer Brooks Braswell.

Lee Nettles, Executive Director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, recounts highlights from the August 20, 2026 meeting of the Dare County Tourism Board.

News & Observer reports the investigation was requested by Wake County DA
A new story in The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the Wake County District Attorney has asked the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to launch a criminal probe into a state-funded program connected to Jordan Hennessy.

On July 28, 2026, the Brightspeed-owned fiber optic cable serving Hatteras Island was damaged once again, temporarily disrupting internet service and leaving many communications systems, including the ability to place wireless 911 calls, inoperable or degraded for several hours. 

Fran and Lance are longtime Outer Banks locals who've worked at restaurants throughout the area and know their way around a kitchen. Fran and Lance have brought that same spirit to their new spot, turning out bowls, salads, seafood and handhelds, all made fresh from scratch and ready to eat in or take to go.

This statement announcing and lauding the court’s decision was issued by the Coastal Conservation Association on Aug. 18.

With NCDOT facing a Jan. 1, 2027 deadline to begin tolling previously untolled routes, it is providing a platform for public feedback through an online survey that will be available through September 14.

Dare County is not the only coastal county asking voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax in November for local spending priorities. In Currituck County, residents will also decide whether to implement a quarter-cent sales tax increase at the ballot box on Nov. 3. 

By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice
At an Aug. 12 meeting on Currituck County’s beach nourishment plan, those in attendance voiced frustration with the process and questioned whether the county was committed to protecting homes, property and the beach along the Currituck Banks.

Dare Board approves $35K for new Tidal Tots center
By Maggie Miles | Outer Banks Voice
At their Aug. 10 meeting, the Dare County Commissioners approved $35,000 in start-up funding for Coastal Family Collaborative’s (CFC) planned Tidal Tots Childcare Center, a nonprofit early childhood education center that will restore licensed childcare services to Hatteras Island.

Dominion Energy has announced that it recently filed a request with the North Carolina Utilities Commission seeking approval to update fuel costs for customers in northeastern North Carolina.

By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
Update: At their meeting on Aug. 10, the Dare County Board of Commissioners approved spending $20,000 on an outreach plan to support the quarter-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot that is earmarked for County Parks and Recreation facilities. County Manager Bobby Outten said the money would come from the county contingency fund. 

Ending an impasse that jeopardized health coverage for many area patients, ECU Health and UnitedHealthcare have reached a multi-year agreement restoring in-network access to care “for more than 100,000 UnitedHealthcare-covered patients and supporting rural health sustainability in eastern North Carolina,” according to the statement from ECU Health.

By Mark Jurkowitz  | Outer Banks Voice
Lately, there hasn’t seemed to be much cause for optimism among those advocating for building the long-delayed Mid-Currituck Bridge.