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A nor’easter swept away their wedding plans, so the Hatteras Island community pulled together a celebration. Now, the couple is giving back
A Roanoke, Virginia, couple whose original wedding plans were swept away with last week’s nor’easter, and for whom the Hatteras Island community rallied to throw a wedding, is now fundraising for the island’s Frisco-Buxton Pathway Project.

Corinne Saunders
1 day ago7 min read


Declining enrollment, fewer kindergarten classes, exiting teachers raise concerns over future of Dare County Schools’ Dual Language Immersion program
The DLI program’s first cohort just entered high school. But this year, Nags Head Elementary is the only school to offer an incoming DLI kindergarten class due to interest at Manteo, First Flight, and Kitty Hawk Elementary falling below the district’s recently set 20-student enrollment threshold. The district has also combined some upper elementary DLI classes for fourth- and fifth-grade students, with officials citing low enrollment as the reason.

Maggie Miles
3 days ago18 min read


N.C. Highway 12 reopens, restricted access to Hatteras Island expands Wednesday, visitors allowed Thursday
Dare County announced Tuesday that entry to Hatteras Island would expand at 7 a.m. on Wednesday to include Priority Three individuals (non-resident property owners and non-resident employees of non-critical businesses), and then on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 a.m., all entry restrictions would be terminated, meaning visitors will be able to gain access to the island for the first time in a week.

Corinne Saunders
3 days ago7 min read


Emergency ferries run more frequently starting Monday, Hatteras Island access restricted under state of emergency as N.C. Highway 12 remains closed on Pea Island
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) launched emergency ferry routes beginning Sunday morning between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point in Dare County, with an increased number of routes run starting Monday, as roadway access to the island remains unavailable following a strong multiday nor’easter.

Corinne Saunders
5 days ago5 min read


N.C. Highway 12 damaged, closed on Pea Island as nor’easter impacts the Outer Banks
Atlantic Ocean overwash on N.C. Highway 12 on Pea Island damaged part of the roadway, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) closed the road early Thursday morning between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe, as a nor’easter continues to affect the Outer Banks.

Corinne Saunders
Sep 244 min read


League of Women Voters of Dare County to host school board candidate forum, cancels forums for 3 other races ‘due to insufficient acceptances of our invitations’
The League of Women Voters of Dare County will sponsor a candidate forum for board of education candidates next month but will not hold candidate forums as anticipated for three other races “due to insufficient acceptances of our invitations,” according to the League spokesperson.

Corinne Saunders
Sep 186 min read


Outer Banks Insider wins two press awards, including inaugural Center for Integrity in News Reporting award in North Carolina
Outer Banks Insider received two awards at the North Carolina Press Association’s annual journalism conference, including the inaugural Center for Integrity in News Reporting statewide award in North Carolina.

Staff Reports
Sep 123 min read


Camden woman sentenced for embezzlement from Lower Currituck fire department first reported chief, battalion chief, but they were not charged: Court officials
A Camden County woman sentenced for embezzling from Lower Currituck Volunteer Fire Department while employed there was originally the whistleblower for improper use of funds by the department’s chief and his son, the battalion chief, according to both her lawyer and the state prosecutor.

Corinne Saunders
Sep 98 min read


What’s In That Box?
Beyond county, state and national candidates to consider for office, voters this fall can also weigh in on three proposed amendments to the state Constitution—plus a local sales tax referendum in Dare County.

Corinne Saunders
Sep 26 min read


‘A huge blow to our family’: Dare County Schools overhauls elementary AIG program, starts year with 2 educators, down from last year’s 5
Dare County Schools overhauled its elementary academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) program this summer, sparking parents’ concern over both the changes and the lack of official communication about them.

Corinne Saunders
Aug 2815 min read


‘A huge step forward in restoring child care access on Hatteras Island’: Dare commissioners allocate $35K to nonprofit opening facility
A parent involved in establishing a new nonprofit said Dare County commissioners providing up to $35,000 in funding for the planned Frisco child care center is "a huge step forward in restoring child care access on Hatteras Island."

Corinne Saunders
Aug 167 min read


Dominion files for increase of nearly $26 for typical customer per month starting Feb. 1
Dominion Energy on Tuesday filed an application with the North Carolina Utilities Commission seeking to increase fuel rates in the amount of about $26 per typical customer per month, effective Feb. 1, 2027, according to a company spokesperson.

Corinne Saunders
Aug 123 min read


March trial date set for 1 of 3 teens facing murder charges from Avalon shooting, bond reduced for another, bond condition added for third
A March trial date was set for one of the three teens charged with murder following a fatal shooting at Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills last July, while the other two co-defendants each saw their bonds modified and cases continued to October during separate appearances in Dare Superior Court.

Corinne Saunders
Aug 118 min read


Federal court affirms prior ruling favoring Dare sheriff and deputy in 2023 shooting. Attorney for daughter of murdered Manteo man says they will appeal again
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on Tuesday upheld a prior district court decision to dismiss the lawsuit against the Dare County sheriff and a deputy. The lawsuit challenged the use of force in a 2023 encounter that ended with the death of a Manteo man.

Corinne Saunders
Aug 78 min read


Former Currituck athletic director sentenced for truck striking, causing serious injuries to high school runner. Student’s family sues him, Currituck school board
Currituck County High School’s former athletic director pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of and sentenced for misdemeanor “reckless driving causing serious bodily injury” in the case where his truck struck a high school student during track practice.

Corinne Saunders
Jul 314 min read


Hyde County school board accepts applications following board member resignation
The Hyde County Board of Education is accepting applications through Monday, Aug. 17, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dustin Nails.

Corinne Saunders
Jul 303 min read


Dare commissioners put $1M toward teacher housing 3 years ago. Now with additional funding secured, Dare Education Foundation project moves forward
Construction could begin by the end of this year for a teacher housing expansion project for which the Dare Education Foundation secured its initial large funding commitment three years ago.

Corinne Saunders
Jul 299 min read


Blowing Off Balloons
Other states and local governments have enacted laws prohibiting intentional balloon releases. But in North Carolina, proposed legislation has sunk in committee in both the state House and Senate.

Corinne Saunders
Jul 226 min read


Outer Banks Insider wins Center for Integrity in News Reporting Award of Excellence in state press contest
Outer Banks Insider won two awards in the North Carolina Press Association’s annual journalism contest for work published during the contest year.

Staff Reports
Jul 182 min read


Dare jury finds Buxton resident not guilty after four-day arson trial for 2024 Avon restaurant fire
A Dare County jury on Thursday found a Buxton resident not guilty after a four-day arson trial at the Dare County Justice Center in Manteo for a case in which investigators determined that a September 2024 fire in the Burger Burger restaurant in Avon was intentionally set.

Corinne Saunders
Jul 1810 min read
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