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1 week ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
COROLLA, N.C. — A new season brings a new flag system for Corolla Beach Rescue. The agency will be raising two red flags when the ocean is too dangerous and closed to the public for swimming. "I will say, last year, we tended to get a lot of questions because we would be yellow flagged, and then the other agencies down south would be red flagged," said Emelia Goetzke. Goetzke has been a Corolla Beach Rescue lifeguard for five years.
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1 week ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
OUTER BANKS, N.C. — A number of lightning strikes left lasting impacts on Father’s Day in the Outer Banks. Five total structures were hit, but Corolla Adventure Golf and Bumper Cars was hit the hardest. When emergency crews arrived on Sunday, the business was engulfed in flames. “Five on Father's Day all within about two miles," Corolla Fire and Rescue Chief Rich Shortway said. Chief Shortway and his crews are no strangers to responding to lightning strike fires.
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1 week ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
© 2025 Scripps Media, Inc Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way
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1 week ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
STUMPY POINT, N.C. — A bill in the North Carolina General Assembly, originally meant to restore flounder and red snapper seasons, could now target the shrimping industry. The Outer Banks community feels it could be detrimental to the fishing industry here. “A lot of my shrimp are caught inside the half mile in the ocean. I mean, that would just be total devastation for us," said Robby Midgett, a longtime fisherman based out of Stumpy Point.
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1 week ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
HATTERAS, N.C. — Jeffrey's Seafood, which has been a staple in the Outer Banks for decades, now has a new state-of-the-art facility to continue doing what they do best. Representatives of the business hope the new facility brings new opportunities for local seafood in the Outer Banks and beyond. “Dad's always had the dream to do this," said Kelsey Aiken, the manager of Jeffrey's Seafood. Kelsey Aiken’s dad, Jeff, founded Jeffrey’s Seafood decades ago. It's always been a family business.
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1 week ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
MANTEO, N.C. — Republican Congressmen Greg Murphy and Rob Wittman were in the Outer Banks on Monday to make two stops: the first in Wanchese at Bayliss Boatworks to speak about workforce challenges, and the second in Manteo at the Dare County Emergency Operations Center to discuss FEMA. The Trump administration’s plan for FEMA is to shift more power back to states and localities when it comes to disaster relief support and funding.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
NAGS HEAD, N.C. — 50 years ago, Whalebone Surf Shop opened its doors. Today, its reach spreads worldwide. Since 1975, it’s been a vital part of not only the surfing community but the Outer Banks as a whole. "Started in '75 and kind of like the anchor of surfing on the Outer Banks through all these years," Jon Black, the owner of the shop, said. "These are hallowed halls, if you will, in the surf community here and kind of known worldwide.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
NAGS HEAD, N.C. — Construction is underway for a house that up to 16 Nags Head Ocean Rescue Lifeguards will someday call home for the summer. The project is something the Town of Nags Head has wanted to make happen for years. “It's been a topic of discussion since I took over this position 20 years ago," Chad Motz, Nags Head Ocean Rescue captain, said. Motz has been involved in ocean rescue in the Outer Banks for a long time.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
BUXTON, N.C. — For the first time since September 2023, the beach access and a portion of the beach at the end of Old Lighthouse Road are reopening in Buxton. The Dare County Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement Thursday morning. “We're just so thrilled and so ecstatic that we finally have our beaches back open," Wendi Munden, a member of the Buxton Civic Association, said. Munden and the Buxton Civic Association have been waiting for this day for a long time.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtkr.com | Will Thomas
BUXTON, N.C. — Over a mile-long pathway now connects Highway 12 to one of the most beloved parts of the area: the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The project for the multi-use path was years in the making. Before its opening, locals and visitors would need to get in their cars to travel from Highway 12 to the lighthouse. But not anymore — now, it not only gives people more access but also highlights some of the pieces that make the area so special.
