District 1 Dare Commissioner candidates on their qualifications and the key issues By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice The 2026 contest to elect the next Dare County Commissioner representing District 1 will be decided by the March 3 Republican primary.

This week in the Meeting Room, Feb. 9-13 Listings include • Board of Commissioners Meetings • Town Council Meetings • Planning Board Meetings • Dare County School Board Meetings.

Three Dare Sheriff candidates to attend Feb. 20 Avon forum, one candidate won’t A Feb. 20 forum in Avon for the candidates running for Dare County Sheriff will feature three of the four candidates—but will be missing one.

Peak wind gusts tonight, coldest temps Sunday morning This update from the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 7, provides a breakdown of peak times for the frigid conditions and high winds this weekend.

New Northeastern Drug Task Force sees collaboration as key By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice This past week, the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) announced the formation of a new Northeastern Drug Task Force.

Brrrrr…NWS predicts weekend ‘feels like’ temps near zero On the morning of Friday, Feb. 6, the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City issued this warning about extremely cold weather that will impact the Outer Banks this weekend.

As measles cases rise, NCDHHS sends text notifications for possible exposure The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is sharing resources and urging vaccination as measles cases increase across the state.

One-hour delay Thursday for Dare Schools north of the Oregon Inlet

Nags Head approves $36.4M contract for 2026 beach nourishment With three quick voice votes at its Feb. 4 meeting, the Nags Head Board of Commissioners formally awarded the Town’s 2026 beach nourishment contract for $36.4 million to Weeks Marine.

OBX Hospital closed for outpatient services on Tuesday, Feb. 3 In the wake of the weekend storm, Outer Banks Health has announced the following closings and scheduling for the hospital and urgent care facilities.

Dare County Commissioner Creef charged with DWI By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice Dare County Commissioner Carson Creef faces a court date later this month following his arrest on Jan. 31 for driving while impaired, speeding, and driving with an expired registration plate on his vehicle.

Closures and cancellations for Tuesday, Feb. 3 UPDATE: Remote learning day on Tuesday, Feb. 3 for students in Dare and Currituck counties

Fourth house collapses in Buxton since Sunday Update: At approximately 9 a.m. this morning, we were notified of another house collapse in Buxton. The latest house collapse is the fourth collapse in Buxton since the morning of Feb. 1.

Two more homes fall in Buxton overnight This report of two more houses collapsing in Buxton was released by the National Park Service on the morning of Monday, Feb. 2. That makes a total of three houses that have collapsed in the past two days as the winter storm battered the Outer Banks.

Scenes from a snow-covered Sunday on the Outer Banks Photos by Brian Tress | Outer Banks Voice

Closures and postponements for Dare County and its six municipalities on Feb. 2 & 3

No injuries reported in Nags Head structure fire At about 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, Nags Head Fire Rescue reported on a structure fire they are battling at 4500 S. Virginia Dare Trail. Here is the brief statement.

NC 12 closes between Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe Shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 31, NCDOT announced that it was closing part of NC 12. Here is the statement. Shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 31, NCDOT announced that it was closing part of NC 12. Here is the statement.

Latest NWS update still calls for up to 12” of snow and winds gusts up to 70 mph As flurries begin to fall, not much has changed in the latest update from the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City, released at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.

CRC Science Panel reviews options for controlling shoreline erosion By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice On Thursday, Jan. 29, the Coastal Resources (CRC) Science Panel held an online meeting to discuss the elements of a draft report it is preparing for the CRC on shoreline erosion control measures.

NWS update: Region bracing for potentially heaviest snowfall since 1989 The latest forecast from the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City, issued at 7 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, shows a major storm on the doorstep of the Outer Banks, with somewhat lower projections for snow accumulation.

New owner of iconic Sea Foam Motel in Nags Head plans to ‘maintain that charm’ Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice

Predicted OBX snow totals keep rising   Dare County releases storm preparation timeline First, the latest forecast on possible snow accumulation on the Outer Banks.

Destined to be a park ranger, Joy Cook retires as Jockey’s Ridge Supt. By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice It’s been a good nine years for Jockey’s Ridge State Park Superintendent Joy Cook, who retired on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Another weekend storm on the way On the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 28, the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City provided this update about another potential weekend storm for our region.

COA seeks public input on hiring Dean for Dare Campus The College of The Albemarle (COA) is inviting Dare County residents, business leaders, community partners and stakeholders to share their input through an online survey as it begins the search for the next Dean of the COA–Dare Campus.

‘I have no idea what will happen tomorrow or next week’  Immigrants on the OBX talk about life under the federal crackdown By Brian Tress | Outer Banks Voice

Two-hour delay Tuesday for Dare Schools north of Oregon Inlet All Dare County Schools located north of Oregon Inlet will operate on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, January 27, due to a current mix of snow and sleet affecting our area.

Deceased male found on Hatteras National Seashore NPS says incident not related to Christopher Palmer case On the evening of Monday, Jan. 26, the National Park Service (NPS) reported that a deceased male found was yesterday on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Family asks to halt search for missing Arkansas man  Update: On Monday, Jan. 26, the National Park Service released this brief statement concerning its investigation regarding Christopher Palmer, the 39-year-old Arkansas man who was reported missing on Jan.

At GOP forum, Dare Ed Board candidates discuss issues from computers to religion in the schools By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice

Family asks to halt search for missing Arkansas man Christopher Palmer had terminal illness, believed to have committed suicide

Currituck Board approves SUP for Food Lion and shopping center in Corolla By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice

Officer involved shooting on Hatteras, Dare Sheriff’s Deputy and suspect injured On the morning of Friday, Jan. 23, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office issued this release about an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Hatteras the previous night.

Latest winter storm forecast projects no major impacts for OBX The latest briefing on the weekend winter storm, issued by the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City on the morning of Friday, Jan. 23, continues to indicate that the Outer Banks should not see significant impacts.

Manteo Commissioners select Jamie Daniels to fill vacancy on Board By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice

NPS continues search for Chris Palmer, believes he may still be in the area   The National Park Service continues to seek information from the public to assist in locating Christopher Lee Palmer, 39, who was officially declared a missing person by Arkansas authorities on Jan. 16.

It ‘sat there for over eight years’  Mike Kelly cheers sale of his old restaurant property to OBX Hospital By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice

Dare Commissioner candidates make their case at GOP forum By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice More agreement than differences emerged among the Republican candidates for Dare County Commissioner at a forum hosted by the Dare County Republicans on January 15.

Latest NWS winter storm forecast sees warming trend along coast In the early morning hours on Wednesday, Jan. 21, the National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City provided an update on the storm expected to affect eastern North Carolina this weekend.

Manteo Elementary trespassing case resolved with plea DA says Illya Stepanenko apparently entered the school to clean it By Mark Jurkowitz |Outer Banks Voice The two cases against Illya Stepanenko, the man who most notably entered Manteo Elementary School in November, were resolved last week.

NPS seeks help finding man whose vehicle was found on Hatteras beach On the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 20, the National Park Service issued this call for the public’s help in locating a missing man, Chris Palmer, 39, who has been reported missing.

COA seeks new Dare Campus Dean to succeed Tim Sweeney With the looming retirement of Tim Sweeney, Dean at the College of the Albemarle’s (COA) Dare Campus, COA is accepting applications for his successor.

Report on over 3,300 ICE arrests in NC finds very few on the Outer Banks A Jan. 15 story on NC Local reports that Immigration and Customers Enforcement agents (ICE) arrested more than 3,300 people in North Carolina between President Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 and Oct. 15, 2025.

Entering its third season, OBX Got Talent is a showcase for local stars By Maggie Miles | Outer Banks Voice When the Basnight and Hatchell families purchased the Pioneer Theater in Manteo in 2023, they had a few ideas in mind. One of them was OBX Got Talent.

‘A day of hope, a day of transformation’  Ceremony celebrates Dare Recovery Court success stories By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice

‘An audacious faith in the future of mankind’ His words ring out at the 35th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice

Currituck holds first session of new recovery court The opening session of the Currituck County’s first-ever substance abuse recovery court took place on Friday, Jan. 16.

Dominion Energy granted preliminary injunction to resume work on Virginia offshore wind project

Sheriff candidates make their case at Dare County GOP forum By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice One of the crucial local 2026 elections in Dare County is the four-candidate contest to succeed retiring Sheriff Doug Doughtie.