Emergency Declared over N.C. 12 Damage

Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency in Dare and Hyde counties Thursday after back-to-back coastal storms tore up N.C. Highway 12 on the Outer Banks.

The order backs the state’s pending request for Federal Highway Administration emergency relief money, which requires a state declaration.

A Sept. 24 storm caused major structural damage between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe and wiped out protective dunes on Ocracoke. A second storm hit Oct. 16, and ocean water undermined about 800 feet of pavement near Pea Island on Tuesday night.

The state launched 24-hour emergency ferry service between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe on Wednesday. Crews are rebuilding more than 1,800 feet of lost dunes and clearing blown sand off the road.

“NC 12 is essential,” Stein said, asking federal partners to fund immediate repairs and speed up longer-term fixes.

AG Fields 740 Gas Tax Complaints

Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s office has logged more than 470 complaints that gas stations aren’t passing along savings from the state’s suspended gas tax.

State lawmakers passed and Gov. Josh Stein signed a law lifting the 41-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel from Oct. 10 through Nov. 30.

Jackson’s office is checking complaints against public price data. Stations charging well above nearby competitors will get a letter asking them to fix it, and willful violations carry civil penalties of up to $5,000 per transaction.

Not every report has held up. Stations only shed the tax on new fuel deliveries, and ABC11 found prices had already dropped at several Triangle stations drivers flagged.

Drivers can keep filing reports through the N.C. Fuel Check portal.

Peak Color Draws Crowds to Parkway

Peak fall color has reached the North Carolina mountains, and tourism officials expect this weekend and next to be among the busiest of the season on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Much of the Parkway has reopened after Hurricane Helene closures, though not all of it. As of late September, more than eight miles between Little Switzerland and Victor Crossing were still shut, and Spruce Pine merchants said they felt the lost traffic.

In Burke County, Katherine Christie of Discover Burke County said many Morganton-area businesses “survive off of fall travel.”

The views are drawing visitors from well beyond the state, including a couple in town to watch Tampa Bay play the Panthers on Sunday.

Christie’s advice for visitors: “It’s not the road to be taking if you’re trying to get from Point A to Point B quickly.” Officials urge travelers to check road conditions and allow extra time.

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➤ Asheville: Residents are pressing police over an audit showing more than 2.7 million license plate reader searches from April through June. Police say the number reflects automated database checks, since a single officer search queries more than 1,800 partner networks and can log thousands of hits. (See Details)

➤ Cary: Businesses along East Chatham Street and Northeast Maynard Road have formed a coalition seeking answers on an $84 million NCDOT plan to run Maynard Road beneath the railroad tracks. Merchants say they back the safety goal but fear relocation. Public comments close Oct. 27. (More)

➤ Charlotte: A raccoon near Darby Chase Drive in south Charlotte tested positive for rabies, Mecklenburg County’s 10th case of 2026. One pet was exposed, and no human exposures were reported. (More)

➤ Wilmington: Advocates at the second annual New Hanover County Food Access Summit called for a permanent farmers market open all week, not just weekends. Feast Down East says matching programs let seniors double food stamp benefits of about $27 a month at participating markets. (See Details)

➤ Jacksonville: Onslow County Sheriff’s Office members joined survivors, families, and advocates at a candlelight vigil Thursday honoring people affected by violence and remembering those who died. Each candle represented a life and a story, the office said. (More)

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➤ NC State headed west to Stanford last night needing a win to steady its season after a lopsided loss to Wake Forest. The Wolfpack were favored by a touchdown. (See Details)

➤ Men’s hockey players from UNCW helped about a dozen Access Fit participants try hockey on a mobile rink at the Miracle League of Wilmington field Thursday. It was the program’s first time offering hockey in several years, its director said. (Read Story)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Golf

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➤ One of six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles on the road is touring the Cape Fear region, with trunk-or-treat stops at Camp Lejeune tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. and The Little Gym of Wilmington on Sunday. The fiberglass hot dog weighs as much as 140,500 actual hot dogs. (See Details)

➤ A group of Surry County women is using their quilting skills to make handmade Quilts of Valor for local veterans. (Read Story)

➤ Asheville-made Chemist American Gin will be the official gin of the 53rd Daytime Emmy Awards on Oct. 30 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The distillery also held the title in 2022. (More)

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➤ Could your next grocery trip cost less? When checkout totals squeeze your budget, a few changes to your shopping routine may help. Explore The Penny Hoarder’s grocery savings tips for ideas to try before your next store run. See which tips could work for your household.

➤ What are the best and worst grocery stores in America? Shoppers just ranked them all. (Hear Ranking)

➤ The Trump administration has canceled some of its toughest tariffs on Canada, less than two weeks before the midterms. (Listen Now)

➤ Mexican prosecutors have filed treason charges over a CIA drug raid that left four people dead, escalating sovereignty tensions. (Hear Story)

Have you been to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet

Yesterday’s Results:

Should teachers be able to earn a full license without passing the state licensing exam?

1. No: 74%
2. Not sure: 15%
3. Yes: 11%

Why did the Wright brothers select the Outer Banks for their flight experiments?

Show me the answer