Federal Layoffs Hit NC Parks and Forests 

North Carolina’s national parks have started cutting positions in accordance with President Trump’s plan to reduce the federal workforce.

As of Friday, Cape Hatteras National Seashore had let go of six probationary employees and Cape Lookout had terminated one. At least one Blue Ridge Parkway employee and 12 Great Smoky Mountains National Park employees had also been let go.

At least 17 North Carolina U.S. Forest Service employees have also reportedly been terminated as part of the federal cuts.

The Forest Service Council of the National Federation of Federal Employees joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s federal layoffs a couple of weeks ago, alongside other unions.

Commission Seeks Recreation Pass Feedback

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) scaled back a proposal for an annual public lands recreation fee in the form of a pass, and is seeking public feedback on the idea.

Originally, the proposed Conservation Access Pass would be required for accessing 2.2 million acres of game land, including North Carolina’s four national forests.

The updated proposal requires individuals who don’t possess an annual hunting, fishing, and/or trapping license to purchase the pass for access to 542,205 acres of state game lands—down from the original 2.2 million—as well as NCWRC shooting ranges and over 250 boating access areas for non-registered vessel owners.

An annual hunting, fishing, and/or trapping license ranges from $42 to $82.

The NCWRC will host a virtual webinar Tuesday, March 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. to gather public feedback on the proposal. Register to attend here.

14 Foals Born to Wild Horse Herd in 2024

National park officials announced the birth of 14 foals to the Shackleford Banks wild horse herd during 2024, bringing its population to 119—just shy of the legislated target range of 120-130.

Shackleford Banks, part of the Outer Banks, is located 3 miles offshore and accessible only by ferry.

There were 11 deaths last year in the Shackleford Banks herd, with a mortality rate of 9%. Since 2005, its year-end population has ranged from 105 to 126.

Wild horse herds also live on the Outer Banks islands of Corolla and Ocracoke. All Outer Banks wild horses are classified as Colonial Spanish Mustangs.

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➤ Statewide: State Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs wants the entire State Court of Appeals to hear the ballot challenge dispute involving her race against challenger Jefferson Griffin, and seeks a recusal from one judge. (More)

➤ Wake County Republican Rep. Erin Paré filed a bill to raise first-year teacher pay from $41,000 to $50,000 per year, and experienced teacher pay from $55,950 to $68,230 per year. (More)

➤ Western NC: The first round of interest-free loans for Hurricane Helene relief, totaling $73.5 million, is being delivered to 98 local governments. (More)

➤ I-40: Two I-40 lanes damaged by Helene near the Tennessee border—one eastbound and one westbound—are set to reopen by this Saturday, March 1. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Police believe a street gang called “Wicked” is targeting residents of a southeast Raleigh neighborhood after a series of gunshots were fired into occupied homes and vehicles. One arrest has been made and more are expected. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Shootings into occupied dwellings—also a problem in Charlotte—prompted police to launch the S.W.I.T.C.H. initiative, which offers tip reward money and allocates more resources and investigators to address the shootings. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets set an NBA all-time record for worst point differential in a three-game span after losing their last three games by a combined 131 points. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes were shut out by the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 Tuesday. The Canes face the Buffalo Sabres on the road tonight as they look to end their post-4 Nations struggles. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers will not immediately look to re-sign kicker Eddy Pineiro, who is considered the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer 

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➤ The NC Retail Merchants Association and North Carolina Home Builders Association identified potential industry reform issues for the House Committee on Regulatory Reform to target in 2025. (More)

➤ The City of Asheville will allow a group of downtown condo owners to submit an amendment to retroactively change their building’s permit to be defined as “lodging use,” which would turn it into a “hotel” allowing short-term Airbnb rentals. (More)

➤ The highest-paying management jobs in Raleigh include CEOs, natural science managers, and computer and information systems managers, with annual mean pays of $256,640, $160,470, and $155,220, respectively. (See Analysis)

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➤ Raleigh claims two of USA Today’s 10 best free museums in the country: the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (No. 3) and the North Carolina Museum of Art (No. 8). (See List)

➤ Country stars and North Carolina natives Eric Church and Luke Combs were co-recipients of the Country Radio Seminar 2025 Artist Humanitarian Award for their efforts to raise money for Hurricane Helene victims. (More)

➤ The Raleigh Brentwood post office will be named after Six Triple Eight World War II veteran Millie Dunn Veasey, a civil rights leader who served in the only overseas all-black woman’s 6888th Battalion. (More)

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Have you stayed in an Airbnb or Vrbo vacation rental?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I may someday
4. I’ll stick with hotels

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you shared your DNA with Ancestry or another genealogy company?

1. Yes: 34%
2. No: 29%
3. I might: 22%
4. I won’t ever: 15%

What do the Shackleford Banks wild horses eat?

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