Outer Banks Insider

09/01/2026

Absentee voting begins Monday for the 2026 primary election in North Carolina, according to a press release from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Friday, Feb. 6 is the voter registration deadline, and Tuesday, Feb. 17, is the absentee ballot request deadline.

"State law previously provided for a grace period if your ballot was postmarked on or before Election Day and received up to three days after the election. That is no longer the case. The ballot must be at the county board office, not in the mail, by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day," the press release said.

Full press release available at this link:

On Monday, Jan.

07/01/2026

OBX Got Talent, Season 3 tryouts coming soon. Sharing from The Pioneer Theater Manteo, NC:

It’s that time!!! Are you ready for tryouts?! Want to be a sponsor? Ready to attend and support our wonderful community?! Connect with us & save the dates!🍿🎶🙌

07/01/2026

Sharing from Nags Head Woods Preserve:

07/01/2026

Nags Head school resource officer arrests, charges parent with violating protective order

Parent was previously arrested, charged with driving impaired with child in vehicle on Christmas Day

🔗 Full article, including parent's booking photo, available at the link in Outer Banks Insider's original post comments.

📸 Photo courtesy Town of Nags Head

🌊📝 As the area's only ad-free news outlet, we depend on readers like you to sustain our work so that we can continue providing stories of interest, impact and importance. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber, which gives you full access to Outer Banks Insider's handcrafted local news (link in the comments)! Thank you to all who do!

06/01/2026

Kitty Hawk Town Council on Monday denied a request to expand an RV park on The Woods Road. Sharing from Sam Walker OBX:

Get more from SamWalkerOBXNews.com on Patreon

06/01/2026

Dare County announces Faire, passport program, other events celebrating United States’ 250th birthday

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The “Land of Beginnings” is gearing up for a series of events this year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

🔗 Full article available at the link in Outer Banks Insider's original post comments.

📸 Photo by Outer Banks Insider

🌊📝 As the area's only ad-free news outlet, we depend on readers like you to sustain our work so that we can continue providing stories of interest, impact and importance. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber, which gives you full access to Outer Banks Insider's handcrafted local news (link in the comments)! Thank you to all who do!

05/01/2026

Sharing from CoastalReview.org:

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit Monday against the National Marine Fisheries Service for not publishing initial findings on a petition filed February 2024 to protect American horseshoe crabs.

03/01/2026

Outer Banks' New Year's Baby 2026 born Friday in Nags Head

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Press release below from Outer Banks Health:

The Outer Banks welcomes its 2026 New Year's Baby

In the early morning hours of Jan. 2, the Outer Banks community welcomed its New Year’s baby, Lucca Hernandez, born at 2:05 a.m. at Outer Banks Health Hospital. Weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measuring 22 inches long, Lucca is the second child of Evaline and Elmer Hernandez of Kill Devil Hills and joins his proud older sister, Camila.

Lucca’s parents shared their joy at welcoming the first baby of 2026, calling him a true blessing and expressing how grateful they are that he is finally here.

As the first baby born on the Outer Banks in 2026, Lucca holds a special place in the hearts of the community, representing hope and fresh beginnings. Welcome to the world, baby Lucca. May your life be filled with health, happiness and endless new horizons.

📸 The Hernandez family of Kill Devil Hills welcomes its latest member and the Outer Banks 2026 New Year’s Baby, Lucca. Pictured left to right are Evaline, Lucca, Camila and Elmer. (Photo courtesy Outer Banks Health)

01/01/2026

The 46 people and four dogs participating in the First Day Hike at Jockey’s Ridge State Park on a chilly, blustery Thursday morning got a first glimpse of what will become the new park boardwalk.

🔗 Full article available at the link in Outer Banks Insider's original post comments.

📸 Photos by Outer Banks Insider

🌊📝 As the area's only ad-free news outlet, we depend on readers like you to sustain our work so that we can continue providing stories of interest, impact and importance. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber, which gives you full access to all of Outer Banks Insider's handcrafted local news (link in the comments)! Thank you to all who do!

31/12/2025

Saltwater Fishing Tournament (Citation Program) changes effective Jan. 1. Sharing from NC Division of Marine Fisheries:

Happy New Year’s Eve! 🎉🎣
Starting January 1, updates to the Saltwater Fishing Tournament (Citation Program) go into effect for the 2026 season (not retroactive). Citations may be earned for catch-and-release year-round or harvested fish during open recreational seasons. Anglers can qualify by weight or length.

What’s new:
• Flounder — 6 lbs / 24 in (they’re back!)
• Atlantic Bonito — 8 lbs / 24 in
• Spotted Seatrout — increased to 6 lbs / 26 in
• Red Drum — minimum length increased to 43 in
• Sheepshead — minimum length decreased to 23 in

Tight lines in 2026! 🎣

31/12/2025

Sharing a successful rescue offshore of Cape Hatteras from U.S. Coast Guard East:

30/12/2025

OUTER BANKS INSIDER EXCLUSIVE:

A courtroom electronics ban went into effect across the seven-county First Judicial District for both superior court and district court settings. Public opinions vary, as do possible exemptions for journalists.

Included in the article is why the ban was imposed, according to each head judge.

🔗 Full article available at the link in Outer Banks Insider's original post comments.

📸 Photo of the main entrance to the Dare County Justice Center in Manteo by Outer Banks Insider