Region Briefs
2 more communities opposed to offshore drilling
HOLDEN BEACH (AP) — Two more communities on the North Carolina coast have gone on record opposing drilling for oil and natural gas in the Atlantic Ocean.
The town councils in Holden Beach and Oak Island passed resolutions Tuesday.
Holden Beach passed a resolution opposed to both seismic testing and drilling. Oak Island went on record opposed to drilling after passing a resolution against seismic testing last year.
The advocacy group Oceana says that at least 23 communities in the state have passed similar resolutions.
Opponents say drilling could threaten the environment and the tourism industry. Supporters say offshore drilling can be done safely and will bring jobs and tax revenues to the state.
Study finds more sharks off the Southeast coast
RALEIGH (AP) — A newly released federal study shows a record number of sharks swimming off the coast from Florida to North Carolina.
The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports that the increase in sharks comes as North Carolina set a record for shark attacks this summer.
Eight people have been attacked by sharks along the North Carolina coast this year, the most since a Florida group began counting attacks 80 years ago.
The new study shows researchers captured or tagged 2,835 sharks from Florida to North Carolina in April and May. That compares with 1,831 sharks tagged in the most recent survey in 2012.
The most common species were sandbar, Atlantic sharpnose, dusky and tiger sharks.
The largest captured was a 12-1/2-foot tiger shark off the North Carolina coast.
Democratic lieutenant governor candidate talks NC economy
RALEIGH (AP) — A Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor has an economic proposal he says will attract jobs to North Carolina.
Robert Wilson of Cary announced a seven-point agenda Tuesday that includes expanding the Wilmington state port, extending a rail line to the city and increasing agriculture research. He says keeping the corporate income tax at the current 5 percent would create a stable tax climate. Wilson also backs raising teacher salaries to the top 5 percent in the country by 2022.
Wilson is a former longtime state employee who spent much of his career in the Secretary of State’s office.
Other Democrats seeking the nomination include 2012 nominee Linda Coleman, Buncombe County Commissioner Holly Jones and financial services business owner Ron Newton.
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest is seeking re-election.
Officials identify victims of North Carolina plane crash
HIGH POINT (AP) — Officials have identified the three Pennsylvania residents killed when a small plane crashed near a rock quarry in North Carolina.
Officials on Tuesday identified the victims as Mike Apfelbaum, his wife, Christy, and her father, Clarence Imgrund, all of Lewisburg, Pa.
Multiple media outlets reported that the plane came down near High Point on Monday afternoon while on a flight from Sarasota, Florida, to Greensboro.
Mike Apfelbaum was the town attorney in Sunbury, Pa.
Authorities said it appeared Mike Apfelbaum, who was flying the Beechcraft A36, became unsure of his location. He had just been told to climb to 4,000 feet to avoid some cloud cover when the crash occurred. The plane burst into flames on impact.
The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the cause of the crash.
Leave a Reply