Lillington
FORT BRAGG — Work on the All American Freeway continues as Fort Bragg officials tackle another road on post and prepare for the installation's next major project once the All American is complete. Officials provided a brief update on the All American work during a quarterly Community Action Council meeting on Nov. 4. The project, estimated to cost $22 million , will replace the 50-year-old Gruber Road bridge over the All American Freeway and repair areas where the freeway has settled on Fort Bragg, near the Rock Merritt Road exit and freeway between Gruber and Zabitosky roads. Fort Bragg is working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation on the project, which started in July and is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete. Crews are in the midst of dynamic compaction on the roadway, where a 50,000-pound weight is being used to compact the area that will be under the asphalt, Jeffrey Williamson, director of Fort Bragg’s Directorate of Public Works, said at the Nov. 4 meeting. Crews started removing about 12 layers of asphalt in August to address roadbed settlement. Williamson said the dynamic compaction work should be completed by the end of January. The road
Apex is moving toward new e-bike rules that could expand helmet requirements for younger riders and clarify where electric bicycles can travel. The proposed changes come as a new North Carolina law takes effect Dec. 1, changing which e-bikes are permitted on roads and greenways. The new law also will require helmets for Class 3 e-bike riders and passengers under 18. Towns can also require helmets for riders and passengers under 18 on Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, but the new law does not mandate those additional requirements statewide. A separate, existing state law already requires bicycle helmets for anyone under 16. Apex’s Public Safety Committee on Thursday, Nov. 5, backed limited amendments to existing bicycle regulations, rather than a comprehensive e-bike ordinance. “Making huge regulatory changes at this stage may be the wrong thing. We may be over-regulating,” council member Ed Gray told The News & Observer after the meeting. But Gray also supports a uniform helmet requirement for younger riders, saying it would be easier to understand and enforce. The Town Council must approve any amendments, which it could do as soon as Dec. 17. The new rules Under the new state law, Class 1 bikes provide motor
Drivers who travel Old Stage Road in southern Wake County, near Garner, should be prepared for a traffic shift Friday evening and overnight. Beginning at 7 p.m., crews with the North Carolina Department of Transportation will move traffic onto two newly constructed lanes so they can build new northbound lanes for the Old Stage Road widening project.
A boa constrictor's weeks-long adventure on the loose in Hoke County came to an end on Wednesday when it turned up on Richard Wood's farm. The 6-to-7-foot snake, someone's pet, had been missing since early October in the Calloway Road area near Raeford. Hoke County Animal Shelter officials had warned...
Veterans deserve more. United States servicemen and women earn their benefits and support through their service, yet far too many face ongoing challenges with healthcare access, mental health resources, disability claims backlogs, and housing support. Veterans treatment courts (VTC) aim to promote recovery and reduce recidivism in high-risk, high-need military veterans with repeat infractions related to substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders. Honorable Robert Russell founded the first VTC in Buffalo, New York, in January 2008. The structure of VTCs are similar to that of adult drug treatment courts in that they involve cooperation and collaboration with court officials, community partners, and law enforcement. The goal is to connect eligible veterans with benefits and treatment earned through military service. The program was initially funded initially by a grant from the Governor's Crime Commission from then-Governor Pat McCrory.
The margin is tightening in a North Carolina Senate race that could decide control of the chamber — and perhaps all lawmaking in the state. Hoke County elections officials on Friday counted 59 provisional ballots and rejected 105 more in the race for the state’s 24th NC Senate District between powerful Republican Sen. Danny Britt and Democratic challenger Catina Hamm.
Eastern North Carolina's biggest holiday gift and craft show is back at the Crown Expo Center this week, with the Holly Day Fair running November 5 through 8 in Fayetteville. The event marks its 59th year, bringing together roughly 150 vendors and the kind of crowd that has made it a fixture of the local holiday season.
SMITHFIELD – Johnston County will auction surplus vehicles from the Sheriff’s Office, Public Utilities and other consignors on Sunday, November 8. The online auction, conducted by Wester Auction & Realty, includes former law enforcement vehicles such as Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet Tahoes. Among the vehicles listed for sale...
North Carolina is getting a taste of the Lone Star State. Texas-based Buc-ee’s, already building one store in the state, is now eyeing a second location along Interstate 95. The travel center could join Texas-inspired restaurants setting up shop in the Raleigh area. From a barbecue joint to a beloved burger chain, here are openings The News & Observer has covered this year: Buc-ee’s could build a second North Carolina travel center near I-95 and Halifax Road in Rocky Mount. Its first NC location is already under construction off I-85/40 in Alamance County, and there’s no official opening date. East of Texas , a Texas-style barbecue restaurant from owner Claire Calvin, opened at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus . The restaurant serves brisket, burnt ends, pork belly and housemade sausage. It’s an expansion of a Winston-Salem spot that opened in 2023. Shipley Donuts , founded in Houston in 1936, plans to open two Raleigh shops over the next two years, with the first expected in 2027. The chain is known for handcrafted doughnuts and savory kolaches stuffed with fillings like sausage and jalapeños. Whataburger opened its first Triangle locations : in Wake Forest at 489 Calvin Jones Highway and in Raleigh
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will shift traffic along a portion of N.C. 211 in Hoke County onto newly constructed lanes starting next week. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Nov. 10, weather permitting, crews will begin shifting traffic in both directions on N.C. 211 from approximately 1 mile east of Ashemont Road to Ivey Street onto the newly constructed lanes. The traffic shift is expected to be fully completed by 4 p.m.
Two injuries during the Lee County-Southern Lee football game on October 30, including one that left a player waiting nearly half an hour for an ambulance, prompted questions at Monday’s meeting of the Lee County Board of Commissioners. One player was taken for medical attention by his parents after...
Garner man Murad Terrell Taylor was sentenced to 137 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
JOHNSTON COUNTY – An estimated 7,500 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into a pond near the intersection of NC Highway 42 and Queen Ann Drive on Saturday, November 7. Aqua North Carolina reported the discharge Sunday, November 8, saying the untreated wastewater entered a pond upstream of an unnamed tributary to the Neuse River.
SMITHFIELD – The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will not vote on a proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) later this month after residents raised concerns about protecting farmland from encroaching development. During a public hearing Monday, November 2, several speakers urged commissioners to strengthen protections for agricultural operations as...
PUBLIC NOTICE: LUMBEE TRIBE GAMING REFERENDUM – SPECIAL ELECTION. The Lumbee Tribe Elections Board is providing important information regarding the upcoming Special Election for the Gaming Referendum on Tuesday, December 15, 2026. Please review the accompanying graphics for information about the election, official polling locations, key dates and deadlines,...
The greater Fayetteville community is invited to contribute non-perishable food items to support those who serve our nation. Recognizing the current financial pressures faced by military families and the need for immediate, tangible support within the Fort Bragg community, the Greater Fayetteville. Chamber Military Affairs Council (MAC) is hosting Operation...
Pittsboro, NC – Chatham County’s proposed capital plan would push the opening of a new Chatham Park elementary school and an expansion at Margaret Pollard Middle School to fall 2032, while increasing their projected costs, advancing a park dam repair and adding a sheriff’s rescue vehicle. The changes come as commissioners weigh the competing demands of population growth, maintenance and borrowing capacity.
Wake County officials reviewed changes to the county's emergency medical services system during a presentation Monday at a Wake County Board of Commissioners Public Safety Committee meeting. The presentation focused on EMS response times, emergency call prioritization, coordination with local fire departments, and patient outcomes as the county continues to grow.
