Press Releases

Friday at the North Carolina Museum of Art, Pamela Brewington Cashwell took the oath of office as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Cashwell was joined by her husband, David Cashwell and sons as N.C. Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls administered the oath. Cashwell will serve as a member of Governor Josh Stein’s cabinet and oversee the department’s nearly 2,400 employees and more than 100 locations across the state.

At its December meeting, the North Carolina Trails Committee selected 13 trail development projects and five safety and education projects to receive matching federal grants, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. In addition, the committee recommended the official designation of the first access points on the new Haw River State Trail and four accesses on the Yadkin River State Trail.

The Mountain Gateway Museum has opened to the public at its temporary location at

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island has rehabilitated and released 399 sea turtles with the aid of several long-standing community partnerships on the Outer Banks. The turtles were initially brought to the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center at the Aquarium because of cold-stunning, a hypothermia-like condition that occurs when the water temperature drops quickly before the sea turtles can migrate to warmer water.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has received a $75,000 award through a grant from the PNC Foundation to Friends of Fort Fisher.

A Confederate attack on U.S. troops in eastern North Carolina in April 1864 that led to killing of Black soldiers and civilians will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker.

The grounds and visitors center at Vance Birthplace State Historic Site will reopen to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 10, more than two months after the site was closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The site will resume regular operating hours, which are Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The site is closed Sundays, Mondays, and most major holidays.

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that the Parks and Recreation Authority has awarded over $7.6 million from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for state parks projects for fiscal year 2024-25. Over $1.2 million was approved for two land acquisition projects and an additional $6.4 million-plus for five capital projects and statewide maintenance.

The North Carolina FFA Association received the 2024 Larry Wooten Rural Leadership Award, presented by Governor Roy Cooper and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler at a Dec. 3 reception at the North Carolina State Capitol. Special recognition was given to Bruce L. Miller for his 30-plus years of service with NC FFA as an agriculture teacher with Rowan County Schools, and to the Southern Alamance High School FFA for their exceptional programs and accolades.

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site will reopen to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 10, more than two months after the site was forced to close in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.A 120-year-old silver maple tree fell against the “Old Kentucky Home” during the storm, causing minor damage to the structure and cracking plaster inside the house. Once the tree was removed from the historic home, officials with State Historic Sites assessed the damage and made repairs. The house is now safe for visitors and has been cleared to reopen for tours.