Special Reports

  • Sutton Spill: Selenium Levels Before, After

    Elevated selenium levels were found in Sutton Lake before Hurricane Florence flooded Duke Energy’s coal ash pond. Now researchers plan to study the breach’s long-term effects.

  • Sutton Spill: Debate Over Data Continues

    Duke Energy says its sampling of the Cape Fear River shows no significant harm resulted from the Sutton Plant coal ash spill, but others contend the utility’s own results and state standards raise red flags.

  • Sutton Spill Damage: Answers Lie Below

    Activists sounded the alarm about the recent Cape Fear River coal ash spill as Duke Energy downplayed the damage, but researchers say determining the true extent of contamination requires digging deeper.

  • Test Case for Oceanfront Development Risks

    In real estate, location is everything, and the perilous site of the Kure Beach condominium complex called The Riggings make it a textbook example of challenges in managing coastal development.

  • New Rule Latest Effort to Save The Riggings

    The legislature in June threw a lifeline to The Riggings, a condo complex in Kure Beach threatened by erosion since its construction, but the sandbag rule change is just another short-term fix in a losing battle with the ocean.

  • GenX Aware: Old Assumptions, New Attitudes

    In the second and final part of our series on the anniversary of the first GenX news report, we examine what has changed in terms of the public’s awareness, behavior and how they may vote.

  • GenX Wake-up Call, Legislative Snooze Button

    It’s been a year since news was first reported of GenX and other contaminants in the Cape Fear region’s drinking water, but despite all the attention, little progress has been made to protect public health.

  • Blueprint: Water Quality, Living Shorelines

    In the second installment of our series on the Lower Cape Fear River Blueprint, we explain the plan’s goals and strategies for protecting the river’s vulnerable natural resources.