News

The Down East Journal has a new theme song composed by ECU grad Joshua Tomlinson.  He recently finished up his masters degree in music theory and composition.  Now he's enjoying his summer break and preparing to start a doctoral program at the University of Oklahoma.  We caught up with Tomlinson this week to tell him the good news.

Thank you to all of the student composers who submitted ideas for the contest:

Isaac Ward

Public Radio East is a media sponsor for the Pamlico Opry summer series.  It starts this weekend at the Turnage Theater and is sponsored by the Beaufort County Arts Council and the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association.  Kicking off the series is Raleigh based bluegrass/americana band "The Outliers" this Saturday at 8pm.  Mac McKee speaks with band member Julie Brown about her beginnings in music and her career with The Outliers.

Bath is celebrating its pirate heritage this weekend with its “There Be Pirates in the Port” event, featuring a historical re-enactment of the report of Blackbeard’s death and two lectures examining the life of Blackbeard and other pirates. 

When vacationers leave the beach, they often end up throwing away unused food.  But a program that started last month called Second Helping collects unwanted food and donates it to local food pantries. 

It’s peak time for vacation season at the beach. And now a new program is collecting leftover food from vacationers as they exit the Crystal Coast. Mikel Peterson has more.

Hyde County experienced minor flooding, storm surge, and widespread property debris on the north end of Ocracoke Island.   The high winds knocked down 30 power poles on Ocracoke.  Electricity was restored around 10 pm Saturday.  Emergency Services Director Justin Gibbs says the major impact came from wind damage.  “they’re working on obtaining some additional resources to assist with debris cleanup.  I think they’re looking at getting an additional chipper and an additional dump truck to go over to Ocracoke to try to expedite the process.” Gibbs says it will be at least another wee

A program that saved the red wolf from extinction could come to an end.  This week, we talk to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official about the experimental Red Wolf Recovery Program and the review that will determine its effectiveness.

The largest solar farm east of the Mississippi will break ground soon in northeastern North Carolina.  We explore the Capital Partners Solar Project, which will provide power to universities in Washington DC.

Make you donation before June 30 and help keep PRE in the Black

Grants are being awarded to two businesses in the East to help spur economic growth and help the environment.  Before June 30th, the Recycling Business Assistance Center will award $800,000 in matching grants to 32 companies throughout the state.  According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the grants will help generate more than 80 jobs and $1.6 million dollars in new business investments.  Companies that receive grant money must match at least 50 percent of their award.  New East Recycling and Container Service in

Public input is being sought as the National Park Service develops guidelines for off road vehicle use at Cape Lookout. The off road vehicle management plan seeks to evaluate whether or not to allow off road vehicles.  Three statewide public meetings have already taken place and the comment period for the draft Off Road Vehicle Plan remains open through Monday, July 21st.  Cape Lookout National Seashore Park Superintendent Pat Kenney says off road vehicle use must be regulated to minimize impact to coastal wildlife and habitat, and visitors to the park. 

Coal ash ponds are making headlines in North Carolina, and the news isn’t good. Lee Jenkins has more on new proposed legislation and the state of coal ash pits in the eastern part of the state.

Public Radio East collaborates with students at East Carolina University’s School of Music to change the way Down East Journal sounds.

Help Public Radio East pick the new theme song for Down East Journal.  Please choose your favorite from the following three finalists.  All selections  were composed by students  in East Carolina University's Department of Theory, Composition and Musicology.   The project started last Fall and wrapped up before students left for summer break. 

Listen to all three selections. Each are numbered 1 through 3.  Choose your favorite and email the corresponding number to Public Radio East by clicking here.  Thank you for your participation.  All emails must be received by July 10, 2014. The winning theme will be debuted on Down East Journal on July 11, 2014.

We live in an amazing world.  As we’re waking up in the morning we can IM someone.  We can Skype, poke, e-mail, text, twitter, and tweet…all day long.  All day.  Wow.  Back in our log cabin days, who would have believed this?  Today we can post our brilliant, witty comments online—for the entire world to see—on every topic in the world—whether we know anything about it or not.  It’s positively electric!

The Institute of Marine Scientists released a handful recuperated sea turtles this/yesterday morning.

A team of coastal scientists carried seven sea turtles out to the Gulf Stream, about fifteen miles offshore. Marine Biologist Matthew Godfrey says the Pine Knoll shores Aquarium will be monitoring some of the turtles for the next few months.

Proposed Senate legislation may require Duke Energy to excavate and reseal all of its coal ash basins in the state. In the wake of a breach that contaminated a 70-mile stretch of the Dan River, a handful of key legislators have drafted a bill that would mandate the closing of more than one-hundred ash dumps. About a dozen of the sites lie near power plants in Goldsboro and Wilmington. Currently, the bill also requires the toxic ash be re-buried in sealed landfills within the next fifteen years.

Unemployment rates across virtually all of North Carolina have decreased. In Eastern North Carolina, Carteret County experienced one of the sharpest declines, dropping from 6.6% to 5.6%. According to Division of Commerce public information manager Larry Parker, seasonal employment cycles are partially responsible for the decline in the East.

“Hiring is starting to happen for certainly the coastal counties, and it’s that time of the year where students leave school and start looking for that summer work.”

The cities of Wilson and Greenville recently received twin grants from the Environmental Protection Agency totaling 1,000,000 dollars. Lee Jenkins has more.

On June 12th, volunteers and staff with the NC Coastal Reserve helped plant 4,500 marsh grass plugs which will help provide habitat and  stabilization to the shoreline of Carrot Island.

Bears are seen in increasing numbers this time of year, in yards, in trees, and even swimming across the Neuse River.

 Monday, May 12th, riders on the Cherry Branch- Minnesott ferry witnessed something peculiar during an afternoon crossing. 

“We just left Minnesott Beach and as soon as we leave, we always look to the front of the ship.”

Carlos Kowalczewski is a ferry crew man with the North Carolina Ferry Division.