Eastern NC

It’s been two years since migrant farmworker Jose Arturo Gonzalez Mendoza died from possible heat-related illness at Barnes Farming in Nash County — though the farm has said an autopsy shows a rare tumor was responsible. Last week, another farmworker died after a sweet potato truck struck him, an incident advocates say highlights the dangers migrant workers face.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials said about two dozen staff members will be in Buxton Friday to contribute to the significant cleanup efforts associated the house collapses.

Local law enforcement held a press conference Sunday following Saturday night's deadly shooting at American Fish Company. Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris said he was "familiar" with suspect Nigel Max Edge, who brought multiple civil suits against the department.

A few brave surfers took advantage of higher than usual waves caused by Hurricane Erin.

Possessing materials to make a bomb could soon be a felony under North Carolina state law.

North Carolina wildlife officials say that since Helene, they have received an increase of reports of bear and human conflicts in the western part of the state.

Parts of southeastern North Carolina have been deluged by another historic flood. Highways in Brunswick County remained underwater Tuesday, a day after about 18 inches of rain fell at nearby Carolina Beach in 12 hours.

The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts identified Halifax County as a legal desert in northeastern North Carolina, with only about one attorney for every 1,000 people. This year, the office created a new group of public defenders there. WUNC's Will Michaels spoke with Tonza Ruffin, the lead public defender in District 7, about her goals for the new office.

Beachgoers along the coast of the Carolinas are enjoying more sand with their surf this summer. Multi-million-dollar rebuilding projects the past couple of winters pumped sand from offshore to restore beaches ravaged by storms, erosion, and higher sea levels. The practice is getting more frequent and expensive, and some experts wonder how long we can sustain it. This is part II of WHQR's "Rising Waters" series.

WUNC digital producers Eli Chen and Mitchell Northam will update this live blog with the latest information on Debby's impact on North Carolina with reports from the National Weather Service, the AP, NPR and WUNC's reporters.