BEAUFORT — Those headed to downtown Beaufort to dine, shop and visit this summer will likely avoid paying for parking the remainder of the season.

BEAUFORT — While commencement exercises are set for two county high schools next week, plans are still being ironed out at East Carteret High School.

ATLANTIC BEACH — Bar and club owners in one Bogue Banks town may serve customers outdoors, thanks to an ordinance amendment unanimously passed Thursday by the Atlantic Beach Town Council.

HARKERS ISLAND — The National Park Service at Cape Lookout National Seashore is reopening its Harkers Island Visitor Center and Keepers’ Quarters Museum soon.

CARTERET COUNTY — Retail businesses of all sizes noted an uptick in customers and excitement Memorial Day weekend as North Carolina moved into phase two of Gov. Roy Cooper’s gradual reopening in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

CARTERET COUNTY – The county received an additional confirmed positive case of COVID-19 Tuesday for 37 total confirmed cases of the disease, according to a news release issued that afternoon.

MOREHEAD CITY — As Gov. Roy Cooper continues phase two of the state’s plan to loosen restrictions, Morehead City has introduced its own reopening plan.

BOGUE BANKS — Pine Knoll Shores and Atlantic Beach officials announced town hall reopened with limited public access Tuesday after being closed since late March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

MOREHEAD CITY — County human services officials have been reviewing hurricane shelter plans in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

EMERALD ISLE — A Second Helping, an all-volunteer group that for about five years accepted food donations from departing vacationers in order to help feed needy area residents, will not operate this summer because of concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic.

ATLANTIC BEACH — With Memorial Day weekend upon us, town officials announced Friday Atlantic Beach Community Park will reopen Saturday.

MOREHEAD CITY — Facing upward of $1.4 million in lost revenue due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the city’s proposed 2020-21 fiscal year budget represents a “conservative” approach for spending in the upcoming year.

NEWPORT — People seeking to spend time outdoors can visit Croatan National Forest again, but the U.S. Forest Service advises to be prepared for a “primitive experience.”

CEDAR POINT — Officials will open town hall to the public Tuesday for the first time since closing it in March to protect residents and employees from the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 10:54 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2020, to update the photo cutlines.

CARTERET COUNTY — Carteret County has not received a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 since Thursday, according to a release from county officials.

EMERALD ISLE — Some residents of the western end of Emerald Isle say parking problems were “horrendous” over the weekend and are calling on the town to alleviate the situation in time for Memorial Day weekend, which starts Friday.

BEAUFORT — In an effort to encourage business for local restaurants, Beaufort commissioners have provided an outdoor dining space for take-out patrons in the downtown area.

Reporter's note: This article was updated at 11:52 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2020, with a full report.

CARTERET COUNTY — Though the novel coronavirus pandemic has dealt a blow to the tourism industry worldwide, local officials are hopeful the Crystal Coast can still pull off a successful summer tourism season.

BEAUFORT — Carteret County commissioners joined the leaders of seven other central-eastern North Carolina counties in penning a letter requesting Gov. Roy Cooper allow more local control in handling the COVID-19 crisis.  

HARKERS ISLAND — More facilities are reopening to visitors to Cape Lookout National Seashore.

MOREHEAD CITY — Following suit with other municipalities throughout the state, including some others in Carteret County, Morehead City is canceling its summer camp program this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

MOREHEAD CITY — Carteret Community College is facing a budget shortfall due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

CARTERET COUNTY — The county received an additional confirmed case of COVID-19 Thursday, bringing the total to 36 confirmed cases.

EMERALD ISLE — Town commissioners Tuesday night voted unanimously to cancel the Fourth of July fireworks display at the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier because of the potential threat the novel coronavirus might still pose to such a mass gathering.

BEAUFORT — While the novel coronavirus outbreak has closed many dine-in restaurants, a local community-supported fishery is still providing a link between commercial fishermen and their inland customers.

MOREHEAD CITY — The city will allow individuals experiencing financial hardship due to the novel coronavirus pandemic to establish payment plans for utilities, including water, sewer and solid waste services.

JACKSONVILLE — A vaccine for novel coronavirus is still at least a few months away, but Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C. thinks its time to start getting back to work.

BEAUFORT — Carteret County public libraries have found new ways to deliver print and digital materials amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and subsequent branch closures.

MOREHEAD CITY — People waited in line to shop at the new Hope Mission Thrift Store, which opened its doors to the public Monday.

EMERALD ISLE — One of Emerald Isle’s two major beach access parking lots reopened Saturday morning, more with a shiver than a bang.

MOREHEAD CITY — Many businesses have closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, leading to layoffs and former staff applying for unemployment.

MOREHEAD CITY — With state officials easing up the on novel coronavirus-related restrictions, local stores are beginning to reopen their doors.

CARTERET COUNTY — The County Health Department Monday reported three additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Carteret County, bringing the total to 35.

BEAUFORT — Things felt different Saturday morning at the Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market, and it wasn’t just the unseasonably cold temperatures.

MOREHEAD CITY — When single mother Dianna Godette, 41, lost her job last year due to an injury, she and her three teenage children ended up homeless and split apart among family members in order to survive.

MOREHEAD CITY — Morehead City-Beaufort Elks Lodge 1710 recently received a Gratitude Grant from the Elks National Foundation. The grant, written by Elk member Jane McClughan, was to feed health care workers at Carteret Health Care.

NEWPORT — The novel coronavirus outbreak is going to have an effect on next fiscal year’s budget for Newport, but the specifics won’t be known until the next quarter of 2020.

MOREHEAD CITY — Gail Scarborough, a 77-year-old resident at Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, had not seen her daughter and grandchildren in person since early March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

CARTERET COUNTY — Carteret County officials reported two new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in the county to 32.

CARTERET COUNTY — Carteret County officials confirmed Friday another case of COVID-19, bringing the county’s total to 31 cases.

MOREHEAD CITY — When the novel coronavirus pandemic forced longtime dog trainer Pat Rapaport to temporarily shut down her facility, she was concerned about her four- and two-legged clients.

RALEIGH — With travel throughout North Carolina limited, state officials say coastal counties and municipalities are taking a revenue hit.

EMERALD ISLE — The town of Emerald Isle will open its large Eastern Ocean Regional Access paid parking lot, along with smaller free lots at accesses at Third Street and Station Street, early Saturday morning, Town Manager Matt Zapp said Thursday afternoon.

MOREHEAD CITY — Although event organizers plan to go forward with the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament on the originally scheduled dates, the annual event will likely look different this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

CARTERET COUNTY — The County Health Department Wednesday announced an additional confirmed case of COVID-19, bringing the total to 30 positive cases reported in Carteret County.

MOREHEAD CITY — Carteret Community College President Dr. John Hauser announced Wednesday the campus will begin a gradual reopening for faculty and staff based on the governor’s phase one stay-at-home order.

EMERALD ISLE — Emerald Isle had a busy weekend, with plenty of day-trippers on the beaches and no major problems, according to Town Manager Matt Zapp and Fire Department Capt. Bill Mathias.