A 44-year-old Chapel Hill boater drowned June 15 at Jordan Lake near Farrington Point Road, Apex, authorities said, when he went in the water to retrieve a drifting boat and did not return. He was not wearing a life jacket. A second drowning was reported July 4. The victim was a teenager. No other details were released … Baby barn owls from WNC are getting national and international attention via a live wildlife cam. Four owlets were born in April and one was killed in the barn during an attack by a Great Horned Owl in June. More than 62,000 watched and listened to the birth and early family activities, NCWRC said. Check out the action at ncwildlife.gov. website … A Durham driver who’s accused of seriously injuring two cyclists June 12 in a hit-and-run crash in Orange County June 12 was arrested, state troopers said. A truck hit two Durham cyclists near Duke Forest on NC 751 near US70 and left the scene. Driver faces seven criminal charges … New regulations for the 2026-27 deer season include the introduction of a Special Early Season Hunt for antlered deer Aug. 22-23, 2026, in all CWD Management Areas using any lawful weapon. These areas include Cumberland, Forsyth, Sampson, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. Baiting is still prohibited in these areas before Sep.1 … N.C. flounder season runs Sep. 1-14. Limit: 1 fish per person per day. Minimum size: 15 inches total length. All catches must be reported …