North Carolina
NC teen girl dies in rip currents at Ocean Isle Beach; man drowns in ocean at Surf City
OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. (WNCN) — Two people have died in swimming-related incidents at the North Carolina coast since Sunday after this month started with more than 190 rip current rescues.
One death happened Sunday afternoon and was due to rip currents at Ocean Isle Beach in Brunswick County, according to the National Weather Service.
A teenage girl who died at Ocean Isle was caught in a rip current between 12:30 and 1 p.m., the weather service and WECT-TV reported.
The girl was a student at Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, the Morganton News-Herald reported. A school official said she was at the beach as part of a school robotics team trip.
The mayor of Ocean Isle Beach told WECT that three teens were caught in the rip current, but two were rescued. The girl’s name was not released Monday.
As recently as last Tuesday, there were 14 rip current rescues at various beaches in adjacent New Hanover County, the National Weather Service in Wilmington reported.
“I am heartbroken by this tragic news,” Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Tricia McManus told WGHP. “I want the family, and our Reynolds students and staff to know that our district will provide any support they need at this incredibly difficult time. Our prayers are with all of you, and we mourn this loss with you.”
The most recent ocean death on the North Carolina coast happened late Monday morning at Surf City in Pender County, according to the Surf City Fire Department. Just last week there were at least four rip current rescues at that beach, the National Weather Service said.
The Surf City call was just after 11:25 p.m. in the ocean near Beach Access No. 3 on N. Shore Drive.
Ocean Rescue crews found people on the beach trying to help a person in the water. The people were already involved in CPR with the victim and rescue workers continued those efforts, Surf City Fire officials said.
The victim, 57-year-old Minh Ha Nguyen of Richmond, Virginia, was later pronounced dead.
Over the four days of July 3 to July 6, there were nearly 200 people rescued from rip currents at the North Carolina coast.
According to the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, in New Hanover County alone, there were over 190 rip current rescues over those days including the Independence Day holiday.
The first North Carolina rip current death happened earlier this month on July 4 at the Outer Banks, according to the National Weather Service. An 18-year-old man died in that incident at Nags Head and is one of 23 people who have died from rip currents in the United States this year, the weather service reported.
WNCT-TV contributed to this report
North Carolina
Former staffer claims sexual harassment in ethics complaint against NC insurance commissioner
A Forsyth County woman has filed an ethics complaint against North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, alleging that the official sent her what she called inappropriate text messages for years while she worked in the Department of Insurance.
Causey, meanwhile, says he would welcome an investigation into the allegations, telling WRAL News in an interview this week: “The truth will come out.”
Former regulatory analyst April Taylor filed the complaint last week with the State Ethics Commission. The DOI said Wednesday it has received a copy of the complaint.
Taylor is alleging sexual harassment. She also claims Causey campaigned on state time and misused a state vehicle.
Taylor alleged last month that Causey sent her a series of inappropriate text messages during her nine years at the department. She made the allegations in an article published by The News & Observer.
On Wednesday, Taylor shared images of the text messages with WRAL. She characterized her relationship with Causey as “friendly,” citing family ties dating back before she worked there. But the messages reflect a more complicated dynamic.
“Just don’t let me catch you in the room alone,” reads one message.
“I might jump your bones. Watch out!!!” reads another.
The messages made her uncomfortable, she told WRAL News, adding: “At the time, I didn’t know how to respond.”
Taylor told state investigators that she has many more text messages and screenshots to prove Causey was campaigning on state time while at a department office in Archdale. She also said Causey used a state vehicle for personal use, including to attend her great-aunt’s wedding in 2025.
“Although Causey and I had a friendship,” Taylor said in her filing, “he crossed the line many times, leaving me feeling uncomfortable and violated.”
She said she first attempted to raise the concerns
– unrelated to the text messages
– about Causey to the Office of the State Auditor, related to his official capacity as the state’s Insurance Commissioner. She alleged that the auditor’s office expressed little interest in investigating. A spokesperson for State Auditor Dave Boliek challenged her narrative, saying her complaint “draws incorrect conclusions.”
In her complaint, Taylor said: “I am willing to take a polygraph exam and testify before legislatures. Evidence will be furnished upon request.”
In her role as an analyst at the department, Taylor’s job led to frequent communication with Causey.
Taylor, who resides between Greensboro and Winston-Salem, allowed WRAL to read through text messages exchanged with Causey over the years.
Much of the communication observed appeared friendly or work-related. But Taylor says some texts went too far – particularly those that commented on her appearance.
WRAL asked Causey about Taylor’s allegations. He declined to comment, saying it was a personnel matter. He added that he was open to an investigation into the initial allegations.
“We want to make sure everything is clear and transparent,” Causey said, “because we certainly have nothing to hide to the public, to the lawmakers, or to any of my fellow elected officials.”
Causey acknowledged to the N&O that he sent work-related texts to Taylor. But he told the newspaper that he didn’t recall sending comments related to her appearance. Taylor disputes that.
“Throughout the years, I thought they were inappropriate,” Taylor said. “I felt uncomfortable. I responded with laughing emojis because I didn’t know how to respond. What am I supposed to do, respond with mad faces? He may look at it as a form of rejection.”
Taylor said she was in an appointed position. “He could have let me go for any reason,” she said.
Asked why she didn’t push back against the messages, Taylor said: “I just didn’t want to make the situation uncomfortable. Just wanted to laugh it off.”
Several messages sent by Taylor to Causey were flattering in nature, including heart and smiling emojis, as well as references to Causey as a “handsome” man. “I felt the laughing emoji was my way of trying to shut it down,” she said.
A spokesperson for the department declined to comment on the allegations.
“Commissioner Causey and NCDOI will fully comply with any requests by the N.C. State Ethics Commission regarding this or any other matter,” Barry Smith a DOI spokesman, said in a statement.
North Carolina
‘Bonsai in the Blue Ridge’ exhibit brings dozens of displays to North Carolina Arboretum
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Arboretum will host a bonanza of bonsai this week with “Bonsai in the Blue Ridge,” a limited-time exhibition of more than 50 living sculptures as part of the American Bonsai Society’s Learning Seminar 2026.
Between June 4-7, arboretum visitors can explore the exhibits for a $5 admission fee, along with the arboretum’s regular parking fee. A press release from the arboretum said there will also be opportunities to register for seminars, workshops and tours led by bonsai artists for an additional cost.
GROWING YOUR GARDEN? PLENTY OF PLANTS FOR PURCHASE AT THE ARBORETUM’S SPRING SALE
“The American Bonsai Society brings together people who share a passion for bonsai. Through world-class publications and events such as the Learning Seminars, ABS promotes and educates, sharing techniques that showcase North American artistic expression and encouraging the use of plant species that grow well in the United States, Canada, and Mexico,” ABS Convention Chair Scott Barboza said in a written statement.
FILE IMAGE of a bonsai plant that is part of the North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden. (Photo: North Carolina Arboretum)
Bonsai is the ancient art of shaping trees over time to create miniature living sculptures. The North Carolina Arboretum is no stranger to the art, having established the Bonsai Exhibition Garden in 2005, which showcases up to 50 specimens of traditional Asian bonsai subjects, tropical plants, American species and plants native to the Blue Ridge region.
IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL ASHEVILLE STAGES FLORAL DESIGN EXHIBITION AT NC ARBORETUM
“Bonsai in the Blue Ridge” takes place 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, June 7.
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See a full schedule of events for this week’s seminar at americanbonsaisociety.org.
North Carolina
Greenville Police Department Join Effort Promoting Safe Firearm Storage
The Greenville Police Department joined community leaders in Pitt County this week to promote safe firearm storage as part of North Carolina’s annual NC S.A.F.E. Week of Action, the Greenville Police Department said.
In a statement, the Greenville Police Department thanked NC S.A.F.E. and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for the opportunity to help educate residents about responsible firearm storage practices.
We want to thank NC S.A.F.E. and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for allowing us to help relay to the community the importance of safely securing firearms so that we can avoid tragedies in the future!
The local event follows Gov. Josh Stein’s proclamation recognizing June 1-7 as NC S.A.F.E. Week of Action.
According to Gov. Stein’s office, the campaign aims to encourage gun owners to securely store firearms and make safety resources more widely available across North Carolina.
An unlocked gun is a tragedy waiting to happen, and too often, it does,” said Governor Josh Stein. “NC S.A.F.E Week is a reminder to all of us about the measures we can all take to keep ourselves and the people we love safe.
Safe firearm storage is one of the simplest steps we can take to prevent tragedies before they happen,” said North Carolina Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary William Lassiter Lassiter. “NC S.A.F.E. is increasing awareness around secure firearm storage and making safety resources more accessible to help reduce preventable injuries and build safer communities throughout our state.
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