Good News Friday: It’s NC sea turtle nesting season. Meet the volunteers protecting them.

This week’s roundup of good news spotlights NC sea turtle season. Plus, a star-studded tennis event comes to Charlotte.

It’s Friday, so that means it’s time for your weekly dose of good news from North Carolina. 

This week, we’re looking at exciting developments in NC transportation, sports, and marine life.

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Tennis stars to compete in Charlotte

 

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Some of the biggest names in tennis will be making their way to Charlotte this winter to compete in the inaugural Charlotte Invitational. 

On Dec. 6 at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center, Spanish tennis star and defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will take on Maryland native Frances Tiafoe, and Sloan Stephens will face Madison Keys in a set of doubleheaders.

This is cool. North Carolins is not thought of as a destination for the best tennis players, so maybe this is the start of something new. 

Tickets will go on sale in mid-July, so tennis fans, make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to see some of the best in the game right here in NC!

New rail project to connect Raleigh to Richmond 

 

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Construction began this week on a $1 billion project to create a passenger rail line connecting Raleigh to Richmond. The project will create 8,000 jobs for the area while slashing transit times between North Carolina and Virginia. 

The route will include stops in Wake Forest, Henderson, and Norlina, and comes at a time when NC is experiencing a boom in public transportation infrastructure.

Volunteers keep watch over NC sea turtle nests

The 2024 team has found 11 nests this year. (Photo via @eiseaturtlepatrol on Instagram)

Summertime means it’s sea turtle nesting season! 

In the next couple months, thousands of newborn sea turtles will make their way down our NC beaches from their nests to the ocean.

But until then, there are a whole host of potential threats to sea turtle eggs and hatchlings. 

Thankfully, we have groups like the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol, whose team of 80 volunteers watch over Emerald Isle’s sea turtle nests, and, when the time comes, protects the hatchlings on their journey from nest to water.

This year, they discovered eight nests, and we can’t wait to see all the babies when they hatch! Check out the Patrol’s website for more information and photos from past years!