Breaking News } Special Weather Statement for Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Wake counties.

Frugal Traveler:  Afraid that recent price increases in critical budget areas will cramp your warm-weather travel style? Relax. With these simple saving strategies, your summer fun is in the bag.

Rail ridership is up in North Carolina, and interest in railroads never abated. June 2-3, the N.C. Transportation Museum stages its annual Rail Days Festival honoring the glory days of passenger trains.

Professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University, better known as "Dr. Beach", has released his 2012 survey, and two beaches in the Carolinas made it into the top 10.

Get a taste of what keepers of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse have been able to experience since the 19th century – “seeing the beam of light reaching out to sea and the reflection of the moon on the ocean” – during a lighthouse tour after dark.

The number of travelers is up for the fourth month in a row, a 2.7 percent increase over the first four months of 2011.

Bahamasair will begin operating twice-weekly flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Freeport in the Bahamas on Friday, taking over service that had been provided by Vision Airlines from November through April. The flights go on Mondays and Fridays.

The roar of cannon and musket fire was heard again last month when the 150th anniversary of the siege of Fort Macon was commemorated with a variety of Civil War-related events.

Frugal Traveler:  On a multistate drive with our mischief-prone Labrador, I shuffled back to our vehicle with two fresh cups of gourmet coffee. While my husband filled the gas tank, I opened the passenger door to set down my travel bag and organize our beverages. Having missed the perky poodle in the next vehicle, I was completely unaware of the looming dog drama.