As Women’s History Month continues, Dr. Kimberly Outlaw-Starkey’s work on the Lenoir County Board of Education stands as both a local milestone and an example of service rooted in learning, advocacy and public education.
Save Our Historic Fremont School
Fremont Elementary School has been a part of our community’s story for more than a century. Built in 1923 through the dedication and generosity of Fremont’s citizens, the school has educated generations of children and served as a gathering place for families and neighbors alike.
Kinston native graduates from Georgia State University
Cormya Baker of Kinston graduated in Fall 2025 from Georgia State University with an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Why Choose Protein for Lunch?
For a couple of years or more protein has been the buzz word for dieting, especially among the aging population. What are the benefits of increasing the amount of protein in your diet and what are some ways to do it safely?
Lenoir County land transfers
The following land transfers were filed with the Lenoir County Register of Deeds:
Event: The EPIC Center's Walk 4 Life & 5K
The EPIC Center invites the community to participate in the Annual Walk 4 Life & 5K on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Lenoir Community College in Kinston. The event begins at 8:00 AM, rain or shine, and welcomes runners, walkers, families, churches, and community groups of all ages.
Kinston Police Department | Weekly Notable Arrests
Here is a summary of notable arrests made by KPD officers this week:
Obituary: Doris Davis Murphy
Doris Davis Murphy, 95, of Kinston, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Harmony Hall Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Graveside Services will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston, with Dr. T.D. Worthington officiating.
Pitt County man was arrested following traffic stop
On March 17, 2026, Detectives with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, in coordination with the Kinston Police Department VCAT Unit, were conducting proactive patrols in the area of Grifton Hugo Road. During patrol, detectives observed a white Ford Focus operating with a non-functioning driver-side headlight and initiated a traffic stop.
County approves $30,000 for downtown Kinston master plan
At their March 18th meeting the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a $30,000 contribution toward a downtown Kinston master plan, a document city and county officials say is intended to guide redevelopment and land use in the city’s core.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green visits Contentnea-Savannah K-8 to spotlight Golden LEAF investment
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green visited Contentnea-Savannah K-8 on Wednesday as district and school leaders highlighted how a major Golden LEAF grant is being used to strengthen instruction, expand career readiness and improve math outcomes for students.
Kristy Kelly: Heroes and villains are two sides of the same coin
Imagine going to school every day with statues of long-dead men lining the walkway. Their names are memorized through deliberate instruction in South Carolina classrooms. Wade Hampton III, Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion, Thomas Sumter and Andrew Pickens are known far and wide for their Revolutionary War prowess.
Coastal Plains livestock show returns April 6-7
The 86th Annual Coastal Plains Junior Livestock Show and Sale is right around the corner and we want to invite everyone to join us on April 6th and 7th at the Lenoir County Livestock Arena. Every year over 100 youth from Pitt, Greene, Lenoir, Craven, Jones, Carteret, Cumberland, Onslow, Duplin, Sampson, Pamlico, and Pender counties participate in this event.
Public Notice: Kinston Housing Authority Advertisement for Bids (Copy)
Sealed proposals will be received by the KINSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY for the CAPITAL FUND PROJECT NC 004-50124 AND NC 004-50125 until 3:00 PM, THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026, and immediately thereafter publicly opened and read for the furnishing of labor, material and equipment entering into the HVAC Replacement project. Scope of work will consist of, but is not limited to, the following items:
Kinston High School champions recognized at Kinston council meeting, pay study approved
The Kinston City Council approved a compensation and classification study for implementation in the fiscal year 2027 budget, adopted a budget amendment, advanced infrastructure items and approved community events during its regular meeting Tuesday, March 17, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 207 E. King St.
Jason McKnight: Spring forward, Think Better
I’m a creature of habit. Every workday, the alarm sounds at the same time. The coffee brews on schedule. The first hour of our day is in quiet: meditating, reading, orienting, caffeinating, praying, planning. Most evenings for 12 years, we’ve walked the dog after dinner.
Celebrating Women’s History Month and the all-female surgical team at UNC Health Lenoir
Every March, Women’s History Month reminds us to pause and celebrate the women who have changed the world, especially those who’ve done it by healing others. Medicine hasn’t always been an easy field for women to break into, but from the first female doctors in the 1800s to today’s surgical leaders, women have pushed through barriers with intelligence, compassion, and grit.
Electric bills leave Kinston residents searching
Across Kinston, a troubling conversation continues to grow louder. It is happening in living rooms, church parking lots, grocery store aisles, and community meetings. The topic is the same everywhere: extremely high electric bills. Residents throughout the city are reporting utility bills that seem almost unbelievable. Some families say their monthly statements have reached $700, $1,000, and in some cases even $2,000. For many households, these amounts are not simply difficult—they are devastating.
Obituary: Phyllis M. Wooten
Phyllis M. Wooten, 90, of Hookerton, passed away peacefully at her home on March 13, 2026.
Obituary: Delmas Colton Head
Delmas Colton Head, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 16, 2026, in Snow Hill, North Carolina, surrounded by his family. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Seymour Funeral Home in Goldsboro. A private graveside service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Gurley Family Cemetery.