Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools' ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday.

Higher employee pay will be key to running Wake schools smoothly, superintendent says

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks to the League fo Women Voters of Wake County, April 18, 2024

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 2,000 members who shared their experiences with pet insurance.

Is pet insurance worth the bark? Survey reveals middling results

Pet insurance

All assets associated with the tag: aquarium

Aquarium Coverage

BOSTON (AP) — Apparently, it's pretty easy being green after all.

Ancient sea turtle housed at Boston aquarium for more than 50 years passes another physical

Sea_Turtle_Medical_Exam_87642

The North Carolina Aquariums at Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island will be closed to the public from Monday, Jan. 29, through Friday, Feb. 2.

NC aquariums to close for week of renewal Jan. 29-Feb. 2

sand tiger shark 

Nimbus, a 13-year-old sea turtle, had to be euthanized due to a severe stomach disease. He was the favorite animal of many staff and visitors at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Beloved sea turtle Nimbus euthanized due to health decline

Sea turtle named Nimbus

Killer whale Lolita, which has entertained generations of visitors with colossal leaps and sloppy belly flops that splashed crowds at the Miami Seaquarium, will be returning to her native waters after more than 50 years in captivity, the owner of the marine life aquarium and Miami-Dade County officials said.

Lolita the Orca May Swim Free After Decades at Miami Seaquarium

Visitors are invited to tour the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher on Thursday, getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look.



NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher offering close-up look at animals 

Beach towns typically find themselves less crowded during the winter, and this week is always recorded as the slowest week of the year for the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher closed, undergoing major renovations

A family investigates the large tank at the Fort Fisher Aquarium

A rare orange lobster named "Cheddar" is heading to a new home after being saved from becoming a meal at Red Lobster.

RETAILERS ARE EXPECTING HALLOWEEN TWENTY-TWENTY TO SPENDING TO BE BIG. A SUPER RARE ORANGE LOBSTER NAMED CHEDDAR IS HEADING TO THE CAROLINAS AFTER BEING SAVED FROM BECOMING A MEAL. CHEDDAR ARRIVED IN A SHIPMENT AT A RED LOBSTER RESTAURANT IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA EARLIER IN THE MONTH. STAFF MEMBERS NOTICED THE LOBSTERS UNUSUAL AND RARE COLORING WORKERS THEN REACHED OUT TO RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM IN MYRTLE BEACH, WHICH IS NOW TAKING IT ACCORDING TO REPLACE THE CHANCE TO FIND IN

Rare orange lobster rescued in Florida

It's an aquarium plus a partial general store on the outskirts of Dunn, and it is run by a preacher.

FORBES RANKING IT NUMBER ONE ON THE TOP FEMALE FRIENDLY COMPANIES LAST YEAR. >> A NORMAL PAST TIME SITTING DOWN AND WATCHING TV. BUT A FISH TANK MIGHT BE MORE COMPELLING THAN SOME SHOWS ANYWAY. WE FIND OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER IN DONE. SCOTT MASON VISITS AN AQUARIUM AND MORE. >> Reporter: HERE AT THE HORNET SAMPSON COUNTY LINE IS THE CROSS ROADS OF MINGO AND INTERSECTION OF A GENERAL STORE AND AQUARIUM. >> GOLD MARBLE ANGEL FISH, LARGE. >> ANGEL FISH ON SPECIAL. >> THESE ARE SALT WATER FISH. >> CLOWN FISH AND A BLUE HIPPO NAMED DOREE. >> THERE IS NEMO. >> COY FISH, ELECTRIC BLUE LOBSTER, TANGERINE LOBSTER. >> DO THE FISH TEASE HIM? >> THEY MIGHT. I DON'T KNOW. >> HUNGRY? HOW ABOUT A BEANIE WEENIE? >> DIDN'T THIS USED TO BE A GENERAL STORE? >> IT WAS. I SELL SNACKS AND DRINKS AND STUFF. >> AND FISH. TAYLOR'S AQUARIUM. WHERE EXACTLY ARE WE? >> OUTSIDE OF DUNN. I HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT SAY WHY ARE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE? THEN THEY SAY BUT I LIKE IT. >> IT'S SOOTHING. >> I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT, THE WAY THEY LOOK, THE WAY THEY ACT. >> DAVID HAS BEEN RAISING FISH OFF AND ON FOR 50 YEARS. >> I GREW UP ON A FARM. I NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS GROWING UP. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MARINE BIOLOGIST MAYBE. >> HE CALLS IT A HOBBY. WHAT IS YOUR FULL TIME JOB? >> I PASTOR CHURCH. THAT'S MY REAL JOB. >> SINK OR SWIM. >> WHEN THE LORD CALLED ME, I FOUGHT IT FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK I COULD DO IT. >> BRACKISH WATER. >> I THOUGHT HE WAS MISTAKEN. >> NO MISTAKE. DAVID AND HIS FAMILY SPENT 12 YEARS IN VENEZUELA. >> PLANTED NUMEROUS CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. >> THEN CAME HOME TO PASTOR HIS CHURCH. >> HE LET ME KNOW HE WANTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL. HE SAID COME UNTO ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN. >> THE FISH, HE GREW THAT TOO. FIRST PLANTING ONE STORE AND THEN ANOTHER. >> MY WIFE SAID YOU ARE CRAZY. NOBODY IS GOING TO COME OUT HERE. WORD HAS GOTTEN OUT. >> LITTLE BY LITTLE AND BIG. >> THEY CAN GET THREE FOOT LONG IN A BIG POND. >> DO THE FISH EVER INSPIRE YOUR SERMON? >> SOME. >> THE LIGHTS. >> YOU ONLY HAVE TO FOLLOW HIM. >> BEST NOT TO FOLLOW HIM OR THEM. >> THEY'RE CLOSE, I WILL SAY, COUSIN TO THE PIRANNA. >> I COULD GRAB A BAG OF

Former convenience store turns into well-loved aquarium store near Dunn  

Your next visit to a marine theme park or zoo might be a lot different in the future.

DONALD TRUMP AND JOE >> YOUR NEXT VISIT TO A THEME PARK. YOU COULD BE WATCHING A ROBOTIC THEATER. TECHNOLOGY COULD REPLACE CAPTIVE ANIMAL. >> IT LOOKS LIKE A LIVE DOLPHIN. BUT THIS AQUATIC CREATURE IS ACTUALLY A ROBOT. EDGE INNOVATIONS CREATED THE FAMOUS ANIMATRONICS USED. THE COMPANY NOW HOPES ITS TECHNOLOGY WILL ONE DAY ENTERTAIN AUDIENCES AT MARINE THEME PARKS INSTEAD OF CAPTIVE ANIMALS. >> THERE'S LIKE 3,000 DOLPHINS, CURRENTLY BEING USED TO GENERATE SEVERAL BILLION JUST FOR DOLPHIN EXPERIENCES. >> ONE ROBOT DOLPHIN COSTS AT LEAST 26 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S ABOUT FOUR TIMES THE PRICE OF A REAL DOLPHIN. BUT THE CREATORS SAY THE INVESTMENT WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN. NOT ONLY DO REMOTE CONTROL CREATURES LAST LONGER THAN LIVING ONES. THEY ALSO ELIMINATE THE NEED TO CAPTURE AND TURN WILD ANIMALS. >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE READING PROGRAMS. >> EDGE INNOVATIONS IS ALSO DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR KIDS. THE IDEA IS TO CREATE A KIND OF SESAME STREET UNDERWATER, TEACHING KIDS ABOUT MARINE ANIMALS, WITHOUT HURTING THEM. DURING A TEST RUN, THE DEVELOPERS SAY BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS COULD HARDLY TELL, THAT DOLPHIN WAS A ROBOT. >> IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT DOLPHINS. IT'S ALSO ABOUT ANYTHING YOUR IMAGINATION CAN COME UP WITH. >> THAT IS FASCINATING, BEYOND DOLPHINS, THE COMPANY POINTED TO MAKE ANNUAL MATRONICS, GREAT

Robots could replace animals in zoos, aquariums in near future

Izzy and Darwin, a bonded pair of Magellanic penguins who live at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, have made another field trip.



Another fun field trip for Chicago penguin pair

Chicago penguins

Not all heroes wear capes, but sometimes their selfless actions speak for themselves.

AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRESS. >> NOT ALL HERE IS WHERE CAPES, BUT SOMETIMES SELFLESS ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. >> FOR ONE SIX-YEAR-OLD IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA, THAT MEANS PUTTING COLORED PENCIL TO PAPER IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE MONEY FOR ONE OF HIS PLACES. THE ALASKA SEA LIFE CENTER. KRISTIN SHARES HIS STORY. >> MEET THE SIX-YEAR-OLD. >> THIS IS A PHOTO WE ARE REVIEWING. >> HE IS KNOWN AS THE READ A SAURUS WHERE HE READS AND REVIEWS SOME OF HIS FAVORITE KIDS BOOKS. >> I BUT YOU LIKE IT, BECAUSE LOOK AT ALL OF THIS. THAT PART HAS ANIMALS. >> IF YOU ASK THE PARENTS, THEY WOULD TELL YOU HIS PASSION FOR READING AND LEARNING ABOUT ANIMALS CAME FROM VISITS TO THE ALASKA SEA LIFE CENTER. >> HE LOVES THE ANIMALS IN ALASKA AND HE CAN TELL US FACTS ABOUT THEM AND SO HE AND THE SEA LIFE CENTER ARE PRETTY PROMINENT. >> I GO EVERY SUMMER. THEY ARE SWIMMING AROUND AND CHANGING COLORS. >> YOU CAN IMAGINE THE HEARTBREAK WHEN THEY LEARN TO SEE LIFE CENTER WAS IN DANGER OF CLOSING DOWN FOR GOOD. >> I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW WELL I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT LIKE WE WILL STILL SEE ANIMALS, THEY ARE ALASKA ANIMALS AND WE WILL SEE THEM IN THE WILD AND HE SAID, BUT THEN WE WON'T LEARN ABOUT THEM. >> Reporter: SO EVAN WITH THE HELP OF HIS MOM DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. >> THEY WILL CLOSE BECAUSE THE ANIMALS DON'T HAVE MONEY. MOM GAVE ME THE IDEA. >> IS USING THE FETUS OR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO SPREAD AWARENESS. >> PEOPLE CAN DONATE HOWEVER MUCH MONEY THEY WANT AND ALL OF IT GOES TO THE CENTER. >> THEY EXCHANGE CUSTOM ARTWORK FOR DONATIONS TO THE CENTER. AND ANY BIT OF CHANGE HE CAN GET HIS HANDS ON. >> HE PROBABLY BOUGHT THE OCTOPUS SOME FOOD FOR THE DAY OR SOMETHING. >> TO SAVE HIS HAPPY PLACE. >>'S HEART IS IN IT. I LOVE IT. THIS HE LEFT CENTER WAS JUST BASED ON HER, I THINK IT WOULD STAY OPEN FOREVER. >> JUST STAY OPEN, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO. >> SUPPORTERS CAN GET A PIECE OF THE ORIGINAL ARTWORK SIMPLY BY DONATING DIRECTLY TO THE SEA LIFE CENTER AND THEN YOU CAN

6-year-old boy uses artistic talents to help save Alaska aquarium

Last week, staff from the Georgia Aquarium introduced month-old kittens to exhibits of colorful fish and jellies.

Kittens get to explore Georgia Aquarium during virus outbreak

Kittens at Georgia Aquarium

More than 100 sea turtles stunned by recent cold temperatures have washed up on the Outer Banks.

Aquarium helping over 100 cold-stunned turtles recover

A non-profit group, dedicated to saving sea turtles on the North Carolina coast, will benefit from a contest it didn't enter. It began after the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores won an online contest.

Non-profit benefits after N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores wins contest

Mishka, a young female sea otter at the Seattle Aquarium, has mastered the use of her inhaler in time for unhealthy air conditions brought on by wildfires. (Video from KING)

Asthmatic otter masters inhaler

Raw images from the security camera at the San Antonio Aquarium show two men who are accused of stealing a shark from its petting tank and carrying it away in a baby stroller.

Raw: Men use baby stroller to steal shark from petting tank

These African penguins at the Vancouver Aquarium walk alongside people, strutting with cuteness on World Penguin Day.

Aquarium Coverage

Ancient sea turtle housed at Boston aquarium for more than 50 years passes another physical

NC aquariums to close for week of renewal Jan. 29-Feb. 2

Beloved sea turtle Nimbus euthanized due to health decline

Lolita the Orca May Swim Free After Decades at Miami Seaquarium

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher offering close-up look at animals

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher closed, undergoing major renovations

Rare orange lobster rescued in Florida

Former convenience store turns into well-loved aquarium store near Dunn

Robots could replace animals in zoos, aquariums in near future

Another fun field trip for Chicago penguin pair

6-year-old boy uses artistic talents to help save Alaska aquarium

Kittens get to explore Georgia Aquarium during virus outbreak

Aquarium helping over 100 cold-stunned turtles recover

Non-profit benefits after N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores wins contest

Asthmatic otter masters inhaler

Asthmatic otter masters inhaler

Raw: Men use baby stroller to steal shark from petting tank

Penguins strut with attitude down aquarium hallway

Penguins strut with attitude down aquarium hallway