Outer Banks

NC court looks at deal that lets homeowners' insurance rates soar at coast, fall in west. A North Carolina appeals court is weighing whether to freeze or even reverse homeowners' insurance premiums that soared by up to almost 30 percent along the coast while sliding by a third in counties farthest from the shore.

US facing weak recovery, further threats from joblessness, foreclosures, AP stress map shows. Now that the Great Recession appears over, the economy looks to be entering a Rocky Recovery, in which much of the nation will continue to struggle well into 2010.

Happy birthday, world traveler: At 1, this baby's practically a frequent flier. Happy first birthday, world traveler.

Happy birthday, world traveler: At 1, this baby's practically a frequent flier. Happy first birthday, world traveler.

Happy birthday, world traveler: At 1, this baby's practically a frequent flier. Happy first birthday, world traveler.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic conditions stabilized or improved modestly in most parts of the country, according to a Federal Reserve report on Wednesday that suggested the economy was slowly clawing out of a recession.

Travel briefs. Washington tourism launches 'Lost Symbol' Web site for Dan Brown book

Danny weakens to a tropical depression but will still produce dangerous surf along East Coast. Danny weakened to a tropical depression early Saturday but was still expected to produce a second straight weekend of dangerous surf along the East Coast.

Danny weakens to a tropical depression but will still produce dangerous surf along East Coast. Danny has been downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression but is still expected to produce a second straight weekend of dangerous surf along the East Coast.

Att'y: Richardson not vindicated

Paper or plastic? Seattle voters reject 20-cent fee on both types of grocery bag. Seattle voters have rejected a 20-cent fee for every paper or plastic bag they get from supermarkets, drug stores and convenience stores. The city's incumbent mayor didn't fare much better than the fee, trailing two challengers in a bid for a third term.

In green Seattle, industry spends big to ensure shoppers won't pay to choose paper or plastic. Leaders of this famously green city last year passed the nation's first grocery bag fee, and other cities around the nation quickly followed.

Outer Banks travel guide looking for visitor photos. The Outer Banks Official Travel Guide could feature you next year.

Five people working on Independence Day fireworks shows were killed by explosions, four of them by a single blast that rocked this remote village on the Outer Banks.

Fireworks blasts kill 4 on NC island and 1 in Pa; 25 hurt in Ind. pedestrian bridge collapse. Five people working on Independence Day fireworks shows were killed by explosions, four of them by a single blast that rocked this remote village on the Outer Banks.

AP News in Brief. Police rule shooting of McNair a homicide; death of woman found with him still unclassified

Four people working on Independence Day fireworks shows were killed by explosions, three of them by a single blast that rocked this remote village on the Outer Banks islands.

Travel briefs. Man with fear of flying spending month on plane

10 secluded beaches from Coastal Living magazine. Looking for a beautiful beach without the crowds? Coastal Living magazine recommends 10 secluded beach destinations in its June issue.

Hanalei Bay in Hawaii tops 10 best beaches list with others in Fla., NY, NC, SC and Calif.. Here is the list of top 10 beaches for 2009 from Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research, also known as Dr. Beach. He has compiled the list annually since 1991 using 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities.