Good News Friday: This NC science center welcomes an endangered red panda

It’s the return of Cardinal & Pine’s weekly good news roundup. This week, we’re talking about the NC stars who shined in the NBA Draft, an adorable red panda, and the state’s first Spanish-speaking health hotline. 

Welcome back to Good News Friday, our weekly roundup of feel-good NC news stories. From NC athlete success stories to an adorable new addition at the Greensboro Science Center, these stories are sure to leave you smiling. 

NC’s First Spanish-Speaking Health Hotline Launched

NC Salud connects callers with bilingual navigators who provide information and assistance to help Spanish-speaking North Carolinians maneuver the healthcare system.

Launched this month by Hispanic Federation North Carolina, this initiative aims to help break down the barriers to health care access for non-native English speakers by fighting misinformation and providing reliable counsel regarding Medicaid and other affordable health care options. 

North Carolinians can reach NC Salud by calling 1-844-438-6827.

NC Shines in the NBA Draft

 

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It’s no secret that North Carolina and its universities produce basketball stars year after year. And the 2024 NBA Draft, which took place Wednesday and Thursday of this week, proved that this year is no different.

On Wednesday, Hickory native Rob Dillingham snagged the 8th overall pick. After playing for a year at the University of Kentucky, he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs and then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

There were two more NC connections.

The Philadelphia 76ers nabbed Duke star Jared McCain with the 16th pick, and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Harrison Ingram went to the San Antonio Spurs with the 48th pick.

We can’t wait to see what they do on the court next season!

NC Has One of the Nation’s Top Drama Schools

 

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From the court to the stage, NC dominates in every arena!

For the second year in a row, The Hollywood Reporter placed the School of Drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts 3rd on their annual list of the best drama schools in the world. 

The article explains that the school “has placed an emphasis in recent years on student work and devised theater, added on-camera training for students across all four years and expanded its performance repertoire to include more underrepresented voices.”

Greensboro Science Center Welcomes New Red Panda

 

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The Greensboro Science Center gained a new furry friend this week when Madeline the red panda was transferred there from the Columbus Zoo!

She joins red panda cubs Miso, Zuko, and Azula, and visitors to the center can now see all four precious pandas.

Red pandas are more like raccoons than panda bears. This endangered animal is native to China, Nepal, India, and other parts of east Asia. 

If you’re not familiar with it, the Greensboro Science Center is a nonprofit-run education facility with live animals, exhibits, and camps. For more info, click here.