“3 things happening in NC” is Cardinal & Pine’s weekly guide to the people, storylines, and events driving the news this week in North Carolina. Here’s what you’ll find this week:
- Why are NC lawmakers calling a special session? It’s the gas prices, stupid.
- NC Board of Elections asks voters to confirm citizenship before elections, but then what?
- Biketoberfest returns to Charlotte for 12th year
Republicans are becoming all the more nervous as we near the midterm elections.
Inflation concerns have only worsened since the beginning of the war in Iran in February. Now, state lawmakers in the Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly are taking action as they realize voters seem bent on taking action of their own on Election Day in November.
As NC Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said of NC Rep. Ben Moss’ Saturday call to bring the NCGA back into session, “sounds like y’all just figured out gas prices are high?”
It’s almost like our representatives only remember who they work for in the month leading up to an election. I’d love to see lawmakers moving this way from the day they take office, but alas.
As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Can we do better this year?
Why are lawmakers calling a special session?
NC Senate Leader Phil Berger on Saturday announced his intention to join NC House Speaker Destin Hall in calling for a special session to reconvene the North Carolina General Assembly “to provide relief from high gas and diesel prices for all North Carolinians.”
It’s unclear exactly what actions the lawmakers intend to take, though it’s likely they will move to suspend the NC gas tax, similar to how Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp suspended his state’s gas tax by declaring a state of emergency in late September.
In Georgia, Kemp also forbade price gouging by businesses for as long as the declaration remained in effect and suspended state weight limits on commercial vehicles, hoping to help with the costs of groceries and other everyday goods.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, the current gas tax in North Carolina is 41 cents per gallon.
Gas prices have risen by more than 40% across the country since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in February, according to NBC News. In North Carolina, gas rates have gone up by 44.8%, a total of $1.24 per gallon.
NC Board of Elections asks voters to confirm citizenship
The NC State Board of Elections will begin sending out letters this week to 1,599 registered voters who have been flagged as potential noncitizens by a federal database. Voters will be asked to confirm their citizenship, though it’s unclear at this time if those who don’t act will be removed from the state voter list, NC Newsline reported.
Tap here to check your voter registration right now in North Carolina
The federal SAVE database was originally created to check the immigration status of those who apply for public benefits. Though the elections board decided in 2025 to feed its rolls into the database, the board hadn’t acted on the information until September 2026, when the US Supreme Court authorized the use of SAVE to find noncitizens on voter rolls.
It’s unclear at this time exactly how the letter will advise the 1,599 flagged voters, though the state is legally not allowed to remove the voters from the rolls unless they volunteer to be removed.
“If the letter says you must provide something to be able to vote, that’s more problematic,” Jeff Loperfido, chief counsel for voting rights at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, told NC Newsline. “The devil’s in the details.”
Biketoberfest returns to Charlotte for 12th year
Sustain Charlotte will host the Queen City’s largest bicycle scavenger hunt on Sunday, highlighting not only the joys but necessities of cycling and alternative forms of transportation during Biketoberfest 2026.
The family-friendly event invites residents to check out hidden gems around the city, all of which are located along corridors that are not only bike-friendly but accessible by public transit—namely the Blue Line light rail.
“Even if you’ve lived in Charlotte for years, I bet you’ll discover something new at Biketoberfest,” said Shannon Binns, founder and executive director of Sustain Charlotte, in a release. “It could be your new favorite local business, an amazing piece of public art, or a bike route you never knew existed. That sense of discovery, shared with friends and family, is what makes this event so much fun.”
New this year, participants will use the Goosechase mobile platform to complete scavenger hunt missions and earn points along the way.
Biketoberfest welcomes experienced cyclists, casual riders, and anyone looking for a fun afternoon outdoors, according to the release. Participants can bike, walk, scooter, and/or use public transit. The event kicks off at noon at Triple C Brewing Company, within walking distance of the Blue Line in South End, and continues until 4:30 p.m.
The best part? Costumes are encouraged. Learn more about the event here.
