[Good News Friday is Cardinal & Pine’s weekly roundup of positive news stories from around NC. For past editions of Good News Friday, tap here.]
In today’s edition of Good News Friday:
- Despite Trump’s lies, crime is actually trending downward in NC
- Charlotte lands Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals
- NC museum shows off Native American fashion
By now, you’ve likely heard President Donald Trump’s false claims about North Carolina from his visit to Gastonia on Wednesday…and that’s the problem.
“North Carolina, it was beautiful. It was apple pie, right?” Trump said. “And now it’s one of the most violent and one of the worst in the whole nation.”
He went on to call our cities “blood-soaked killing fields,” blaming his favorite bogeyman: immigrants.
It’s terrifying language, not because it’s true but for the exact opposite reason; it’s misinformation being spread by the so-called leader of the free world.
It has been uplifting, however, to see is the way North Carolinians have responded. Just search “killing fields of North Carolina” on Threads to see some beautiful scenes from our Old North State.
So what’s the truth? That’s where Good News Friday comes in. Let’s take a look.
Gov. Josh Stein rebuts Trump, shares actual crime stats in NC
Likely foreseeing the tired and wrong talking points that Donald Trump would trumpet during his Gastonia stop on Wednesday, Gov. Josh Stein proactively posted on Monday touting a recent report from the NC Department of Public Safety showing what the real statewide crime stats say.
The release, published on Sept. 3, found that statewide crime fell across all four major categories in the first half of 2026.
The report found that violent crime is down 5.8%, extending a trend that’s seen drops in 2024 and 2025. Property crime is down 11.9%, the steepest decline of the four categories, while financial crime is down 2.1%.
Drug crime, the only category to see an increase in 2025, is down 3.2% compared to this time last year.
Crime in North Carolina has generally been trending downward since it spiked during the pandemic. That spike was seen across the U.S., though, and is often attributed to the hardships of the COVID-19 era.
“I’m encouraged by these findings, but any crime is too much crime,” Stein said on Monday. “We still have work to do to make sure people are and feel safe in their communities.”
For more on the bigger picture from Trump’s visit to NC, watch Thursday’s episode of Billy Ball Explains NC from Cardinal & Pine below.
Charlotte lands Women’s Tennis Association Finals
In a major sports coup for the Queen City, the Charlotte Sports Foundation on Wednesday announced that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) will hold its season-ending championship, the WTA Finals, in Charlotte for three consecutive years beginning in 2027.
Perhaps the bigger news? WTA has also agreed to move its year-round headquarters to Charlotte.
“There has never been a more exciting time to build a global championship in women’s sports,” said Valerie Camillo, chair of the WTA, in a release. “The WTA Finals brings together the very best players in the world at the culmination of our season, showcasing women’s tennis at its highest level.
“We have an incredible opportunity to build an event that matches the scale, energy, and ambition of women’s sports today. In North Carolina, we found partners who believe just as strongly in what the Finals can become. We’re thrilled to bring the championship to Charlotte and build a global stage for women’s tennis that reaches far beyond the court.”
Barring any unexpected changes, the tournament, which solely features the top eight women’s singles players and top eight women’s doubles teams of the season, will take place at the Spectrum Center in Uptown.
In hosting the WTA Finals, Charlotte joins an impressive list of international cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Madrid, Singapore, and Riyadh.
Next year’s tournament will take place in November. Visit the website for more info.
For an explanation of the WTA Finals—the 2026 version of which is scheduled for Indian Wells, Calif.—watch the video below.
NC Museum of Art highlights Native American styles
As part of its “After Hours” series, the NC Museum of Art partnered with the NC Museum of History on Thursday night to host Stitched in Tradition: Indigenous Fashion Showcase, highlighting the traditional culture and styles of local Indigenous tribes and groups.
According to the event page, Stitched in Tradition brought together Indigenous designers from North Carolina’s tribal communities “whose work carries forward tradition while speaking to the present moment.”
More than just a showcase of traditional regalia, the event turned the runway into a stage for storytelling and song, with designers presenting collections that reflect “community, resilience, and lived experience,” according to organizers.
