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  • Anyone else wondering how NC’s sea turtles are doing?

    Plus: Here’s what’s in NC’s historic state budget Share with a friend Good evening, North Carolina!  A June poll conducted by Catawba College found that 72% of North Carolinians have had to scale back their regular monthly purchases. That’s an increase from 64% in January.  As one Cardinal & Pine Instagram follower put it: “When…


  • North Carolina can lead the fight for abortion access

    A special message from Abortion Access Now Share with a friend โ€Š North Carolina can help lead the fight for real abortion access (Courtesy of Abortion Access Now) In late May, leaders from across the South gathered in Raleigh for a training that was about more than one weekend, one state, or one fight. It…


  • Your last-minute guide to Fourth of July plans

    Plus: Good news about NC’s hurricane season Share with a friend Programming note: Our newsletter guy Billy Ball is still out of the office on vacation. Below you’ll find a bunch of fun things to do during the long holiday weekend, and, of course, North Carolina news you need to know. Happy Fourth of July,…


  • NC liquor laws could see some major changes

    Plus: Meet the commissioner who thinks weโ€™re teaching US history wrong Share with a friend A quick heads up: With our newsletter editor Billy Ball out of the office on a much-deserved vacation, this edition looks a little different than normal. But we’ve still got plenty of North Carolina news and conversation worth your time! …


  • ๐Ÿ˜ NC’s 10 cutest towns

    Plus: 15 ways to do Juneteenth Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Below, we’ve got our state’s “cutest” towns and a rundown of a sweeping election bill at the state legislature, but first:  Friday is Juneteenth. To some, it’s America’s second Independence Day, a celebration of the arrival of important newsโ€”that the last enslaved…


  • ๐ŸŽ– This NC Marine jumped on two grenades to save others

    Plus: 13 legendary Black musicians from NC. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Below, we’ve got a pivotal plan to restore SNAP funding in NC and a guide to NC’s best Black musicians, but first: In so many ways, where the US military goes, so goes North Carolina. We’ve covered that before. But in…


  • ๐Ÿ‘ Free outdoor shows this summer in NC

    Plus: Are water restrictions about to get worse? Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Below we’ve got an update on the drought and loads of free outdoor shows, but first: Oak Island is one of our favorite beach towns. Today, we’ve published a new story on how the coastal community is wrestling with a…


  • The Hurricanes’ unlikely Stanley Cup hero

    Plus: Bad farm smells, candy bars, and more with Jamie Ager Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Today, we’ve got a dispatch from the NC Blueberry Festival and the unlikely hero of the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup title, but first: This afternoon, we premiered a fun new segment on YouTube.  There’s a lot of serious,…


  • ๐Ÿ˜ An NC basketball legend’s cool new youth academy

    Plus: Name this western NC lake. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Today, we’ve got the latest edition of “Where are we in NC?” in addition to maybe the biggest healthcare story of 2026 and a convo with one of NC’s youngest lawmakers, but let’s start with this:  The first time I saw Kemba…


  • 3 pretty NC sites steeped in history

    Plus: Free outdoor movies this summer Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Today we’ve got a big vote on data centers and the week in protests, but first: During the pandemic, people got back into drive-in theaters. For obvious reasons.  But there’s always an appeal to catching a movie under the stars. This summer…