Cardinal and Pine

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 news—that the last enslaved…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

Plus: The biggest healthcare story in NC this year Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Today, we have adorable kids giving life lessons and an unbelievable story about NC medical examiners, but first: If it’s Wednesday, we’re releasing a new episode of Billy Ball Explains NC.  Recently, NCLocal reported an alarming new statistic about…

Plus: 5 rural NC hospitals at risk Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Today, we’ve got a trip to Oak Island, an alarming report for rural NC hospitals, and the best places to live in NC, but first: The view from atop Chimney Rock is so gorgeous, so lush and perfect, that it can…

Plus: What’s next for Duke utility bill hike? Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Below, we have waterfalls, a key vote on early voting sites, and our NC berry picking guide, but first:  The final public hearing for Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike happened last week. And we can say this definitively: North Carolinians…

Plus: Name this NC fishing hole 👀 Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Who says that Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on anything?  We begin today’s Good News Friday with a bill moving through the North Carolina legislature that tackles social media use among younger children. The legislation, which has the support of both…