Happy Friday Jr., North Carolina. Below, we’ve got info on when to set your clocks back and a surprising take on data centers from one of NC’s Senate candidates, but first:

If you’ve been following the national news, you probably know that we’re in the midst of an escalating trade war with Canada. 

President Trump set the trade battle off by imposing tariffs on Canadian goods this year. 

But did you know that Canada is North Carolina’s largest export partner? The country is responsible for roughly 20% of exports in 2024, according to the state Department of Commerce. 

Here’s a look at how the trade war might be impacting things like lumber and, in turn, housing prices. Tap here to read at Cardinal & Pine. 

Residential building material prices, including lumber, are up nearly 10% compared to this time last year. The ongoing trade war with Canada is part of the reason for the price increases. (USA Today via Reuters)

There are two more days of early voting. Find your location by tapping here. See you out there, NC.

Here’s what else is in today’s Cardinal & Pine newsletter: 

Your thoughts about voting could inspire someone else.

Tell us what’s motivating you in a short, selfie-style video, and we may feature it in our newsletter or on social.*

(Sending us a quick video also enters you into a giveaway* for a chance to win $25!) Tell us why you’re voting →

Joe Rone shared this photo of sunbathing turtles. It was taken from the Atlantic & Yadkin Trail in Guilford County.

Do you have a View from NC to share? Send it to us!

Video via Cardinal & Pine

Data centers are really roiling North Carolina this year, for several reasons. 

There are concerns about the impact on utility bills, water consumption, and noise, not to mention the worries about the technology many of them are fueling—artificial intelligence (AI). 

But in a recent interview, North Carolina’s GOP candidate for the US Senate, Michael Whatley, suggested the opposition was being “ginned up.” 

C&P’s Dylan Rhoney reported today on Whatley’s comments, and talked about why Whatley’s background lobbying for energy companies is relevant here. 

Whatley and his opponent, former Gov. Roy Cooper, are striking different tones on AI and data centers, with Cooper calling for “guardrails” during a recent appearance in North Carolina.  

Plus, as Cardinal & Pine reported in October, Whatley’s campaign has accepted $27,000 from a private equity company that has built a data center in Durham and plans to build another in Lee County.

For more on this story, tap here.

More from Cardinal & Pine:

Graphic by Kelly Lennon

In the new Billy Ball Explains NC, we took stock of the early voting numbers in North Carolina, and shared one of this year’s most inspiring voting stories. 

1. Three threatened Outer Banks homes win FEMA grant. Wavy TV 10

“The grant allocation follows ongoing beach erosion along the Outer Banks that has repeatedly damaged coastal structures.”

2. North Carolina high school cancels soccer season after racist video goes viral. WBTV

“East Davidson High School confirmed on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that the decision to cancel the season came after ‘thorough investigation and careful consideration.’”

3. Drought worsens across central North Carolina as lake levels continue to fall. CBS-17

“The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released Thursday, shows more than 30 percent of North Carolina experiencing severe drought or worse, including Wake and Johnston counties.”

4. NC Supreme Court candidate Sarah Stevens says judges called ‘frequently’ with requests to change laws. The Assembly

“Stevens, a former lawmaker who is now running for the state Supreme Court, said judges and justices contacted her after contentious court decisions. Experts say that’s a departure from norms—and a sign of increasing partisanship in the judiciary.”

When do the clocks fall back? Here’s what to know. (Photo by Malvestida on Unsplash)

It’s everyone’s least favorite time of year—when the clocks “fall back.”

Look for the time to change this weekend. But why do we do this anyway? 

We’ve got the deets on the end of daylight saving time and a brief history of the clock change. 

Tap here to read.

Local news doesn’t fund itself.

National outlets can’t cover every story that matters in North Carolina. That’s why everything you read in Cardinal & Pine is focused on our communities and the issues affecting the people who live here. Readers like you keep that reporting going.

Even a small monthly gift keeps Cardinal & Pine free for everyone in North Carolina, no paywalls, ever.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m an NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. Today’s edition includes stories from Dylan Rhoney and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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