An observation: 

In my 20 or so years covering politics, I’ve heard a lot of people in “the business” talk about the power of women’s voting.

“How do you get the women’s vote?” they ask. But too often, they seem to respect women’s voting power more than they respect having actual women leaders. 

This week’s Billy Ball Explains NC is a celebration of three astonishing North Carolina women who weren’t having it. From an often overlooked eastern NC “tea party” led by revolutionaries to the woman who finally showed “Jim Crow” the door, this is a must-watch.

Make sure to like and subscribe so you catch every “Billy Ball Explains NC,” our weekly breakdown of the most important stories in NC. 

This week, we went deep in the NC history books. Tap the graphic and watch. 

The midweek is here and it’s beautiful outside. Here’s what’s in today’s Cardinal & Pine newsletter: 

Thanks to Cardinal & Pine reader Jenny Haudek, who photographed these highland cows at the US Whitewater Center near Charlotte.

I, for one, appreciate that they look like shaggy dogs. This Scottish breed of cattle is famous for their ability to withstand the rugged climate in higher elevations.  

Photo credit: Zamrznuti tonovi/Shutterstock

Kids don’t do well in the classroom when they’re hungry. It’s one of the oldest truths in education. 

You try it. Algebra feels impossible when you haven’t eaten in 12 hours. 

Cardinal & Pine’s Jessica F. Simmons has an important new story on the growing problem of hunger in North Carolina public schools. 

“I feel like real hungry is different,” 15-year-old Daishawn said in a recent report on the subject. “It’s like when your stomach growls. It’s like when your stomach is almost in pain for me. That’s what real hungry is.”

As Simmons reports, more than 580,000 NC children get assistance from SNAP, the federal program that’s bound for huge changes under new federal laws. That law could strip benefits from more than 100,000 in the state. What happens to those children in school should be a particular concern. 

Take your time to read this and share with friends and family.  

1. Wilmington food festival named one of the best in the country. Wilmington Star-News

“Feast Wilmington makes a top 10 list of best city food festivals in America. Here’s what to know about the annual Wilmington food festival in the Port City.”

2. California girl who disappeared in 2020 is found in North Carolina, authorities say. NBC News

“Authorities believe the girl, now 11, was taken by her mother during an investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services in 2020.”

3. Appalachian Ski Mountain celebrates final week of the season. Spectrum News

“Last month, the governor called this area the Winter Capital of the South. The industry generates $244 million and attracts 780,000 visitors to six ski resorts in the state.”

4. How a single-screen theater on a remote North Carolina island keeps movie magic alive. Garden & Gun

“Classic films, clever owners, and a leg up from Andy Griffith have kept the lights on at Manteo’s Pioneer Theater for 108 years.”

Bam Adebayo, right, celebrates with teammates after he scored 83 points, the second-highest single game total in NBA history. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

This isn’t really a sports newsletter, but we can’t let this accomplishment pass without noting it. 

Bam Adebayo, an NBA star with North Carolina roots, scored 83 points in a game Tuesday night. That’s a staggering amount.

In fact, it’s the second-most points scored in a single NBA game ever. Adebayo surpassed the late Kobe Bryant, who scored 81 in a game in 2006. The highest point total ever was scored by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. 

Though he’s a full-fledged star in the NBA, Adebayo sometimes goes overlooked as a North Carolina kid—perhaps because he played college ball at Kentucky. He was born in New Jersey, but grew up in Pinetown, wowing recruiters with his size and skill. 

Shout out to Bam and Pinetown for the incredible accomplishment. For a story on how Adebayo celebrated with his mom, tap here or on the button below. 

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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 Jessica F. Simmons and USA Today via Reuters. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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