Below, we have an election chief’s controversial departure and under-the-radar NC restaurants, but first: 

A well-deserved victory lap for soccer in North Carolina. 

Our state has a rich history of soccer at the amateur level, but professional soccer is still building its legacy here with teams like the North Carolina Courage in Cary and Charlotte FC in the Queen City. 

This week, the Queen City is getting a chance to fete the success of its team when they host the MLS All-Star Game. 

The festivities are already underway. Check out this week’s 3 things happening in NC for more. 

3 things happening also has the NC Watermelon Festival and the state legislature’s already-controversial return. Read it here.

Charlotte’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team has been a big success story. This week, the Queen City hosts the MLS All-Star Game. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Hello, Tuesday. See you soon, Wednesday. Here’s what’s in Cardinal & Pine’s all-NC newsletter today: 

Today, we’ve got a cool view from Bearwallow Mountain, photographed by C&P reader Janice Dorval. 

How’d you get the clouds to do that, Janice? It’s like watching the “Star Wars” credits roll.

Do you have a cool/lovely/awe-inspiring view from NC? Share it with C&P’s readers.  

Downtown Wadesboro is the home to Anson County’s government offices. (File/Melissa Sue Gerrits/Carolina Public Press)

North Carolina’s election controversies are no secret. State and local election boards are mired in disputes over early voting sites, Sunday voting, and more. 

Much of it has to do with new Republican board majorities that want to cut voting times and get rid of certain polling sites. I explained the point of it all in a recent episode of Billy Ball Explains NC. 

A new Carolina Public Press investigation zooms in on the trouble in one rural NC county, where the local election director has resigned. 

In her resignation letter, Anson County’s election director cited a laundry list of issues, including broken salary and training promises, mistreatment and ballot security concerns. She was alone in the office, with no deputy director or staff to help. 

Read the story here.

More at Cardinal & Pine:

1. Ukrainian drone maker will open a manufacturing plant in North Carolina. Axios

“Skyeton, a Ukrainian drone maker, will open its first North American manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, creating more than 160 jobs in the city that is also home to Fort Bragg, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.”

2. North Carolina advances more voter suppression measures. Democracy Docket

“A North Carolina Senate committee greenlit new voter suppression measures Tuesday, moving forward a bill that would make it easier to purge voters from the rolls and impose stricter requirements for registering to vote.”

3. North Carolina authorizes AI-powered license plate reader cameras on all state roads and highways. Daily Tar Heel

“North Carolina permanently authorized the use of artificial intelligence-powered Automated License Plate Reader cameras on state-maintained highways and roads through a provision in the new state budget.”

The banana pudding at Pincho Loco in Durham, one under-the-radar ice cream and dessert shop worth the exploration. (Photo by Karishma Desai)

Everybody loves an “under-the-radar” restaurant. We like to feel like we’re getting a special treat and everyone else is clueless about it. 

Our new guide aims to celebrate a few of those spots in NC. And give folks a clue about them. 

In the guide, C&P contributor Karishma Desai scopes out some choice pizza at Salvio’s Pizza in Cary, an Indian grill in Apex, bagels in the Capitol City, and loads of quirky desserts and ice creams at Pincho Loco in Durham. 

You had me at Kahlua-infused ice cream and banana pudding, Pincho Loco. Read the guide here. 

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 Ryan Pitkin, Sarah Michels, Carolina Public Press, and Karishma Desai. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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