Below, we have a developing story about the NC GOP’s conflicted approach to convicted sex offenders within their ranks, and a farewell to a Cardinal & Pine stalwart, but first: 

Picnic season will be here again in North Carolina. It might not seem like it right now, with the humidity making the whole world feel like a swamp. 

But soon, there will be days when the temperature declines and the bugs take a dirt nap and we can finally eat outside again with our friends. 

To that end, we’ve written a guide to 9 of the best scenic picnic spots in central NC and the state capital. Read it here. 

If ever a photo should be scratch-and-sniff, it’s this one of the Raleigh Rose Garden. (zimmytws/Shutterstock)

We hope this newsletter is informative, inspiring, and a welcome sight in your inbox. If so, share it with your friends and family. That’s how we grow. 

Here’s what you’ll find in today’s C&P newsletter: 

When he took this View from NC, C&P reader Dan Varner said he was enamored with the puffy clouds over High Point Regional Hospital. 

Do you have a view from NC to share? Share it with Cardinal & Pine’s readers!

Photo: AP/Chuck Burton

C&P’s Dylan Rhoney has a must-read report today. 

A Democrat-aligned group is spending millions to broadcast Senate candidate Michael Whatley‘s connection to a longtime NC GOP volunteer named Harvey West Jr.

West is a former Outer Banks police officer who, in 2000, was arrested and charged with the statutory rape of three minors. When he was head of the NC GOP, Whatley appointed West multiple times to a key Republican rule-making committee.  

According to C&P’s new report, Republican leadership in NC was warned multiple times about West’s past. 

West’s involvement rankled some Republican leaders, but rules barring sex offenders in party leadership posts weren’t adopted until West left his appointments earlier this year. Read the story here. 

More at Cardinal & Pine:

Graphic by Kelly Lennon

A Republican bill makes big changes to early voting and, according to nonpartisan voting rights advocates, could open the door to mass voter challenges and post-election chaos.

Here’s what to know. 

1. Miss North Carolina USA stripped of her crown, pageant says ‘standards and values’ not upheld. NBC News

“The pageant organizer did not elaborate on why it removed Brittany Boltinhouse’s title. The national group’s CEO said it ‘does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, nor language that strips any person of their dignity.’”

2. NC police officer allegedly used Flock license plate cameras to track boyfriend’s ex-wife. ABC-11

“The Mooresville Police Department was conducting an audit of its Flock license plate reader system when it discovered officer Elizabeth Snowman allegedly accessed the system 31 times for personal use, Mooresville Police Chief Ron Campurciani said.”

3. 8 statistics about North Carolina’s charter schools, as the sector grows. WUNC

“Charter school enrollment has grown to more than 10% of the total public school population.”

C&P’s Michael McElroy (second from left) on a recent episode of PBS NC’s “State Lines.” 

This is usually a space for fun stuff, but we’d be remiss not to tell you that today is longtime C&P reporter Michael McElroy‘s last day with us. He’s moving on to return to his roots, teaching theater to high school students.

Michael joined us in the summer of 2020, in the thick of the pandemic. In the last six years, he’s made himself indispensable. In so many ways, Cardinal & Pine’s voice is Michael’s—informed, friendly, assiduously factual, a little tired, and funny.

Michael’s written some of C&P’s best stories, won a lot of NC press awards, and taped some of the best videos we’ve ever made. Personally, he challenged me as a writer and a journalist.

We’re going to miss him a whole lot, but we’re glad he’s sticking around to teach in NC. His students are lucky. Bye for now, Michael!

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 Brook Bolen, Dylan Rhoney, and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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