Politics can be brutal and dismaying. But it can also be a place for connection and peaceful change. Every now and then, it should be fun too. 

This week, in a new Billy Ball Explains NC segment called “3 dumb questions (and 1 smart one),” we talked to rising North Carolina lawmaker Beth Helfrich. 

Rep. Helfrich is a Democrat who represents north Mecklenburg County. She’s a former educator, writer, and mother of five who won her first term in 2024. Helfrich is running for re-election this November. 

We talked about beating political exhaustion, her theater kid background, sitcom families, and what’s more fun—partisan politics or major dental procedures? 

Watch it here. 

In a perfect world, government would be boring and functional, says NC Rep. Beth Helfrich. Watch our conversation here. (Graphic by Kelly Lennon)

Make sure to tap “like” and “subscribe” to Cardinal & Pine on YouTube so you never miss an update. 

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

Cardinal & Pine reader Sandy Yannarella took this view from her front door in Scuffleton, a rural community in Greene County. 

You can almost see the air baking. 

If you have a View from NC that really hits home, send it to Cardinal & Pine! 

NC Rep. Jennifer Balkcom is the Republican candidate for NC’s 11th Congressional District. We looked into her campaign contributions. This is what we found. (Photo via NC General Assembly)

Because she was a late replacement on the ballot for scandal-plagued Congressman Chuck Edwards, Jennifer Balkcom is new to the broader electorate. 

But Balkcom, a two-term state representative from Henderson County, is not new to politics.

This week, C&P’s Dylan Rhoney is taking a look at Balkcom’s background and her campaign contributions. 

Here are a couple things that jumped out: 

Read the story here.

More from Cardinal & Pine:

1. Meta settles lawsuit, promising NC up to $645M and changes to Instagram and Facebook apps, AG says. WRAL

“The tech giant agreed to a $17 billion settlement to resolve allegations that its social media platforms are addictive to young people. The company, which previously denied the allegations, promised to pay North Carolina up to $645 million and make changes to its apps.”

2. Why NC’s fall foliage might be patchy, muted, and shorter this year. NC State’s College of Natural Resources

“Professor Robert Bardon explains how drought, heat and rain could shape North Carolina’s fall foliage, with some areas seeing more vibrant colors than others.”

3. Downtown Sparta, NC, catches fire, damaging multiple businesses. WBTV

“The Alleghany County Rescue Squad posted a video Tuesday morning, which showed a long brick building engulfed in flames with a huge cloud of smoke and fiery embers rising into the sky.”

4. An ICE facility could change this small town in Eastern North Carolina. NC Local

“Some locals fear what the facility will mean for the region. Others hope it brings in jobs.”

Whitney Cooper casts her ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Canton, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

We are 69 days out from the midterm elections. But there are important dates on the horizon. 

As always, Cardinal & Pine is here to help. We recently rolled out our 2026 voter hub. 

At our voter hub, you can check your registration, find out who’s running in your area, and get the latest news. 

Go to the hub here. And share this guide with your friends and family, especially first-time voters. 

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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