Below, we have the latest on lawmakers’ desperate bid to cut gas prices, and a fall reading list centered on NC authors, but first:

The first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season is officially a thing. And the storm, named Isaias, is expected to bring lots and lots of rain to North Carolina. 

We have the latest projections here.

You might be wondering: How is it possible that our first hurricane of the season is arriving this late in hurricane season? 

If you didn’t catch it then, we broke it all down three months ago in an episode of Billy Ball Explains NC. 

For the latest on Isaias, go here. 

The latest flash flood projections on Hurricane Isaias, via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Hello Thursday. It’s good to see you. Here’s what you’ll get from Cardinal & Pine today: 

Thank you to C&P reader Donna Collins for this pretty shot from Dixon Campground in Grantsboro, NC. 

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

Video via NC General Assembly

North Carolina’s legislature returned to Raleigh this week. They did so to hold a hasty vote to suspend the state’s 41-cent gas tax through Nov. 30.

They are doing so in hopes of theoretically bringing down the price at the pump—at least until a few weeks after Election Day, that is.

It was a unanimous vote to suspend the tax. But not everyone was pleased with how this played out. The NC House’s top Democrat, Robert Reives II, characterized the vote as politically motivated to try to win back some votes in next month’s midterm elections. 

“Gas isn’t the only thing that’s up,” Reives said. “Groceries are up. We could have addressed that today. Utility bills are up.”

Watch his fiery comments here.

More from Cardinal & Pine:

1. State leaders take control of two towns in North Carolina. WBTV

“The Local Government Commission (LGC) voted on Oct. 6 to take over the towns of Ronda in Wilkes County, and Rowland in Robeson County, according to a news release. Per the release, the LGC took over the towns ‘to make sure the bills get paid and citizens continue to get services they need.’”

2. PVC pipes swept away by Hurricane Helene flooding still dominate cleanup of North Carolina river. Associated Press

“Along the iconic French Broad River, known for its whitewater rapids, one item stands out from the rest: massive numbers of PVC pipes that washed away from a factory north of Asheville.”

3. Racial disparities persist in North Carolina schools, new report finds. NC Newsline

“Black students in North Carolina were 3.7 times as likely as their white peers to receive a short-term suspension during the 2024-25 school year, even as the overall number of suspensions continues to decline.”

4. Pender County Schools superintendent named 2027 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. WECT

“Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove has been named the 2027 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year.”

Author Anne Tyler, who grew up in western NC and studied at Duke University, poses with her book ‘A Spool of Blue Thread’ on stage at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Not to sound dumb, but if you’re reading this newsletter, it probably means you’re a reader. 

And if you’re a reader, then you’re always looking for the next good book.

This week, we published a fall reading list centered on North Carolina authors, including the decorated novelist Anne Tyler, who was raised in a Quaker community near Burnsville. 

Our list takes you through modern bestsellers like Wiley Cash to the always-popular Nicholas Sparks. 

Speaking of Wiley Cash, I interviewed him recently. Check out our conversation here. 

And check out Cardinal & Pine’s fall reading guide by tapping 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 Dylan Rhoney, Maura Campbell, and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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