It is one of the terrible ironies of North Carolina that we have some of the premier hospitals in the world, but when it comes to ensuring healthy pregnancies for people who live here, we’re falling behind. 

We took a look at the latest report card from the March of Dimes on states’ work protecting mothers and their new babies. 

As Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy writes, “North Carolina yet again earned a grade that would have gotten you grounded in high school.” 

There are several important reasons why NC grades out so poorly and why progress is so elusive. Read this important story by clicking the button below. 

North Carolina has some of the premier hospitals and medical schools in the world, but for the third year in a row, the state got a D+ for its record of protecting new mothers and their babies. North Carolina ranks worse than the national average on many important measures of health. (Shutterstock)

Thanks as always for reading Cardinal & Pine. It means the world to us. Here’s what’s in today’s email: 

I consider this view from Boone, taken by Cardinal & Pine reader Denise Sanders, to be beau-timus. No, that’s not a word, but this is my newsletter. 😂

We want to see your neck of the woods, NC. Click the button below to send us a picture!

Unclear about the courts and their role in NC’s democracy?

Our friends at Indivisible Guilford County are hosting an upcoming event on the “critical functions of our NC courts and how fair courts are our last line of defense against gerrymandering.”

The event’s planned for Monday, Jan. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. at the High Point Public Library (901 North Main St., High Point).

This one’s especially timely. The 2026 elections include a pivotal seat on the NC Supreme Court (one currently held by Justice Anita Earls) and three seats on the NC Court of Appeals.

For more info and to register, go to Mobilize. Space is limited.

The landscape for local news is shifting fast. At Cardinal & Pine, our commitment to you—and to North Carolina—hasn’t changed.

Our end-of-year fundraising drive runs through Dec. 16, and your support keeps this work strong.

Your contribution helps us shine a light on the decisions, debates, and leaders shaping North Carolina’s future. We can’t do this work without you.

Across the US, rural places are considering 4-day school weeks for a variety of reasons, despite a lack of data on the effects. (Bryan Regan via Shutterstock)

Public school systems are often between a rock and a hard place when it comes to funding, especially rural ones.

Many of them serve populations that are stagnant or declining. And they tend to serve poorer communities, which can be, by the numbers, more expensive to teach. 

That’s not because poor kids are dumb, y’all. It’s because wealthier kids tend to have many advantages preparing them for academic success, like more educated parents, better access to learning materials and technology, and, perversely, a better-funded school system.

These realities have put the crunch on rural school districts. A new report at NC Newsline examines rural districts across the country that are trying out four-day school weeks, despite a limited amount of data on the learning effects. 

No NC school systems are doing this right now, but it’s not far-fetched to think we might be talking about this down the road. Click the button below to read.

1. From parades to tree-lightings, 24 can’t-miss holiday events around Gaston County. Gaston Gazette

“From carriage rides to parades, Gaston County will host it all this holiday season. Here is a run-down of family events happening in November and December.”

2. Customers warned to ‘immediately stop’ using these Walmart products. Newsweek

“Two widely sold Walmart products have been recalled following urgent safety warnings from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.”

3. ‘More than a restaurant.’ This NC cafeteria is closing all locations after 88 years. News & Observer

“After more than eight decades of feeding North Carolina, K&W Cafeterias announced Monday that all remaining locations were permanently closed.”

4. Late week storm system to bring chilly rain, potential winter weather to North Carolina. WRAL

“Confidence is increasing in a late week storm system. Its timing and location determines whether you see wet or wintry weather.”

Enough said. (Screenshot via The Daily Yonder)

Ever wonder where all that Thanksgiving deliciousness we just stuffed in our faces came from? 

We’ve published this dive from The Daily Yonder into where most of our Thanksgiving mains and sides originated. And the NC aficionados out there already know that we’re ranking pretty high on several of these measurements. 

I’m a fan of tracing our food. Because the stuff we eat doesn’t just spring from the earth. Well, sometimes it does. 😂 But there’s a long line of growers, field hands, and laborers who work hard to put it on your plate.

And these major agricultural operations come with their significant downsides for people who live around them, as in Sampson County, which is ground zero for NC’s ham and turkey production, for better and for worse. 

For more on where our Thanksgiving food comes from, click 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 Michael McElroy, NC Newsline, USA Today via Reuters, and The Daily Yonder. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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