The Scout stopped production 45 years ago, but this cool little vehicle changed the way people view cars, making the “recreational vehicle” a thing. 

Today, the Scout is hoping for a comeback, but this time as an all-electric vehicle. Gov. Josh Stein announced Wednesday that the company wants to relaunch out of Charlotte.

Stein said Scout will create 1,200 jobs and invest almost $207 million in their new headquarters. They’re good jobs too, with an average annual salary of around $172k.

The governor also announced Wednesday that Toyota will create 5,100 new jobs and invest $13.9 billion in Randolph County. The Japanese company is making its first battery plant in North America.

The 1966 International Harvester Scout. The classic car maker wants to make a comeback, and they’ve chosen Charlotte as their home base. (Gestalt Imagery/Shutterstock)

The goal is to reduce carbon emissions and slow the worst effects of climate change, some of which we’re already feeling. Of course, electric vehicles aren’t a cure-all.

The largest utility in the world, NC-based Duke Energy, is still heavily reliant on coal, and Republican state lawmakers this year voted to allow the company to push back its carbon emissions goals.

Stein opposed it, but Republican legislators, with the help of a few Democrats, overrode Stein’s veto in July. 

Hope it was a good Veterans Day, NC. Here’s what else is in today’s Cardinal & Pine newsletter: 

I love the greens and reds and browns and blues in this shot of the Pigeon River in Clyde. 

Thanks to Cardinal & Pine reader Melanie Woodfield for this gorgeous shot. 

Got a view of NC that you love? Share it with the Cardinal & Pine community by clicking the button below.

Jeffrey Epstein in a photo provided by the New York state sex offender registry on March 28, 2017. (The Associated Press)

The big national news today was the Jeffrey Epstein story and the late sex offender’s connections to President Donald Trump. 

Epstein died by suicide in 2019, but his connection to various political figures, including Trump, has been a slow-moving train wreck. 

On Wednesday, as members of Congress prepared for a long-awaited vote on releasing more of the so-called “Epstein files,” Democrats released emails in which Epstein wrote that Trump “knew about the girls” and that he “spent hours” at Epstein’s house with a sex trafficking victim. 

There’s a lot more than that.

In one email, Epstein wrote, “I know how dirty Donald is,” while discussing former Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s flip to testify against his former boss.

The White House accused Democrats of putting out “selectively leaked emails” to “create a fake narrative to smear President Trump,” according to The Associated Press. And on Wednesday afternoon, Republicans released thousands of pages of documents they said came from their investigation. 

This is a developing story. Keep an eye out for updates. 

1. North Carolina officials respond to unverified reports of US Border Patrol agents coming to Charlotte. Axios

“Panic is spreading throughout Charlotte’s large immigrant community. Meanwhile, the federal government is staying silent, even keeping the state and local governments in the dark.”

2. NC State professor killed in pedestrian crash near campus; teen driver cited. CBS-17

“According to the Raleigh Police Department, the crash happened around 6:11 p.m. at the intersection of Pogue Street and Clark Avenue, about a half mile from N.C. State.”

3. Gallery: Northern Lights spotted in western NC Tuesday night. WLOS

News 13’s chief meteorologist Jason Boyer attributed the light show to a “strong geomagnetic storm.”

Cold plunge in community with Sauna House’s communal offerings inspired by Nordic bathhouse traditions. (Erica Sorrano)

The “cold plunge” is viral. Go on social media, and you can probably find some influencer dunking themselves in an ice bath. 

They’re doing it for views and clicks, but medical doctors say there are actual health benefits from intermittent exposure to cold water. As Cardinal & Pine contributor Tyler Francischine writes, it “May change or reduce the body’s fat tissues, contributing to reduced cholesterol and healthier blood sugar levels.” 

The Mayo Clinic also cites a pair of studies showing a dip in cold water can make you more alert (duh!) and even boost cognitive performance. 

There are risks. Folks with an elevated cardiac risk should talk to their doctor first since immersion might increase their heart rate and raise their blood pressure. 

That said, there are numerous locations in NC where people can test out the “cold plunge,” including the Sauna House—which has locations in Durham, Charlotte, and Asheville. 

For our guide to taking the plunge in NC, click here or on the button below. 

Reach 200,000+ North Carolinians who care about their communities! Sponsor Cardinal & Pine’s Dec. 6 Special Edition, “How to Get Involved and Give Back this Holiday Season.” Book by Nov. 21, 2025, and save 20% off your placement.

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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 content from The Associated Press and Tyler Francischine. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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