Something you might not know about me: 

For years, I was an education reporter. That means I specialized in writing about the goings-on at North Carolina’s schools, K-12 policy, and the state’s chronic education funding problems. 

I flexed that muscle a little on the latest episode of “Billy Ball Explains NC..” If you haven’t been watching, I take a few minutes every Wednesday to make one of the most important stories in our state simple. 

You can’t talk about education in NC without talking about a civil rights lawsuit that is still unresolved, more than 30 years after it was first filed in 1994. Think about it: In 1994, OJ went on the lam, and Bill Clinton was a year into his first term.

We’re not just talking about old news. This case matters a great deal to today’s schools. More than a billion dollars are at stake. 

The latest “Billy Ball Explains NC.” (Graphic by Francesca Daly)

In central NC, we’re having an unusually spring-like day in January. Hope you’re well. Here’s what’s in today’s email: 

Cardinal & Pine reader Riley Waugh captured these striated cloud patterns recently over Durham. 

Show us your view from NC, folks. 😀

President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office in December 2025. Trump’s administration shut down the IRS Direct File program for tax filing, saying it was a waste of resources. (Lucas Parker via Shutterstock)

The IRS Direct File program was created during President Biden’s time in the White House. The idea was to simplify the tax filing process and make it free for some. 

However, the Trump administration shut down the new program in 2025, saying that not enough Americans were using it. However, there are other less direct ways to file your taxes for free. 

Today, we’ve published a guide to a few of them. A reminder: Tax Day is April 15 for most of us. 

1. Video: Lumbee recognition in North Carolina. Cardinal & Pine

“The tribe has been calling for recognition for generations, but promises from Democrats and Republicans alike never crossed the finish line until recently.”

2. Siblings in Buncombe County test positive for measles after visiting South Carolina. ABC-11

“The family had visited Spartanburg County, where there is a large measles outbreak, approximately one to two weeks before the children became sick. To protect the family’s privacy, no additional information will be released about these cases.”

3. PFAS, microplastics and what comes next for North Carolina’s water
 NC Health News

“In North Carolina, debates over how to regulate emerging water contaminants are moving from the lab to the policy arena—and this week, those debates could translate into binding policy.”

(@cardinalandpine on Instagram)

One of my favorite series at Cardinal & Pine is “Neurodiversity in Nature.” 

It’s an ongoing video series about a North Carolina woman named Jennie and her neurodivergent family.

If you’re not familiar with the term neurodivergent, it refers to people whose brains work differently from what’s considered typical. It’s often used to talk about people diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or other disorders. 

Nature can be an excellent way for folks with neurodivergence to find some peace. Hell, that applies to all of us, right? 

In the latest episode, Jennie took her family to check out the world-famous Dambo trolls, a spectacular troupe made entirely out of recycled materials. Until mid-February,  you can catch them in Asheville, Raleigh, High Point, and Charlotte. 

Do you want to support Cardinal & Pine’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 200,000+ subscribers?

Contact advertise@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

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 USA Today via Reuters. It was edited by Kim Lawson.

Cardinal & Pine is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.