Below, we have Cardinal & Pine’s guide to the week in taking action, and the NC Folk Festival lineup, but first:

Flock cameras might be the only thing less popular right now than data centers. 

The AI-powered cameras are good at reading license plates. And police in many communities are deploying them now to help solve crimes. But they’re inspiring all sorts of debate about privacy and surveillance.

Recently, police say someone cut down a Flock camera in the eastern NC city of New Bern. Naturally, it was caught on video.  

Police want to charge the unidentified people who did it with a crime. But some folks think they’re heroes. We’d like to hear from you. What do you think about Flock cameras? Write us and you might see it in a future C&P newsletter.

Happy Friday Jr. Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter: 

Kate Van Gilder took this photo of a heron at Lake Johnson in Raleigh.

A fun fact that’s less fun for fish: Herons are remarkably clever, adaptable hunters. They’ve even been known to … use bait.

Let’s hope they never get opposable thumbs or we’re in trouble. 

Got a view from NC? Share it with us! 

Six years after the passing of civil rights leader and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), there are events across North Carolina, honoring his legacy as well as supporting a call to action in the fight for social justice. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

At Cardinal & Pine, we believe that taking action is the key. It’s not just symbolic or way to fight the feeling of futility. 

It can also drive changes. 

Every week, we break down ways to get involved in North Carolina. This week, on the anniversary of the late civil rights leader John Lewis‘s death, there are lots of events geared to help you get in “good trouble” or promote social justice.

Check out the guide here. 

More at Cardinal & Pine: 

1. Granville County elections board fails to adopt unanimous early voting plan after heated meeting. NC Newsline

“Republicans on the elections board chose to stick with their plan to close a popular early voting site, move another heavily used site from its downtown location, and open an early voting site in northern Granville.”

2. Democrats on NC Elections Board call for investigation into recently resigned staffer. WRAL

“Dallas Woodhouse, the former director of the NCGOP, was given responsibility over some elections work last year by Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek but resigned after records showed him pressuring officials on decisions.”

3. State warns to avoid swimming at these NC coastal areas; fecal bacteria tests high several river sites, non-profit says. CBS-17

“State officials are warning swimmers to avoid three areas at the North Carolina coast after bacteria levels exceeded the state’s and the EPA’s standards.”

(@ncfolkfestival on Instagram)

Folk music has a deep and diverse history in North Carolina. Here’s a playlist of some of the best stuff.

One of our favorite (and free) celebrations of it is the annual NC Folk Festival in Greensboro. This week, they announced their lineup for the Sept. 18-20 festival. 

They spread their shows across five stages in the Gate City. This year, expect shows from loads of NC folk musicians, as well as some high-profile stars like The Roots, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, and Molly Tuttle. 

More info 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. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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