Youth sports are a really good thing. Not only are they good for the body, they’re good for the mind.

One North Carolina association’s vote last week will open the door a little wider for youth sports in the state, specifically for girls.

One of the fastest-growing youth sports right now is flag football. The Carolina Panthers recently helped to launch a girls’ flag football league in Charlotte.

We wrote about what this means for North Carolina youth, and when you could expect to see a local flag football team at your school. Read it here.

A recent vote by the state high school athletic association has cleared a path for girls on the football field. Here’s what that means. (Solomon Thompson/Shutterstock)

I’m sorry we missed you Friday, but I was out sick. Delighted to be back in your inbox today, NC. Here’s what’s going on:

Two thumbs up to C&P reader Kaaren Haldeman, who took this spectacular photo in beautiful Foscoe this weekend.

Do you have a scenic view of NC? Send it to me!

A North Carolina millionaire joined lawmakers and other advocates at the state legislature to call for higher taxes for the rich. (Christopher Penier/Shutterstock)

It’s one thing to say “tax the rich.” It’s another to say “I’m rich. Tax me.” 

In our weekly 3 things happening in NC column, we took a look at a proposal to raise taxes for anyone making more than $1 million a year. 

That’s the headliner from the Fair Share for Public Schools Act. A North Carolina millionaire joined advocates at the state legislature Monday to push for it. 

Supporters say it could generate a staggering amount of money for NC’s chronically underfunded public schools. Here’s how much.

1. Predictions show strong El Niño event in 2026. What it means for NC. Asheville Citizen-Times

“Previous El Niños have been associated with severe flooding and droughts, wildfires and more.”

2. How two Duke alumni helped conservatives take over the NEH. The Assembly

“The Trump administration fired most of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ advisory board last year. Two Duke-trained political theorists are key figures now running the agency.”

3. Pushback grows over North Carolina decision to pause solar projects. WRAL

“At the center of the dispute is a broader debate over how North Carolina should meet rapidly growing electricity demand, driven in large part by data centers and industrial expansion.”

4. Video: Roy Cooper on why the 2026 election is about affordability. Cardinal & Pine

“We’re hearing from people who just have too much month left at the end of the money.”

From left, Mike Parker, Bill Parker, Shirley Parker and granddaughter Hannah Parker, 6, pose for a portrait inside Hungry Bear Cafe on the restaurant’s final day of business in West Asheville on May 8, 2026. The family-owned diner closed after 13 years on Smokey Park Highway. (USA Today via Reuters)

In 2013, Asheville’s Hungry Bear Café opened because its owners, Bill and Shirley Parker, were frustrated by a lack of local food options. 

Last week, the popular restaurant closed to make way for a new fast food chain.

The cafe was known for its accessible fare, including burgers, country-fried steak, and a huge breakfast selection. All the ingredients came from local farmers or mountain foragers, they said.

But even loads of goodwill don’t win out sometimes when the chains move in. Here’s a deep story on the fall—and possible rebirth—of one local restaurant. Read it 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 Ryan Pitkin and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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