After several days of rumors, North Carolina officials have confirmed that the Border Patrol and ICE are planning operations in Charlotte as soon as Saturday.

These agencies are hard to predict. Their movements are kept secret. And, at times, their involvement in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland has been aggressive and violent.

As Gov. Josh Stein pointed out in a statement Friday, “the vast majority of people they have detained have no criminal convictions, and some are American citizens.”

For our friends in the Charlotte area, stay safe. Locally, organizations like Siembra NC are providing ways for community members to report ICE and Border Patrol activity, as well as informing the public about local authorities who are cooperating with immigration officials.

You can call or text Siembra’s hotline at 336-543-0353 to report ICE activities in your community. 

We’re grateful you’re reading Cardinal & Pine’s newsletter. Share this email to help people get good information and stay safe.

Here’s what else is in today’s edition:

Cardinal & Pine reader Jen St. Clair brings us this beautiful autumnal view of Hanging Rock State Park from Stokes County.

Send us your view, NC.

Speaker of the House Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, top left, and Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, top center, greet North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, bottom right, as he arrives to deliver the State of the State address at the Legislative Building, March 12, 2025, in Raleigh, NC. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, file)

Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy reported Friday that Republican leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly have refused Gov. Josh Stein’s recent order demanding they hold a special session to address the state’s urgent Medicaid shortfall.

Phil Berger, the NC Senate majority leader, and NC House Speaker Destin Hall sent a letter to Stein on Thursday, saying Stein could not call a special session because lawmakers technically were still in the previous session.

There will be some activity in the legislature on Nov. 17, but no votes. And the governor can’t make them vote, they said. 

There’s a lot at stake, as McElroy explains. The cuts came after Republican leadership failed to pass a budget to fill a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid program, which forced Stein’s administration to pass along cuts in reimbursement rates.

It will impact people’s ability to get care. Click here for more on this important story.

(Lightspring/Shutterstock)

In recent weeks, we’ve been talking about basic civics. That’s because our news feeds, like yours, are stuffed with fierce debates about our democracy and where it’s headed.

At Cardinal & Pine, we want people to be on the same page, so with “Civics 101,” we’ve been unpacking the words and the concepts that are up for debate.

Today, let’s talk about plutocracy and kleptocracy.

Plutocracy is not, alas, the form of government on Pluto. It is a subset of oligarchy, which is by definition, a type of government where the power is centralized in the hands of a small group of powerful people. Those folks are usually powerful because of wealth, nobility, fame, or religious influence. 

Given the extraordinary amount of money being poured into American politics, there’s concern that America is entering its plutocracy phase. 

Then there’s kleptocracy. In a kleptocracy, rulers amass power and wealth by guzzling their country’s resources. In effect, they steal it.

For more on these types of government and what they have to do with us, keep an eye on this newsletter.

More Civics 101:

1. NC Republicans reject Stein’s order on ‘special session’ to fund Medicaid. WRAL

“Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, called lawmakers back to Raleigh for a special session to address the state’s lack of Medicaid funding, after GOP leaders failed to pass a new budget. Republicans say they plan to disobey the order and wait until next year to address the funding shortfall.”

2. Massive fire erupts at historic building in downtown Wilmington. CBS-17

“According to the Wilmington Police Department, firefighters responded around 1 p.m. to a working structure fire on the 100 block of South Third Street, which is the location of the Graystone Inn.”

3. North Carolina senator speaks on lawsuit over AI-generated likeness in ad. WCNC

“Sen. DeAndrea Salvador is suing the company responsible for using her voice, which was manipulated with artificial intelligence in a television ad.”

(Beach Creatives/Shutterstock)

Last week, we had just one correct answer, which is probably an all-time low. 

The winner, however, was Cardinal & Pine reader “Amy W.,” whose eagle eyes correctly named the observation station at Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock is one of many in western NC that, after Helene, badly needs your tourism dollars, so plan at rip.

This week, we’re venturing to one of the most spectacular scenic spots you’ll ever see. Where are we, y’all?

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.

Click here to get started.

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 Dylan Rhoney and Michael McElroy. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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