It is a curious thing that, in America, we talk about “separation of church and state” as a founding idea.

But ideas aren’t the same thing as actual laws and policies, and in truth, many of our laws are closely connected to people’s spiritual views. 

Case in point: North Carolina’s ban on Sunday liquor sales. 

Recently, state lawmakers took up a series of proposed changes to the state’s alcohol laws, including a push to open NC’s ABC stores on Sundays. 

Here’s what happened when they did.

North Carolina is one of 17 states that operates its own liquor stores. The state’s liquor laws are the subject of some debate right now. (wileydoc/Shutterstock)

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Here’s what’s in the C&P email today: 

One of nature’s best bloomers, the peony, captured in Pembroke by C&P reader Wanda Bullard. 

We love seeing your neck of the woods. Send us your view from NC to see it in this newsletter!

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-NC, speaks at a Trump rally in Greensboro in 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

US Rep. Virginia Foxx has been well-known to journalists and political types for years in North Carolina. 

She has a reputation for … well, grumpiness. 

That reputation got the full-screen treatment in recent days, after a Greensboro fourth grader wrote to Foxx advocating for climate change policies. Foxx responded by chastising the boy, calling him a victim of “indoctrination.”

From our friends at Beacon Media, here’s one pointed response to Foxx’s letter, written by another resident of Foxx’s elongated, gerrymandered district. 

Read it here.

1. North Carolina sues VinFast to take back control of Chatham County land. Axios

“N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the Vietnamese car maker VinFast, alleging the electric vehicle company breached its agreement with the state to build a manufacturing facility in Chatham County.”

2. Brush fire contained, but still burning in Carolina North Forest near Chapel Hill. Chapelboro

“’Our crews have this fire under control and it’s not threatening any buildings. We’re working carefully to extinguish it,’ Chapel Hill Fire Chief Jay Mebane said in the town’s release.”

3. Chance the Rapper talks North Carolina roots, ‘Coloring Book’ and new album ahead of Charlotte show. WFAE

“Chance the Rapper is performing in Charlotte this week as part of a tour marking 10 years since ‘Coloring Book,’ the mixtape that helped redefine what an independent hip-hop album could be.”

4. The South needs a new Civil Rights Movement. The Living South

“The Civil Rights Movement was a product of necessity. The American system could no longer withstand its own flaws, particularly in the South. In 2026, we’ve come to the same impasse.”

The Pisgah National Forest in the NC Arboretum is one of many ways to have a top-flight wellness experience in our state. (Karishma Desai)

“Wellness” has become a trendy thing in recent years, as people scrambled to find healthy alternatives to all the stress, pollution, and “fake” food out there. 

Some of it’s just marketing. Some of it is legit, though. 

C&P contributor Karishma Desai has written a guide to spiritual and wellness experiences in North Carolina. 

We’ve got experiences for each element: earth, air, water, and fire. 

Check it out now.

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 NC Newsline, Jacob Brooks, and Karishma Desai. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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