Below, we have the details of a massive pollution settlement, and the most-viewed piece from Cardinal & Pine this week, but first: 

On Sept. 11, 2001, I woke up in my dorm room. I got into it with the guy next door because he was hogging the bathroom. Then he blurted out, “We’re under attack!” 

It’s a cliché, but the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks changed how I felt about the world. In America, we were so much more vulnerable than we’d thought. That day, we joined a world that already knew that.

I don’t have any sage-like thoughts for today, the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11. Those attacks sent us off on a quest for vengeance that, in so many ways, we’re still on.

But I do think that when things are feeling too big and dark for me, connecting with the people around me works. We can do better in our circle of influence. And sometimes, we can do even more than that.

I’m sorry for the people who lost someone that day, or in the fighting that followed. Here’s to a better next 25 years. 

What do you want for the next 25? Write us at Cardinal & Pine, and we’ll feature it in next week’s newsletter. Make sure to give us your name and where you’re writing from. 

A man shows his tattoo of the World Trade Center during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the National September 11 Memorial in New York, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (Spencer Platt/Pool Photo via AP)

Thanks for reading Cardinal & Pine. Back to North Carolina. Here’s what you’ll find in this Friday edition: 

C&P reader Pam Wright shared this shot from the Inlet Inn in Beaufort, NC.

Do you have a View from NC that rivals this one? Send it to us!

Attorney General Jeff Jackson said Thursday that the state’s reached a deal with DuPont and Chemours that will see the corporations pay out $590 million to the state and 11 local municipalities over PFAS contamination in North Carolina. (NC Department of Justice)

For decades, Chemours and DuPont released per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS) into North Carolina waters. 

We’ll be sorting out the damage for years. There’s a reason they call them “forever chemicals.”

This week, state and local leaders announced a $590 million settlement with the companies. Attorney General Jeff Jackson characterized the deal as a complement to a 2019 consent order that forced Chemours to spend $1.2 billion halting PFAS discharges.

In today’s Good News Friday, C&P contributor Ryan Pitkin broke down what the money is going toward. 

Read the story here.

More at Cardinal & Pine:

1. A ‘safe’ Republican seat in NC suddenly looks less safe

The gerrymandering arms race could have unintended consequences, making some supposedly “safe” seats in North Carolina less safe in the 2026 election. One of those races that’s flying under the radar is NC Congressional District 3, where Republican incumbent Greg Murphy is facing Democrat (and former NC lawmaker) Raymond Smith Jr. 

2. The 2026 guide to fall foliage in North Carolina

No matter what part of the state you’re in, you’ll find the perfect spot to take in autumn colors with our 2026 guide to leaf-peeping in North Carolina.

3. It’s peak hurricane season. So where are the storms?

The lack of storms is thanks in part to El Niño, a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that impacts global weather patterns.

4. This Asheville ‘bachelorette pad’ includes a stripper pole, DJ booth

A stripper pole under a glittering constellation of disco balls. Pop-art portraits pulsing from the bedroom walls. A rooftop hot tub overlooking the French Broad River in Asheville.

How well do you know your NC waterways? (CodyFPV/Shutterstock)

OK, we admit it. Last week we tricked you in this space. 

Lots of you said we were at Duke University. Given the somewhat gothic appearance of First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, we can’t blame you. 

The first person to get this right was repeat champion, Chuck Darsie. Chuck, to the victor goes the spoils. Again. 🏆

Let’s run it back, NC. Where are we this week? First person to get it right gets the glory. Write us with the answer right 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 Ryan Pitkin and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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