Below, we reported on a huge controversy brewing in NC’s largest city, and an important story about a Senate candidate’s controversial ties to the housing market, but first: 

We begin this week with food. 

The New York Times is known for a lot of things. Long headlines. For being very old. Crosswords. And its annual review of the best restaurants in America.

For local restaurants, it’s like getting a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

In the Times’ new list, the only restaurant from North Carolina is a kitschy new Raleigh eatery named BIG CAT. Among other things, the paper shouted out the chicken wings fried in duck fat and the cornbread with curry leaf butter. There’s also a coconut milk soft serve on the menu. 

Read more about BIG CAT here. Congrats!

Raleigh restaurant BIG CAT was named among The New York Times’ best restaurants in the US. (USA Today via Reuters)

Tomorrow is the first day of fall. Here’s what you’ll find in the Cardinal & Pine newsletter today: 

Here’s a lovely waterside view from New Bern, courtesy of C&P reader Deborah Smiley. 

Smiley says she took the photo before the eastern NC city hosted a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis called Bike MS. As of Monday, the fundraiser had raised more than $1.4 million for research and treatment. 

Do you have a View from NC? Send it to us now!

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education is having a time right now. Read about it here. (Photo via Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)

Every week at Cardinal & Pine, we pick three of the most important storylines for the week ahead. 

It’s called 3 things happening in NC. This week, C&P contributor Ryan Pitkin has the skinny on a real mess facing the school board in North Carolina’s largest city. 

It has to do with a fruitless investigation of the system’s superintendent, extortion claims, and allegations that the board chair was helping to secure contracts for her friend. 

It’s gotten so messy that the local district attorney has asked the State Bureau of Investigation to get involved. 

That’s not all. In this week’s 3 Things Happening, C&P also reports on questions about racist incidents on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus and a fly fishing tournament to boost western NC’s recovery. 

Read the story here.

More from Cardinal & Pine:

1. Why did Prince have an Adopt-a-Highway sign in the North Carolina mountains? NC Rabbit Hole

“The story behind a litter cleanup program in the Purple one’s name is proof of why we can’t have nice things.”

2. WATCH: Vance speaks at GOP midterm election rally in North Carolina. PBS

“Vice President JD Vance said Monday that CNN, MSNOW and Politico lost their ‘special access’ to the White House but are not banned.”

3. Two longtime staples of owning a car in North Carolina will soon go away. WUNC

“Starting Oct. 1, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles will no longer issue paper registration cards and license plate stickers.”

4. New poll shows NC voters across party lines see childcare as workforce, affordability issue. NC Newsline

“The poll found 78% of North Carolina voters say finding and affording childcare is a crisis, with bipartisan support for more state investment.”

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young celebrates after the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagn Image)

This made me laugh.

On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers had a big win over their rivals in Atlanta on their home turf.

Comically, a cameraman caught a Falcons stadium employee celebrating the beatdown with Panthers star Bryce Young. 

When this guy inevitably loses his job, I’m sure there are a few stadiums in NC that can open up a spot for him. 😂

Watch the video 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, Dylan Rhoney and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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