There’s actually never a bad time for good news. It’s a scientific fact.

That’s why every week we pick out several of our favorite positive news stories and put them in something we call “Good News Friday.” 

This week, we shined a light on Morgan Riley, a Raleigh teenager who recently took home the top honor in the boy’s division at Steph Curry’s “Underrated” golf tournament.

Curry—who grew up in Charlotte—is, of course, a basketball great, but he launched “Underrated” to foster diversity in the golfing community.  

What’s next for Riley? He’s committed to play golf at Harvard and he’ll compete in the Curry Cup in September, which brings together all the winners from the regional courses. For more on Riley, click below.

Riley’s brother, Quinn, is also a professional golfer who competed at Duke. (Photo via Morgan Riley on Instagram)

Happy Friday, NC. We’re 100% grateful you’re here and reading this newsletter. Here’s what you’ll find below: 

After the storm comes the rainbow, right? 

Today’s shot comes from Whitted Bowers Farms, an organic family farm in Orange County. They took this lovely shot after some significant flooding in the area. 

For more info on how to help out in the Triangle and beyond after this week’s flooding, go here. 

Video by Cardinal & Pine reporter Michael McElroy

Medicaid pays for the dialysis that keeps Crystal Upchurch alive.

It also helped pay for the care that saved Maddie Wartenberg’s newborn son, Oliver.

These are just two of the hundreds of thousands of North Carolina stories at the center of the Republican push to cut Medicaid spending by nearly a trillion dollars nationwide.

Republicans made the cuts to help pay for President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, which will benefit most Americans although wealthy people will benefit the most. 

The cuts passed last week in President Trump’s budget bill are not about waste and fraud, Medicaid recipients said in Raleigh on Thursday. The cuts are about the difference between life and death. Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy was there to film. Take a look. 

1. North Carolina Zoo raising prices for the first time in 10 years. WXII-12

“According to the park’s deputy director Diane Villa, the rate increases are necessary to meet rising costs. In a statement posted to social media, she said, ‘The updated pricing helps ensure that the zoo can meet rising operational costs while remaining one of the most affordable, family-friendly destinations in the heart of North Carolina.’”

2. As Roy Cooper ramps up profile, Jeff Jackson makes US Senate decision in North Carolina. WRAL

“North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said Tuesday that he’ll back Roy Cooper in a closely watched race for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.”

3. Tillis suggests he regrets voting to confirm Trump defense secretary Pete Hegseth. NY Times

“‘With the passing of time, I think it’s clear he’s out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization,’ Tillis said.”

Shutterstock

Cardinal & Pine reader Ron Tate was the first to identify the fishy fountain in uptown Charlotte that we included in this space last week. 

In fact, Ron was so confident about it that he gave us its exact address. Points for style, Ron. 😂

Where are we this week, folks? This shot comes from one of my favorite towns. First one to write us with the answer gets a shout-out in front of Cardinal & Pine’s 150,000+ readers. 

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m a NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. Cardinal & Pine is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.

Send us your feedback and news tips to info@cardinalpine.com