A familiar pattern runs through American history when it comes to Native land. It almost always moves from Indigenous hands to the United States government. 

A recent story out of Franklin, NC, breaks that pattern. As the Associated Press reported, the western NC town is returning the Cherokee mound of Noquisiyi, which was once a significant meeting spot for Natives. 

The mound’s age is unknown, but it predates the US by hundreds of years. The Noquisiyi Initiative, which is behind the effort to restore the mound to Cherokee hands, says it appears on maps as early as 1544. But for the last 200 years, it’s been held by the town of Franklin or a private landowner.

The Noquisiyi Mound in Franklin, N.C. (Eric Haggart/Noquisi Initiative via AP)

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Here’s what’s in today’s email: 

Cardinal & Pine reader Shari Fenster caught this shot of the seasons changing at Lake Wylie. 

Tap the button below and show us your view, folks. 

People gather around a makeshift memorial honoring the victim of a fatal shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, inear the site of the shooting, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Baker)

Sometimes there are events that shift the conversation. 

Wednesday’s shooting in Minneapolis of a woman protesting ICE and Border Patrol could be one of those events. 

But as I wrote in a new column at Cardinal & Pine today, many of us saw this coming when federal troops began their military incursion into North Carolina in November.

I’m reminded of one moment in particular in Charlotte, one that ended much better than the shooting in Minneapolis Wednesday. Tap below to read this important column. 

1. North Carolina faith leaders, advocates outline legislative wish list ahead of 2026 session. NC Newsline

“’To the lawmakers in the General Assembly who wish to suppress our voices and erase all of the gains our dear ancestors fought so hard for us to attain, let it be known we will do all that is in our Holy Ghost power to organize to a better, more equitable North Carolina.’”

2. NC ranks last in the nation for school funding effort. Here’s why. Asheville Citizen-Times

“A nonpartisan organization recently ranked NC at the bottom of the nation for public education funding in several metrics, including last in the nation for school funding effort.”

3. NC teachers walk out to protest for public funding, higher wages. WCNC

“NC Teachers in Action, who is leading the protest, says the chronic underfunding from the state, failure to rule on the Leandro case and continued financial strain on individual teachers has pushed it to organize.”

4. NC Secretary of State calls for new budget to keep up with business registrations. WUNC

“The lack of a comprehensive state budget is threatening North Carolina’s ability to keep pace with the number of new business registrations, N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall told lawmakers and other leaders on Tuesday.”

The mocktails at Charlotte cocktail bar The Crunkleton. (Photo via The Crunkleton)

For the record, “Dry January”—the alcohol-free, resolution-affirming acknowledgement of the “new year, new you” stuff—doesn’t have to suck. 

Cardinal & Pine contributor Britteny Dee has written a new guide to mocktails in Charlotte, NC’s largest city. 

What’s a mocktail? It’s a delicious imitation of a delicious cocktail without the sauce. 

As Dry January’s grown, our top mixologists have gotten deep in the weeds crafting booze-free drinks that are still boatloads of fun. 

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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 The Associated Press, USA Today via Reuters, and Britteny Dee. It was edited by Kimberly Lawson.

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