In 2017, five prison employees in North Carolina were killed in two separate incidents. It was the deadliest year in state history for NC corrections workers.

Afterward, state investigators pointed the finger at prison understaffing. It’s apparent that our state leaders didn’t learn much from those tragedies.

NC Health News has a must-read report on the “dire” state of staffing in NC’s correctional facilities. Staffing levels are as bad—or worse—than they were in 2017, Crumpler reports.

Aside from the difficulties of the job, the starting salary for correctional officers in NC is about $37,000, which is the second lowest in the nation. Pay is set by North Carolina’s state legislature.

The NC Department of Adult Correction is experiencing severe staffing shortages, especially among correctional officers. (Rachel Crumpler/NC Health News)

Happy Friday Jr.—aka Thursday—to all who celebrate it. Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

Thanks to Vince Beasley in Goldsboro for capturing this wintry view of our namesake.

Cardinals aren’t just cool to look at. They are extraordinarily resilient and can handle cold temperatures.

To share your NC view, tap below.

An ongoing outbreak of measles in NC and SC was preventable, says one NC pediatrician. (Shutterstock)

Eleanor Martin is a pediatrician in Asheville. Recently, she wrote about the ongoing measles outbreak, which is considered to be the worst in the US in decades.

As Martin explains, this was preventable. She blames a resurgent anti-vaccine movement in America, one that’s been encouraged by top health officials in the Trump administration, like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Children have and will continue to die or suffer long-term neurological sequela from this disease that is vaccine-preventable,” Martin writes. “I am not OK, because I am now beginning to see diseases that I learned about as historical information in medical textbooks, or only of concern in developing countries.”

This is a must-read and must-share.

Google “Section 230.”

This obscure portion of a federal law could hold the key to fixing one of our largest problems in America today. Watch the new Billy Ball Explains NC here. Make sure to like and subscribe!

1. North Carolina election board flags hundreds of thousands of voters for potential disenfranchisement. Democracy Docket

“North Carolina’s GOP-controlled election board announced Tuesday it’s sending letters to hundreds of thousands of voters whose registrations were flagged in a database review — a move that puts them at risk of disenfranchisement.”

2. Arctic blast incoming to North Carolina. Will there be snow or ice? USA Today via Reuters

“North Carolina will experience a deep shot of Arctic air this weekend, bringing frigid temperatures, gusty winds, and pockets of snow across the state.”

3. ‘Our system needs to work better’: Stein issues mental health, public safety executive order. WRAL

“State leaders, including Gov. Josh Stein, have placed an increased focus on public safety reforms following high-profile killings that police say were committed by people with histories of mental illness.”

Headliner J. Cole performs on the second day of the fifth and final Dreamville Festival, which drew thousands of fans to Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sunday, April 6, 2025. (USA Today via Reuters)

Few artists wear their hometown on their sleeve as much as J. Cole. 

The Grammy-winning rapper and producer, who also founded the Dreamville music festival in Raleigh, hails from Fayetteville. He’s loaded his latest record—”The Fall-Off”—down with local references too.

In fact, the Feb. 6 release date is a shout-out. Some locals affectionately call Fayetteville “the 2-6,” although, honestly, it’s not clear why. 

For more on J. Cole’s Fayetteville shout-out, tap the button below. 

Do you want to support Cardinal & Pine’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 200,000+ subscribers?

Contact advertise@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

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 content from NC Health News and USA Today via Reuters. was edited by Paula Solis.

Cardinal & Pine is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.