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  • 🌻 Will it be a warm or a cool spring in NC?

    Plus: The woman who broke “Jim Crow” in NC is back. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Woah! Cardinal & Pine got a glam-up.  You are looking at the redesigned C&P newsletter. It may feel bright and shiny, but it’s the same hard-working, feisty email you read every day.  Now’s as good a time…


  • 💁‍♀️ 3 NC women who changed history

    Plus: A NC basketball product makes history. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. An observation:  In my 20 or so years covering politics, I’ve heard a lot of people in “the business” talk about the power of women’s voting. “How do you get the women’s vote?” they ask. But too often, they seem to…


  • 5 NC men sue over ICE arrests

    Plus: 3 events happening this week in NC Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Wherever federal immigration agents have gone, lawsuits have followed. Reuters reported last month that, since October, hundreds of judges have ruled more than 4,400 times that ICE and Border Patrol arrested people illegally. Cardinal & Pine’s Jessica F. Simmons has…


  • Durham chef on tonight’s ‘Top Chef’ premiere

    Plus: Phil Berger’s big, big tone shift. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Naturally, people are asking “what’s next” in North Carolina’s most surprising primary outcome of last week—the GOP primary between the legislature’s most powerful politician, Phil Berger, and a local sheriff named Sam Page.  At the end of Election Day, Berger trailed…


  • ‘Top Chef’ puts NC in the spotlight

    Plus: What NC stands to lose in Iran. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Unbelievably, Cardinal & Pine is now 6 years old.  We got off the ground in March 2020, as the first COVID-19 cases shut down our state. C&P started as a vital tool for spreading good information quickly in a scary…


  • K-ville’s hilarious but petty early days

    Plus: Wilmington’s big port problem Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. North Carolina’s “Port City” has a problem. According to the folks at NC Ports, the Wilmington Harbor is not deep enough. Its depth, about 42 feet today, prevents larger shipping containers from docking. Without a change, the city will struggle to stay competitive…


  • An NC giant trails by … 2 votes??

    Plus: An unbelievable new Billy Ball Explains NC Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. If there’s anything we’ve been repetitive about at Cardinal & Pine, it’s the power of voting.  Tuesday’s primary election results, especially in one stunning local race, show the power of each and every vote. Michael McElroy has the rundown on…


  • A jaw-dropping stat about early voting in NC

    Plus: Gas prices rise after Iran bombings Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. It is Election Day, North Carolina.  This evening, results will begin coming in shortly after the polls close at 7:30 p.m. Which means, right about now. You can catch the latest results on this dashboard. (Hint: Make sure to use the…


  • 💪 What to know on Election Day in NC

    Plus: 10 NC sites for Women’s History Month. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Apologies for the sports metaphor, but this is your 2-minute warning.  Tuesday is Election Day in North Carolina’s primary elections. Regardless of where you live and what party you’re registered in, there are big votes on the table about what…


  • Closing Monday, we want to hear your opinion

    Help today, your voice matters to us Dear reader, This survey will close end-of-day, Monday, March 2, 2026 Cardinal & Pine is surveying our readers to inform our work for 2026.  Our audience grew significantly last year, and we’d like to learn more about who we’re reaching—and how we can serve you better. Whether you’re…