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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…
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‘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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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💪 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…
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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…
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🤔 Name this North Carolina lake
Plus: Good news from across the state of NC. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. We all know groceries are more expensive. But as Cardinal & Pine contributor Ryan Pitkin points out in his new edition of Good News Friday, those aren’t the only things that are more expensive. Recreational, fun things are pricier,…
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The tragedy of Ciji Graham
Plus: Checking in from the Crystal Coast Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. We begin today with the story of Ciji Graham. The 34-year-old Greensboro police officer died of heart failure in 2023, waiting on an abortion that might have saved her life. As ProPublica recently reported, Graham and her physicians knew she was…
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The most powerful man in NC
And most North Carolinians don’t know who he is. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Cardinal & Pine readers are a pretty plugged-in bunch. So most of you know Phil Berger, the longtime leader of the NC Senate. Folks like former Gov. Roy Cooper might get more national headlines. But you could make a…
