Below, we have the latest on the sluggish federal relief effort in western NC and a blast from the distant past in eastern NC, but first:

Here’s a strange story out of Asheville about a wildlife enthusiast who, according to state wildlife officials, went too far with that enthusiasm. 

Michelle Cole, a licensed wildlife rehab operator, says that she adopted five baby raccoons that she found in the wild. The state’s Wildlife Resources Commission seized the raccoons last fall and euthanized them, charging Cole with unlawfully holding them in captivity. 

It’s sparked a debate about the state’s wildlife laws. Cole says she wants lawmakers to change rules that she considers cruel. 

Read the story here.

A baby raccoon drinks from a bottle at Alleyoop Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation. (USA Today via Reuters)

Drenching rains are breaking the drought in NC, but they’re bringing flooding, too. 

Here’s what else is happening in NC: 

Thanks to C&P reader Donna England for sharing this tranquil view from Hot Springs.

Got a nice view out your window? Share it with Cardinal & Pine’s readers!

(Dylan Rhoney/Cardinal & Pine)

It’s been nearly two years since Helene rampaged in western NC, flooding communities and razing some entirely. 

In a new report from C&P’s Dylan Rhoney, we took a look at the recovery. What we found was kind of disturbing. 

To date, the federal government has committed just 14% of the $60 billion needed to rebuild western North Carolina.

Gov. Josh Stein reiterated the call for more support from the Trump administration during a recent visit to the region. We spoke with local leaders to see if the criticism of the federal government is fair or not.

Here’s what they told us.

More at Cardinal & Pine:

1. NC elections board says it won’t name allegedly dead voters, raising concerns. NC Local

“The lack of transparency means NC voters at present have no way to verify if they have been inaccurately flagged as deceased and are subject to removal from voter rolls.”

2. Pitt County sheriff’s office K-9 dies in hot car. WRAL

“The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office says one of its K-9s died after being left in a hot car last month, calling it an accident. It’s now pushing for more funding to buy new cruisers equipped with heat monitoring technology.”

3. North Carolina police officer named as suspect in 2004 murder cold case. Fox 8

“New warrants filed by the Garner Police Department in connection with a decades-old murder investigation into the death of Josh Davis named a Four Oaks police officer as a suspect in the case.”

Photo from around 1907 showing the first streetcar in Fayetteville. (USA Today via Reuters)

History lovers will enjoy this story. 

We’ve published a story about how folks got around in Fayetteville before cars and buses. They used streetcars, as this 1907 photo shows. 

The streetcars crisscrossed the city and traveled on steel rails that moved out from the city center. 

For more on the rise and fall of streetcars in one of eastern NC’s biggest cities, tap here. 

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 Michael McElroy, Dylan Rhoney, NC Local, and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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