Goats get kind of a bad rap for their diet. 

Yes, goats have a tendency to munch on anything in front of them. But in general, these curious animals are world-class herbivores with an extraordinary capacity for foraging.  

North Carolina’s Dix Park, which sits on about 300 acres near downtown Raleigh, took advantage of the famously ravenous goat appetite recently. They deployed a team of goats to help clear overgrown weeds and brush. For two weeks, the goats took on plants that were up to 6 feet high. 😮 

Cardinal & Pine intern Maddie Policastro told their story in this week’s edition of “Good News Friday,” which also includes an NC-centric update on the NBA Draft and an upcoming event for Lego nuts. Check it out.  

Not bad work if you’re a goat. (Photo via Shutterstock)

The weekend’s finally here. Go jump in a pool and cool off. Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

Cardinal & Pine reader Nick Verna of Morrisville shared this shot of our namesake, and the state bird, the feisty cardinal. 

Fun fact: Male cardinals—the bright red ones—are so protective of their territory they’ve been known to attack red objects, mistaking them for other males. 

I know some dudes just like that. Thanks for sharing, Nick! Keep sending us your views from NC!

Video by @cardinalandpine

Amid all the international news this week in the Middle East, the United States Senate was busy too, and what they’re doing has big implications for North Carolina.

As Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy explains in a new video, Republicans are looking for ways to pay for President Trump’s tax cuts. Among the options is a plan to cut Medicaid, the joint state and federal program that helps low-income and working-class people access health care. 

It seems that Sen. Thom Tillis, one of NC’s two senators, told his colleagues behind closed doors that plan would be devastating to his state. Take a look at Michael’s video by clicking below. 

1. North Carolina legislature leaves after passing Helene aid package, but still no budget. Associated Press

“Lawmakers in the ninth-largest state also fell short on completing their primary responsibility — enacting a two-year budget by July 1.”

2. Temperature records were broken in NC this week: Is the heat wave finally over? Asheville Citizen-Times

“Storms that are likely to linger for days and become severe in some areas are rolling through WNC, while the heat is waning.”

3. New state educator program aims to transform teaching in NC. Cardinal & Pine 

The program blends traditional classroom learning with digital tools, and there’s some evidence that it helps underperforming kids. 

Shutterstock

Last week’s edition of “Where Are We in NC?” stumped a few of you. 

Yes, you can spot wild ponies at Shackleford Banks and Corolla. But the fencing in the background was a big clue in last week’s edition, which came from the enclosed pony pasture on Ocracoke Island. 

The enclosure is to keep Ocracoke’s smaller, more domesticated herd safe from Highway 12. For more info on Ocracoke’s ponies, go here. For more info on the rest of the Outer Bank’s wild horses, go here. 

Now for this week’s edition: Where are we in NC? Be the first to write me with the correct answer and you’ll get a shout-out here in front of Cardinal & Pine’s 150,000+ newsletter readers. 

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m a NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. Cardinal & Pine is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.

Send us your feedback and news tips to info@cardinalpine.com