If you read this newsletter every day, you know that we love to celebrate the cool stuff in North Carolina. Here’s one example:

In the 1960s, the idea of combining dinner and a theater experience was new. Enter the Barn Dinner Theatre in Greensboro. 

It was once part of a chain that merged the stage and food, but today it’s the last one in the US. And, according to its owners, it’s the longest continuously running dinner theater in the country. 

Which makes it perfect for a Cardinal & Pine feature. 

The Barn Dinner Theatre in Greensboro says it is the oldest continuously running dinner theater in the country. (Barn Dinner Theatre)

The pollen attack is on, y’all. Here’s what’s happening in today’s C&P newsletter: 

Shout out to C&P reader Brian Allemana for this gorgeous view from the summit of Bearwallow Mountain.

The Henderson County mountain—which is about a half-hour or less from downtown Asheville—has outstanding views from the 4,200-foot summit.

President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

If the Affordable Care Act were a person, they’d be glued to TikTok and rolling their eyes at us. In other words, it would be a teenager.

For our ongoing “Bad Medicine” series, Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy has written a new look at the 16-year-old federal law, which is often called “Obamacare” after the president who signed it.

Let’s state the obvious: The law is deeply imperfect. Ask anyone who’s tried to see a doctor or pick up their prescription recently. But health care advocates tout it as a crucial step in improving a system that once had permission to freely discriminate. 

For instance, 16 years ago, an insurer could deny health coverage to someone because they had cancer. You can’t do that anymore—at least not legally. 

It’s also helped millions of Americans connect with health insurance plans. For more on what comes next with the ACA, tap here or on the button below.

More from Bad Medicine:

1. NC Attorney General asks Trump for help with fentanyl crisis funding. WRAL

“North Carolina State Attorney General Jeff Jackson wants President Donald Trump to pick up his investigation into the funding behind the fentanyl crisis.”

2. Opinion: Voter fraud in NC is a fraud. NC Newsline

“Is voter fraud as rampant as folks on the right claim? Let’s look at the record of voter fraud in North Carolina.”

3. Opinion: Stop giving free lunches to North Carolina tech manufacturer Corning. Cardinal & Pine

“One of North Carolina’s labor leaders says Corning—a tech manufacturer supplying Meta’s data center boom—is taking advantage of workers while soaking up millions in state and local incentives.”

Local news is essential for democracy.

Our reporting cuts through false narratives, documents what’s actually happening in our communities, and provides voters with the clear, factual information they need—especially when the stakes are high.

The RnBrew party in Charlotte has grown to attract thousands of people. It centers on daytime fun, culture, and wellness instead of late-night partying and drinking. (Harris Jeter)

A funny thing happened recently with younger folks. 

Increasingly, they’re ditching late-night clubbing and booze. They’re trying out daytime fun instead, focused on wellness and culture. 

Charlotte’s RnBrew grew out of that shift. What began as a small shindig centered on coffee, DJs, and games has turned into a party that attracts literally thousands of people in the region. 

Cardinal & Pine contributor Ryan Pitkin wrote about it in his new edition of “3 things happening in NC,” our weekly picks for fun stuff to do in the Tar Heel state. 

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 Britteny Dee, Michael McElroy, and Ryan Pitkin. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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