Below, we’ve got an exclusive look at NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earl’s background in civil rights and the skinny on a flamboyant (and somewhat scandalous) vacation rental in western NC, but first: 

Have North Carolina’s Republicans gerrymandered themselves out of a seat in Congress? 

Maybe. 

In a new Billy Ball Explains NC, we broke down the numbers in a crucial race for Congress. It’s flying under the radar, for now. 

But if the upstart Democrat continues to poll this close to the incumbent, some folks in the Republican HQ, including the White House, could be feeling very, very uncomfortable. 

Watch the new video here. Remember to tap “like” and “subscribe” so we can keep growing. 

Have NC Republicans gerrymandered themselves out of a seat in Congress? New video here. (Graphic by Desirée Tapia)

We are 14 days away from the first day of fall. Here’s what you’ll find in today’s Cardinal & Pine newsletter: 

Today’s View from NC comes from Franklin, NC. C&P reader Susanne Lovelace caught the light just right. 

Got a View from NC that beats this one? Send it to us!

North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls speaks at a primary election night watch party for Democratic Senate candidate and former Gov. Roy Cooper, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)

Sometimes I’m asked what’s the most important race in North Carolina this election year. 

We all know the stakes in the US Senate race between Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley. But for my money, the race between NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls and her Republican challenger, former state lawmaker Sarah Stevens, is the one with the potential to change NC the most. 

Let’s learn a little more about Earls. Her biographer, Billy Corriher, has shared an exclusive excerpt from his book on Earls’ legal career, which included a stint with a few legends in our state’s civil rights history, including a champion of desegregation, Julius Chambers. 

Read the excerpt here.

More from Cardinal & Pine:

1. Two tornadoes touched down minutes apart in this NC community. WBTV 

“The twisters both spun up in the Sneads Ferry area in Onslow County shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 5.”

2. Blood donors needed across western North Carolina, American Red Cross says. WLOS

“Officials are encouraging eligible donors to give now after a recent blood crisis, as they look ahead to busy holiday schedules, travel and illnesses that can mean fewer people donating.”

3. North Carolina’s kindergarten vaccination rates show vulnerability to measles amid US outbreaks. WRAL

“North Carolina students are returning to class this fall amid outbreaks of measles across the U.S. PolitiFact examines kindergarten vaccination trends across the nation.”

4. In North Carolina, a race is on to restore critical peatland before it dries up or is destroyed. The Associated Press

“Scientists and investors are restoring a 23-square-mile tract of peatland in North Carolina to help curb climate-warming emissions and restore native habitat.”

If my grandmother were still with us, she’d be scandalized by just about everything in this photo. (USA Today via Reuters)

Here’s a quirky story out of western NC’s biggest—and most lovably eccentric—place. 

A vacation rental in Asheville that’s being billed as a “bachelorette pad” is going viral for its—how should I put this?—gregariousness. 

The rental in Asheville’s River Arts District includes 3,000-square-feet of flamboyant stuff, including an adult-themed room with a DJ booth and stripper pole.

Fittingly, this extravagant space was designed by a person who used to work on Bollywood sets. 

The space is going viral thanks to its appearance on the HGTV show “Zillow Gone Wild.” 

Check it out.

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 Billy Corriher and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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