Below, we’ve got a first-timer’s guide to voting in NC and our most-read story of the week, but first:

The North Carolina Zoo has been talking about next steps since 2022. That’s when the Asheboro zoo said it would be building a new Asia portion of the park. 

If you’re not familiar, the zoo separates animals by their native regions of the world. There’s already a North America and an Africa portion.

With Asia, the popular attraction will bring in some of the world’s most beautiful—and endangered—animals, like the Malayan tiger (see below). 

The zoo says the Asia expansion will include almost 50 new species, including Komodo dragons, demoiselle cranes, king cobras, four-eyed turtles, and more.

For when and what to expect from the zoo’s big expansion, read Good News Friday now. 

Never thought you’d see a tiger in the Cardinal & Pine newsletter, did you? The North Carolina Zoo’s big expansion plans gave us a good excuse to do it. (NC DNCR)

Friday, we’re delighted to see you. 

Cardinal & Pine will be taking a break Monday in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We’ll be back in your inbox Tuesday.

Here’s what you’ll find below: 

Cardinal & Pine reader Carol Milson took this photo from Spring Lake, NC, facing Fort Bragg.

Do you have a better View from NC? Send it in right now!

First-time voters can have lots of questions. We have lots of answers. (Kraken Images via Shutterstock)

As we wrap up National Voter Education Week, we want to send a special wave and “how do you do?” to the first-time voters. 

Whatever came before in this country, they did it without asking you.

Let’s change that forever. Our first-timer’s guide tells you when to vote, what to bring, what you’ll need to read, and what to do when you’re done. 

Share this first-timer’s guide with the democracy newbie in your life. 

You’re election-ready. 🙌 Now help a friend get there, too—forward this email before Nov. 3.

Graphic by Kelly Lennon

Organizers are hoping this massive Black voter drive changes the game. Here’s how it works. Tap here or on the button below for the latest edition of Billy Ball Explains NC. 

More at Cardinal & Pine:

1. Nine fun festivals to head to this October in western NC

“The titular character from the novel ‘Anne of Green Gables’ famously said, ‘I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.’”

2. Six books for your fall reading list from North Carolina authors

“North Carolina is home to a number of famous authors who have taken up a pen and put the state’s beauty, character, and uniqueness into words.”

3. Senate candidate Michael Whatley took $27,000 from data center developer

“Whatley has also said he supports giving tax cuts to data centers, as communities across North Carolina push back against new data center development.”

John Neff via Shutterstock

A North Carolina-sized shout out to Otto Brauer from Washington, NC, who was the first to correctly name the historic St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bath, which was featured in this portion of the newsletter last Friday. 

For a truly comprehensive look at the church’s origin story, go here. 

Where are we this week, NC? Be the first to get it right!

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 Jessica F. Simmons and Ryan Pitkin. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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