Unbelievably, Cardinal & Pine is now 6 years old. 

We got off the ground in March 2020, as the first COVID-19 cases shut down our state. C&P started as a vital tool for spreading good information quickly in a scary time.

Six years later, we’ve grown. This little newsletter goes out to more than 100,000 North Carolinians—making us one of the most trusted sources for local news. But we are still 100% free to read. We’d love for you to consider making a contribution to keep us that way. 

Ok, on to the news. 

Every week, we publish something called Good News Friday. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Positive, feel-good stories from around the state. 

This week, we shout out a program that wants to make music education available for all kids. Plus, the popular Bravo show “Top Chef” has made Charlotte the center of its 23rd season. 

Contestants include local chef Brittany Cochran of Charlotte’s Stagioni, a top-flight Italian restaurant in the Queen City. Read the story here. 

Charlotte chef Brittany Cochran (left) competes on the new Queen City-centered season of “Top Chef” on Bravo. (Paul Cheney/Bravo)

Happy Fri-yay. Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter: 

Cardinal & Pine reader Gary Miller brings you this beautiful view of Calloway Peak from US 221. 

A group of men inspect the ruins of a police station struck Monday amid the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Of all the national news developments this week, the war in Iran figures to be the most impactful for North Carolinians. 

NC has one of the largest active-duty military populations in America, including a large contingent of Army, Air Force, and Marine personnel who will risk harm’s way. 

In a new column, I wrote about how the developments in Iran put our troops in a difficult position—fighting an already unpopular war for a lame-duck president.

More from NC:

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly pulled a search-and-rescue mission looking for a missing member of the Coast Guard.

And that’s not even the wildest part of this story. 

1. Video: Thom Tillis calls Kristi Noem’s leadership a ‘disaster.’ Cardinal & Pine

“The retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis went nuclear on Kristi Noem during a recent Senate hearing.”

2. Ex-North Carolina A&T players ineligible over gambling inquiry. ESPN

“Two former North Carolina A&T men’s basketball players have been ruled ineligible after allegedly failing to cooperate with an NCAA gambling investigation.”

3. Bob Rucho resigns from NC Board of Elections over improper campaign contributions. NC Newsline

“Rucho said in an interview that he resigned over contributions to sheriffs’ campaigns that he did not know he was prohibited from making.”

4. North Carolina’s clean energy jobs continue to increase steadily, led by manufacturing growth. WFAE 90.7

“North Carolina has attracted significant private investment in clean energy in recent years — from battery and solar manufacturing to energy‑efficiency contractor work and grid upgrades.”

Bryan Pollard via Shutterstock

Last week, we asked you to identify one of NC’s many lakes. 

We got a lot of great answers. Yes, it looks a lot like Jordan Lake,  but alas, it’s not. That, my friends, is Lake Wylie on the NC-SC border in the McDowell Nature Preserve.

The fastest correct answer, however, came from Cardinal & Pine reader Molly Bland. Molly, you wow us all with your knowledge.

Let’s play again, NC. Where are we? Make sure to give us your name and where you’re from!

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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 Ryan Pitkin. It was edited by Kimberly Lawson.

Cardinal & Pine is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.