What does it mean when we say something looks like a fairy tale?

According to Merriam-Webster, it means that it’s “marked by seemingly unreal beauty, perfection, luck, or happiness.”

In North Carolina, we have more than a few spots that have such qualities, like Beaufort (photographed below), a lovely coastal town in southeastern NC.

For more NC towns and cities with a fairy-tale look, click below.

Beaufort, home of the NC Maritime Museum, is one of 10 NC towns we picked out for their fairy-tale looks. (Gene Gallin/Unsplash)

Happy Friday, y’all. Here’s what’s happening in NC:

Thanks to John Metcalf for sharing this view from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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With tensions high following a Charlie Kirk vigil, a shelter-in-place was issued Thursday evening at UNC-Wilmington because of a false alarm about a gunman on campus. (USA Today via Reuters)

Wilmington had a real scare Thursday night. 

Tensions were high on the UNC-Wilmington campus following an altercation at a Charlie Kirk vigil. And reports of a gunman on campus sent the school into a lockdown. It also prompted university leadership to cancel classes. 

The “all-clear” was given before 10 pm, and afterward, UNC-Wilmington Chancellor Aswani Volety put out a video about the incident. 

“We have experienced fear, dread, concern, and yes, even anger,” Volety said in the video. “The very sanctity of our campus home has been violated, and I am angry for this violation.”

According to Reuters, no other information about the source of the reports of a gunman has been revealed. But a message sent on behalf of the chancellor and his cabinet stated: “Please be aware that much misinformation is circulating on social media.”

For more on this story, and the university’s plans to increase security, click below.

1. Video: Small business owner in Black Mountain says NC needs more Helene recovery money. Cardinal & Pine

“Black Mountain resident John Garcia has owned Lookout Brewing for over 10 years. During Hurricane Helene, his business was used as a meeting place for people to receive a meal and get needed supplies when power and water were inaccessible for so many.”

2. Songwriter Brett James among 3 killed in small plane crash in North Carolina. ABC News

“He wrote hundreds of pop and country songs, including ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel.’”

3. Nursing shortage persists in North Carolina, despite recent improvements. NC Health News

“Statewide survey shows vacancies remain high, especially among licensed practical nurses, even as recent investments boost the pipeline of new graduates.”

I like him. I’m gonna give him a nickname. “Bitey.” Yeah, that’s it. Meet Bitey. (Image via Shutterstock)

Last week, we only gave you a part of the picture, and it didn’t stop you from correctly identifying the Bodie Island Lighthouse. 

It does resemble the lighthouse in Currituck, but nope, we were at Bodie Island. Bonus points if you’re correctly pronouncing it—”Bow-dee,” not “body.” 

Ok, let’s get to today’s edition. Where are we in NC? Be the first to get it right, and we’ll shout you out here next Friday.

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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 Dorothy Scott and USA Today via Reuters. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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