Below we have national honors for some western NC restaurants and big political news from Raleigh, but first:

In news, every now and then we see North Carolinians come together on surprising issues. This year, it’s been Flock cameras and data centers.

Today, we published a fascinating report on an unlikely alliance of political opponents in rural NC centered around the former. 

This year, folks who have clashed in this county found themselves arguing on the same side about Flock cameras. On Aug. 6, they created a Change.org petition to block them in their community. So far, it’s got more than 2,000 signatures.

Read the story here. 

Austin Rhodes, a leader of a grassroots effort opposing the use of Flock cameras in Henderson County and Hendersonville, is photographed near a Flock camera on Ridge Road in Dana on Aug. 12, 2026. Rhodes is among those calling for the cameras to be defunded and removed. (USA Today via Reuters)

If you’re not sweating right now, you must not be in NC.

Here’s what’s in today’s Cardinal & Pine newsletter:

C&P reader (and View from NC mainstay) Hugh Martin photographed this sunset view of Lake Tillery. You can see Morrow Mountain in the background. 

Think your View from NC can beat this one? Send it to us right now!

On Monday, Gov. Josh Stein didn’t hold back when he talked about the state Legislature’s controversial election changes bill. (Photo via NC Governor’s Office)

The big news this week is vetoes. 

On Monday, Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a pair of party-line votes in the state Legislature. One makes major changes to NC’s elections. The other grants new powers to the chief justice of the NC Supreme Court. 

Both were cheered by Republicans and jeered by Democrats. 

But what separates the bills from the usual partisan chatter is the potential impact on mass voter challenges, and a policy change that could allow the chief justice—who is a Republican—to suspend elected judges he doesn’t like for partisan reasons. 

Both were heavily criticized by nonpartisan, pro-democracy advocates. 

Watch Stein veto the election bill here. 

More at Cardinal & Pine:

1. NC man’s hanging death in downtown Raleigh being investigated as a suicide, police say. ABC-11

“A young Black man found hanging from a tree in a downtown Raleigh parking lot on Saturday afternoon is being mourned by family and watched closely by community advocates as police continue investigating the death as a suicide.”

2. New poll on MAGA, democratic-socialist identity underscores power of moderates in NC elections. WRAL

“One-third of North Carolinians align themselves with President Donald Trump’s ‘make America great again’ movement, and fewer than one-third of North Carolinians align with democratic socialists, according to the results of a new Elon University poll.”

3. WATCH: Lightning strikes Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington. CNN

Don’t worry, the historic battleship is fine. 

Little Jumbo co-owner Chall Gray pours a tequila spritz at his popular Asheville bar. Little Jumbo was recently named one of the best bars or restaurants in NC by USA Today. (USA Today via Reuters)

There was a time when people thought of NC as too country to be classy. The great thing about this state is one doesn’t mean you can’t be the other too. 

This week, USA Today announced the winners of its best restaurants and bars in Asheville, at least according to them. 

Honorees include Little Jumbo (photographed above), a clever cocktail bar in the Montford and Five Points neighborhoods, as well as Luminosa, an Italian restaurant with locally grown and foraged ingredients. 

Find out who the other winners are here. Happy eating and drinking. 

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, Dylan Rhoney, and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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