Below, we’ve got a troubling report on NC’s fisheries, and details about NC’s migrating hummingbirds, but first: 

It’s a good night to be a stargazer. 

This evening, folks in North Carolina could get a peek at a partial lunar eclipse, depending on the weather where you are. 

It will not be a total eclipse. But it is a “deep partial lunar eclipse,” according to SkyandTelescope.org. The eclipse will also have a reddish tint, which is why it’s sometimes called a “blood moon.” 

For details on where and when, tap here. 

Stargazers in NC can look up and see a lunar eclipse tonight. Tap here for the details. (czjonyyy via Shutterstock)

Happy Thursday, North Carolina. Here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter: 

C&P reader Elena Gallenberger really wowed us with this sunrise shot from Lake Mattamuskeet. 

Got a better View from NC? Send it to Cardinal & Pine!

Fishing for hobby and for work near Emerald Isle in North Carolina. (Dawn Damico/Shutterstock)

One of North Carolina’s most treasured resources is the coast. 

Not just for the fun we have on our beaches, but for the fish we pull out of the ocean. 

A new court ruling finds that the state mishandled that resource. 

NC Newsline reported this week that, according to Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins, the state’s poor handling has led to depleted fish stocks along the NC coast. 

“The court affirmed what we have said for years,” the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, a party in the lawsuit, said in a statement. “The state has a responsibility to protect and manage our fisheries for the benefit of all citizens and future generations, and our current system has failed to meet that responsibility.”

So what does this mean? Tap here to read the story. 

More at Cardinal & Pine:

Graphic by Kelly Lennon

If you haven’t caught one already, “3 dumb questions (and 1 smart one)” is a new segment from Cardinal & Pine.

In it, we ask some of the state’s most interesting and influential people three silly questions, and at least one serious one about the state of the world. 

The point is to have fun. 

This week, we talked with rising NC lawmaker Beth Helfrich about very bad theater roles, corny sitcom families, and good coffee. Watch it here. 

1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to rebuild historic science lab in Beaufort, North Carolina. NOAA.com

“This new lab will replace the former building that was permanently closed in 2024 due to significant hurricane-related structural damage.”

2. Massive downtown fire leads to recovery efforts in North Carolina: How to help. WBTV

“Fundraisers have been set up to help businesses and residents affected by a major fire that engulfed a downtown in North Carolina this week.”

3. Rising stars? Challengers to NC sheriffs bank on voters’ thirst for change. Carolina Public Press

“Candidates trying to unseat sheriffs criticize tendency to reelect incumbents and appoint handpicked successors in many NC counties.”

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird species that breeds in North Carolina. Here’s when and where to find them. (Matt Cuda via Shutterstock)

Did you know that hummingbirds have an astonishingly good memory? 

These amazing little birds can remember the exact location of their favorite flowers. 

We are approaching the time of year that hummingbirds migrate out of NC, anticipating the cooler temperatures of fall. In fact, they’ve already started to move. 

But some of theme are still around, and here’s how to spot them. 

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 NC Newsline and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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