Justice for the pickle.

The pickle is not just a briny cucumber. It’s not just an afterthought, something to complement your burger or put on the side of the plate. The pickle deserves its own “Rocky”-style training montage.

Every spring, fans of this funky cuke—and I count myself one of those—gather in Mt. Olive to celebrate something called the NC Pickle Festival. This free festival includes a pickle-eating contest, a pickleball tournament, and hopefully lots of pickle puns.

It’s the real … dill. 😂

It’s one of 19 North Carolina events that have made our new sneak peek at the best spring and summer festivals in the state.

It’s never too early to get ready for spring and summer. Tap the button below.

Not just a funky cucumber. It’s the NC Pickle Festival. (NC Pickle Festival)

Hopefully thinking about those warm weather festivals will help us make it through the harsh cold this week.

Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter: 

Look up. Denise Sanders brings us this view of the gulls in Holly Springs. 

We love your views from NC. Tap below. 👇

Here’s some important information. 

Federal health officials under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have changed the pediatric vaccine schedule over the objections of most mainstream medical associations.

There are several vaccines that were previously recommended for all children. The controversial new Trump administration vaccine schedule instead recommends those only for high-risk groups or after consultation with a doctor.

For more on the Trump administration’s vaccine changes, tap below. 

In case you missed it:

1. Here are the NC stops for the Buddhist monks’ ‘Walk for Peace.’ USA Today via Reuters

“What to know about the Buddhist monks and their ‘Walk for Peace,’ which includes multiple stops in North Carolina.”

2. Cold weather advisory in effect for Western North Carolina counties: What to know. WBTV3

“Feels-like temperatures could dip below zero for some.”

3. NC Gov. Stein seeks additional Helene relief funding, new drone regulations. NC Newsline

“FEMA has taken more than a year to process some aid applications.”

Conservatives in the Trump administration want to roll back the Endangered Species Act, which has been key to helping preserve animals like the critically endangered red wolf, experts say. (USA Today via Reuters)

The Endangered Species Act dates to 1973.

Environmentalists and wildlife experts say it’s been the benchmark for protecting vulnerable animals. They credit it with saving species like the American alligator and, ahem, the bald eagle.

But the Trump administration is talking about a rollback of the act. As the Wilmington StarNews reports, they say it impedes development without enough of a reward.

If they follow through, that could have big repercussions for wildlife in NC, including the critically endangered red wolf. As it stands, the red wolf can only be found in the wild in a small part of eastern NC, and wildlife officials are hoping for a comeback.

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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 Britteny Dee, Michael McElroy, and USA Today via Reuters. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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