In this newsletter, we’re going to get you ready for what’s new at the North Carolina State Fair, and unpack the latest headache for Senate candidate Michael Whatley, but first:

Another storm on the Outer Banks, another washout that left locals temporarily marooned. 

This is a seemingly perennial problem. But the frequency of these troublesome breakdowns on NC Highway 12 is surely increasing as climate change makes the tropics more temperamental. 

This week in “3 Things Happening in NC”, C&P contributor Ryan Pitkin explains the grief caused by these washouts. We also examine a coastal task force’s recommendations for preventing these problems, a notorious Chapel Hill murder that is finally bound for trial, and the lasting legacy of screen goddess (and Johnston County native) Ava Gardner.

Read “3 Things Happening” here. 

Another storm on the Outer Banks, another washout that left locals somewhat marooned. Let’s talk about solutions. (Photo via NC Department of Transportation)

This newsletter is cooler than all the pop stars who were at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night, and certainly more fun than a Carolina Panthers football game.

Now if I could just convince anybody else of that.

Here’s what’s in today’s edition:

Cardinal & Pine reader Kyle Dalton photographed this post-rain view of Hanging Rock and Moore’s Knob from Stokes County, NC.

It looks primordial. I half expect a dinosaur to stroll past. Thanks Kyle!

Do you have a better View from NC? Send it our way!

There are just three days remaining in Cardinal & Pine’s fall fundraising drive.  

Help us meet our goal. We’re about $4,000 short as of today. 

We have until Sept. 30 to reach our end-of-month fundraising goal. Help us keep delivering factual, free information.

Video by C&P’s Dylan Rhoney.

Just days after he returned to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump made Michael Whatley the ‘recovery czar’ for western North Carolina.

However, a public records request by the Asheville Citizen Times shows that the amount of time Whatley spent on Helene recovery over the course of a year … wasn’t a lot.

Watch the full video from C&P’s Dylan Rhoney to get the full story.

More from Cardinal & Pine:

1. Two years after Hurricane Helene, people are still allowed to live in harm’s way. ProPublica and The Assembly

“The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the floods in Texas’ Hill Country expose weaknesses in federal and state policies that allow people to live in dangerous areas where homes could be swept away.”

2. UNC online program serving adult learners grows 54%. NC Newsline

“The system said 766 new students enrolled this fall. Since its launch, 4,385 students have started work toward a degree from the program. There are now 25 degree programs offered across six universities.”

3. North Carolina Army veteran running across the state to raise awareness for veteran’s mental health. WBTV

“Jonathan Milkovich is in the middle of a 700-mile journey on foot over 17 days in the name of helping others.”

4. NC directs more than $10.7M to crisis pregnancy centers, despite credibility concerns. North Carolina Health News

“The centers are part of an anti-abortion movement to reduce the number of abortions in North Carolina and nationwide.”

The NC State Fair takes place over 11 fun-filled days in October. (Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau)

On Oct. 15, the North Carolina State Fair returns to Raleigh. 

To get you ready, C&P contributor Brook Bolen dove into what’s new at the 2026 incarnation of this 158-year-old tradition.

Expect a couple of new rides, new foods, new shows, and more. 

Read it paywall-free here.

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 Brook Bolen. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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