I’m going to begin today’s newsletter with a humble request. Not for money! 😀

As we continue to get our new video series, Billy Ball Explains NC, off the ground, your help can make a big difference. Your likes, views, and subscribes help us reach new audiences in North Carolina and beat bad information with good information.

This week, we took on a really important story.

On Jan. 13, members of the Republican-controlled State Board of Elections voted against putting an early voting site on NC A&T’s campus, as well as an early voting site at nearby UNC-Greensboro, despite students’ requests for them to do so. 

These aren’t isolated events. Since taking control of NC’s election boards in spring 2025, Republicans have cut early voting sites and voting hours in 24 of NC’s 100 counties. But there is something we can do about it. 

Tap the graphic and help us beat bad information with good information. (Graphic by Francesca Daly)

In the last 24 hours, the forecasts for this weekend’s winter weather have changed some. More on that below: 

Cardinal & Pine reader George Maynard III caught this spectator at the Thistle Golf Club in Sunset Beach. 

Don’t you know it’s hard for us to putt with you staring like that? 

Gov. Josh Stein in Haywood County in July 2025. Stein has declared a state of emergency ahead of a forecasted winter storm this weekend in NC. (USA Today via Reuters)

“A winter storm is approaching, and now is the time to prepare.”

Gov. Josh Stein gave an update Thursday on the approaching winter storm. Forecasts have shifted across much of NC, moving from a mostly snow event to an ice and freezing rain event.

That’s a bummer for the snow-lovers, but the storm can still be dangerous. Ice can cause power outages and really dangerous road conditions. Anyone who’s tried to get around during an ice storm, especially in rural NC, knows what I mean.

Stein declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm. Tap below for the latest.

More on the winter storm:

1. 18-year-old to plead guilty to North Carolina shooting that left 5 dead, lawyers say. The Associated Press

Austin Thompson was 15 when authorities believe he went on a killing rampage on Oct. 13, 2022, beginning in his Raleigh neighborhood with his 16-year-old brother. A hearing ahead of his scheduled Feb. 2 trial was set for Wednesday.

2. How to keep pipes from freezing in harsh winter weather, what to do if they burst. WRAL

“The threat of frozen and burst pipes becomes a costly concern with freezing temperatures.”

3. North Carolina invests millions to upgrade freight rail network. WCNC

“North Carolina invests $16.3 million to enhance freight rail infrastructure, boosting reliability and economic development statewide through key partnerships.”

A pair of 120-foot waterfalls converge into one powerful stream at Soco Falls, located within the Qualla Boundary near Cherokee. (Jared Kay/VisitNC.com)

What’s your take on frozen waterfalls? Good answer. They’re great. It’s like finding And believe it or not, you can find them in North Carolina. 

Cardinal & Pine contributor Tyler Francischine has written a new guide to finding them in the Tar Heel state. From Bridal Veil Falls in Transylvania County to Whitewater Falls in Cashiers, it’s incredible to catch them suspended in time. 

Take a look and share with your friends and family. That’s how we grow!

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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 USA Today via Reuters and Tyler Francischine. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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