Newsletters

Plus: Do your taxes for free in NC. Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. Something you might not know about me:  For years, I was an education reporter. That means I specialized in writing about the goings-on at North Carolina’s schools, K-12 policy, and the state’s chronic education funding problems.  I flexed…

Plus: Your NC winter gardening guide. Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. An amateur gardener thinks of winter as a dead season. A pro sees it as a golden opportunity to get ahead of the heat, the bugs, and the weeds.  With Cardinal & Pine contributor Tyler Francischine, let’s get ahead of…

Plus: NC leaders react to Venezuela Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. The house is quieter. The recycling bin is filled with discarded toy boxes. And my bank account is drier than the Sahara. It must be the week after the holidays.  I hope you missed us as much as we missed…

And why they will matter so much in 2026. Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. We need a name for this time of year. Kwanzaa is on Day Five. But folks who celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah are in the in-between. No “Stranger Things” pun intended. You’re looking for things to do, but…

Plus: NC teachers buckling under rising costs Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. No matter how many times you’ve seen a fireworks show, when the first one goes off, it’s like the first time.  The novelty is renewable. It’s a little scary. Hell on dogs and small children. And, usually, thrilling.  As…

Plus: Drive through an enormous holiday light display Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. If you’re looking for a way to revel in the holidays, we’ve got a good idea. Through Dec. 27, High Point University is putting on a drive-through Christmas light show. It’s as impressive a holiday display as you’ll…

Plus: The beauty of the Great Craggy Mountains Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. For generations, the federal government’s refusal to formally acknowledge North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe has been a curiosity. It’s not just the symbolism. Federal recognition of an Indigenous tribe comes with money and benefits. This week, federal lawmakers included…

Plus: A tragic plane crash in Statesville Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. Perhaps the most important politician of 20th-century North Carolina has died. The family of former Gov. Jim Hunt said Thursday that Hunt passed away at the age of 88. Hunt, who was sometimes referred to as “the education governor,”…

Plus: A farewell to a teacher. Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. If there’s a point to our new video series, “Billy Ball Explains NC,” it’s to pull back the curtain on politics. Politicians say and do things, and their reasoning isn’t always as straightforward as you’d think. Take North Carolina Rep.…

Plus: NC Democratic candidate accused of racist remarks. Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. This is potentially a big win for North Carolina.  A federal judge recently ruled that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) broke the law when it reneged on a commitment to its disaster mitigation grant program.  In April,…