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ICE detained him. Then he had a medical emergency.
Plus: 3 things happening in NC this week Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. The great states of North Carolina and Ohio have beef. It centers around the famous Wright Brothers, whose 1903 flight at Kill Devil Hills changed the world. To celebrate, NC began offering the “First in Flight” license plate…
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🤔 Name this NC downtown
Plus: ‘Good News Friday’ brings some optimism Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. It’s been a year of bad headlines in North Carolina’s largest city. But this week’s “Good News Friday” offers something to be optimistic about in Charlotte. For the last three years, local organizers have been piloting a program aimed at…
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The problem with NC’s drinking water
Plus: Beat the scammers this holiday season Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Here’s an important piece of reporting from Inside Climate News. Environmentalists in NC—and regular non-advocacy types who, ya know, don’t like toxic water—have been worried about the prevalence of PFAS, a group of human-made compounds that can be harmful…
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Why do people immigrate illegally?
Plus: Gov. Stein moves on Medicaid, but warns trouble ahead Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Why do people immigrate illegally? Why don’t they just get in line? Why don’t they “do it the right way?” If there were a “FAQ” page on illegal immigration, these would be the first questions asked.…
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‘Outlawed,’ abortion in NC
Plus: An affordable holiday trip to Boone Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Jessica F. Simmons has a fascinating report on a new NC-based podcast. “Outlawed,” hosted by Duke Health OB-GYNs Dr. Beverly A. Gray and Dr. Jonas Swartz, was created to talk about the state of reproductive rights in North Carolina.…
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Watch the Geminid meteor shower in NC
Plus: A snowy scene in Blowing Rock. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. “The Nutcracker” doesn’t have a sequel, per se. The fanciful Christmas classic, however, does enjoy plenty of adaptations and reimaginings. Here’s a local one worth your time, North Carolina. The Charlotte-based dance and performance outfit Caroline Calouche & Co.…
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❤️ 6 charities or causes to love in NC
Inside: Cardinal & Pine’s 2025 Giving Guide Support Hey, it’s Billy. We can never have enough do-gooders. If the world is a machine, the people who volunteer, contribute, and generally show up are the ones who keep it running. The world thrives with the people who don’t just stay in their lane, people…
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Best NC cities to retire in
Plus: ‘Good News Friday’ returns Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Did you know that North Carolina has seven museums that are officially affiliated with the Smithsonian? The state landed its seventh this week. The Charlotte Museum of History joins six other institutions around the state. Cardinal & Pine contributor Ryan Pitkin…
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New ICE activity reported in NC
Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. In November, construction ground to a halt on a new Raleigh city hall. The work stopped because, like many industries that are reliant on immigrant labor, Border Patrol and ICE operations in North Carolina frightened workers. Because of stories like this, the construction industry is asking…
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The great NC Christmas tree comeback
Plus: Yes, a raccoon broke into a liquor store and got drunk Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. If the first few episodes of “Billy Ball Explains NC” lacked for anything, it was holiday cheer. Not a problem for the new one. This week, I looked at one of our state’s most…
