Newsletters

Plus: The biggest healthcare story in NC this year Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Today, we have adorable kids giving life lessons and an unbelievable story about NC medical examiners, but first: If it’s Wednesday, we’re releasing a new episode of Billy Ball Explains NC.  Recently, NCLocal reported an alarming new statistic about…

Plus: 5 rural NC hospitals at risk Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Today, we’ve got a trip to Oak Island, an alarming report for rural NC hospitals, and the best places to live in NC, but first: The view from atop Chimney Rock is so gorgeous, so lush and perfect, that it can…

Plus: What’s next for Duke utility bill hike? Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Below, we have waterfalls, a key vote on early voting sites, and our NC berry picking guide, but first:  The final public hearing for Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike happened last week. And we can say this definitively: North Carolinians…

Plus: Name this NC fishing hole 👀 Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Who says that Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on anything?  We begin today’s Good News Friday with a bill moving through the North Carolina legislature that tackles social media use among younger children. The legislation, which has the support of both…

Plus: This decorated restaurant rescues animals too Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Below, we have a gorgeous view of Lake Santeetlah, a budding election scandal, and an award-winning restaurant that rescues animals too, but first:  We’ve heard a lot about the affordability crisis in North Carolina. But sometimes housing is lost in that…

Plus: NC college grads talk AI Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. Below, we’ve got your weekly guide to protests, plus a convo with a recent NC college grad about AI. But first:  It’s been called a reparations fund for domestic terrorists.  Today, in a new Billy Ball Explains NC, we examined what President…

Plus: The Canes represent NC tonight Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. In this newsletter, we try not to tell you things you already know. For instance, you all know your energy bills are soaring. Mine is starting to feel like a ransom note that comes in the mail every month. Today, Cardinal &…

Plus: The state’s first Buc-ee’s breaks ground Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. The Canton paper mill closing was one of the biggest jobs stories of 2023. The mill was the beating heart of the Haywood County town for more than a century, but its closure left about 1,200 people out of a job.…

Plus: Trump, the NC GOP, and medical marijuana Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. The bad news is that the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher closed its doors temporarily this week.  The good news is that, when it returns, this eastern NC attraction has very big plans.  In today’s edition of Good News…

Plus: NC teen competes for spelling bee glory Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. In the sixth grade, I won my school spelling bee and went to a county competition. There, I got cocky with the word “hundredth” and left out that second “d.”  In my defense, it really does sound like “hundreth.” Which…