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It ditches booze and clubbing for coffee and culture. Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. If you read this newsletter every day, you know that we love to celebrate the cool stuff in North Carolina. Here’s one example: In the 1960s, the idea of combining dinner and a theater experience was new. Enter the Barn…

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: An unbelievable new Billy Ball Explains NC Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. If there’s anything we’ve been repetitive about at Cardinal & Pine, it’s the power of voting.  Tuesday’s primary election results, especially in one stunning local race, show the power of each and every vote. Michael McElroy has the rundown on…

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: A live look at rare snow on the Outer Banks ❄️ Share with a friend   How we’re reporting on immigration right now Immigration has become one of the most closely watched and emotionally charged issues in the country since President Trump returned to office. We’ve seen an increase in ICE raids, legal battles,…

Plus: A snowy view from the Blue Ridge Parkway Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. It doesn’t get any more “wintry” than the last few days in North Carolina. But here’s an opportunity to actually have fun with NC’s cold season. No one does it better than Haywood County, which is kicking…

Plus: What Lumbee recognition means for southeastern NC Share with a friend Hey, it’s Billy. The 2026 elections in North Carolina are very much underway.  That means candidates, like Roy Cooper, are beginning their barnstorming. Cooper recently made stops in Fayetteville and Durham to kickstart his “Make Stuff Cost Less” tour.  Democrats are making the…

Plus: 40 years at the Dean Smith Center Share with a friend     Hey, it’s Billy. I try to look at life as an adventure. Meaning I want it to be filled with new things and new experiences. But I don’t know about this one. 😂 Cardinal & Pine contributor Ryan Pitkin takes us…