Rural Economy
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Helene killed his wife and destroyed his mobile home. New tenants are now renting the same flood-prone land.
Why mobile homes in North Carolina are put in harm’s way time and again.
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How federally dependent is North Carolina? See WalletHub’s state rankings
How much does North Carolina rely on the federal government? Here are the most federally dependent states in America, according to WalletHub.
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NC A&T: New clean-energy economy project could bring jobs to rural North Carolina
A&T is joining a $160 million regional effort to turn renewable crops into industrial materials, with workforce training aimed at expanding access to manufacturing careers.
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An ICE facility could change this small town in Eastern North Carolina
A 1,320-bed ICE facility is set to open soon in eastern North Carolina, this time to house detainees for the White House’s mass deportation campaign.
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We looked into Jennifer Balkcom’s past campaign contributions. Here’s what we found.
As Balkcom introduces herself to the electorate in western North Carolina, Cardinal & Pine looked at who has contributed to her campaigns.
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In rural NC county, opposition to Flock cameras unites conservatives and liberals
Activists from across the ideological spectrum, some of them brand new to public advocacy, are quickly mobilizing as part of a broad-based push against Flock cameras in Hendersonville and Henderson County.
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The 8 state House races standing between the GOP and a supermajority
In 2024, Democrats broke the GOP supermajority in the North Carolina House. Here are the races that could decide the direction of the chamber heading into 2027.
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How North Carolina’s electric co-ops are using batteries to keep costs down and the power on
North Carolina’s electric co-ops are turning to battery storage to cut costs and keep the power on, even as data centers strain the grid and push Duke Energy’s rates higher.
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‘Recovery Czar’ Michael Whatley caught on audio wanting to end FEMA as Western NC is owed billions
When President Trump returned to office in January 2025, he made Whatley ‘recovery czar’ to coordinate Hurricane Helene recovery. To date, a fraction of the funding needed has made it to western NC.
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Looming federal ban could ‘kill’ NC’s hemp farming, THC products
Starting in November 2026, hemp-derived THC products will again be considered a controlled substance, effectively shuttering a multi-billion-dollar industry.
