Cardinal & Pine

by Ryan Oehrli, NCLocal August 25, 2026 Winton, North Carolina, looks like many small towns in the eastern part of the state. Main Street is just a few businesses, some churches, a town hall and a post office. Already small, the town has shrunken even more over the last few decades. Main Street is mostly empty with a car, truck or golf cart breaking the silence with a slow roll down the road that leads to the Chowan River. About two miles from downtown, a huge, gray complex sits empty.

Beloved country music singer, songwriter, performer and actress Dolly Parton has died at age 80. Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, delivered the news that his aunt had died in a lengthy statement on Instagram on Tuesday, Aug. 25. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” the statement said.

After a marathon of over two dozen public commenters—nearly all of whom opposed the technology—Asheville City Council voted to end its contract with Flock Safety Tuesday. As previously reported by the Asheville Citizen Times, Flock’s automated license plate readers have drawn controversy in Asheville and across the country. Critics say the cameras violate their right to privacy and that the data they collect can be misused by law enforcement.

Multiple demonstrations are planned around the meeting of G20 finance leaders in Asheville, a location that was chosen to highlight Western North Carolina’s recovery from flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Activist group WNC Alignment released a schedule of planned demonstrations, including banner drops Aug. 28 from Interstate 240 and Interstate 26 overpasses; a street demonstration on Aug. 29 on Merrimon Avenue; and a community summit on Aug.

Two weeks after state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom was selected to replace US Rep. Chuck Edwards on the GOP ticket this fall, the Henderson County Republican is introducing herself to voters across the broader electorate. Balkcom is currently serving in her second term in the General Assembly and was in the process of running for a third term before Edwards dropped his re-election bid following a censure from Congress related to inappropriate conduct towards staff.

by Christine Zhu, NC Newsline August 24, 2026 North Carolina’s coastal fisheries are in danger. The state failed to protect them, according to a landmark Superior Court ruling. Following a six-year lawsuit, Judge Bryan Collins ruled last week in favor of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, saying the state’s mishandling has led to depleted fish stocks along the coast.

The Mexican-cuisine restaurant in Asheville with a “secret” tequila window now has a speakeasy-style taco door with a window to spice up dining out on Taco Tuesday and any other day of the week. With a simple ring of the bell or tap of a lion-faced knocker, customers alert the kitchen staff to place orders for tacos, quesadillas, margaritas, beers and more. “We were trying to find a unique way for people to order and receive their food,” said co-owner and Executive Chef Scott Linquist.

Within a couple of days, restaurateur Bobby Zimmerman shuttered his Beat Street restaurant and opened a new concept, Sunny Day Sandwich Shoppe, in its place at 348 Hutchison Lane in the Cargo District in Wilmington. “I closed on Wednesday, renovated, and then really built the restaurant before the weekend,” he said. “So, it was a quick turnaround.” He said Sunny Day could be seen as a response to the sandwich status quo.

[“3 things happening in NC” is Cardinal & Pine’s weekly guide to the people, storylines, and events driving the news this week in North Carolina.] Below, we’ve got astronaut Christina Koch’s reunion with NC State and big happenings at the NC Transportation Museum, but first: Having a birthday right around Labor Day weekend was always a bittersweet thing for me growing up.

When North Carolina’s State Board of Elections met August 20 to decide early voting options for 20 counties where local boards couldn’t agree, it surprised no one that Auditor Dave Boliek’s GOP majority largely chose plans crafted by Republicans.