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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

For more on this story, here's the latest from Cardinal & Pine.

cardinalpine.com/2025/10/09/n...

NC Rep. Cecil Brockman charged with raping a 15-year-old; fellow Democrats demand he resign

Brockman, a Guilford County Democrat, was also accused in court documents of trying to contact the juvenile victim after the alleged rape. Democrats called the accusations “unconscionable and incompat...

cardinalpine.com

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

NC Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton called on Brockman to step down immediately, saying "the profound seriousness of these criminal charges makes it impossible to represent his community."

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

A Guilford County magistrate denied Brockman bond in the case.

The magistrate also said that after the alleged rape, Brockman “attempted to use his status to gain information on the whereabouts of the victim,” and tried to contact the victim in the hospital.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

Rep. Robert Reives, the Democratic leader in the NC House, said in an initial statement that if true, the allegations “disqualify him from public office.”

A few hours later, Reives said "it has become clear that (Brockman) is unable to continue serving in the House of Representatives."

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

Brockman, a Democrat representing Guilford County in the North Carolina House, was arrested on Wednesday and taken to High Point Jail, where he was charged with two counts of statutory rape and two counts of “taking indecent liberties” with a child.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

#Breaking in North Carolina:

North Carolina Democratic leaders have called on state Rep. Cecil Brockman to “resign immediately,” after news broke on Thursday that he’d been arrested and charged with raping a 15-year-old.

cardinalpine.com/2025/10/09/n...

NC Rep. Cecil Brockman charged with raping a 15-year-old; fellow Democrats demand he resign

Brockman, a Guilford County Democrat, was also accused in court documents of trying to contact the juvenile victim after the alleged rape. Democrats called the accusations “unconscionable and incompat...

cardinalpine.com

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

Share this thread and follow Cardinal & Pine for more North Carolina news.

Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

Other programs are at risk too.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

The state is not likely to step in and fill the void.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

If there is no action, however, hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians could lose access to nutritious foods.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

A White House official told Axios that the Trump administration had found a “creative” funding source and would keep WIC afloat, but they provided no details about how much money they would allot or for how long.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, or WIC as it is commonly known, helps mothers afford nutritious food for themselves and their young children.

Federal funding is cut off during the shutdown, and the program has only two weeks of emergency funding left.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 1d

The federal government shut down last week, and though it may take time to see the worst effects, time is ticking.

If the gov't doesn’t open in the next two weeks, a major federal program that helps mothers provide their young children nutritious food, could run out of money.

Keep reading 👇

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 7d

Watching the government shutdown felt like this. 🫠

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Reposted by Cardinal and Pine

Billy Ball @billyball.bsky.social · 15d

My latest:

In 21st century America, our politicians take their cues from social media, and not the other way around. It's made debate more performative, less nuanced, and much, much dumber.

The right-wing debate around Iryna Zarutska is a perfect example.
👉 www.thelivingsouth.com/iryna-zaruts...

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 15d

The state will cut Medicaid reimbursement rates on Oct. 1 without additional funding, and though the General Assembly unanimously passed two separate bills to try and solve the problem, Republican infighting derailed the effort.

Click 👇
cardinalpine.com/2025/09/24/h...

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 16d

😍We've got directions to North Carolina's most jaw-dropping autumn drives, including stops at Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Mountain, and Hanging Rock. 🔗 below.
cardinalpine.com/2025/09/19/f...

‘Ooh’ and ‘ah’ at fall foliage on North Carolina’s prettiest autumn drives

Drink in the fall foliage on these scenic drives throughout North Carolina.

cardinalpine.com

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Reposted by Cardinal and Pine

Billy Ball @billyball.bsky.social · 17d

Most of us know bone-deep that there is something wrong with social media.

I wrote about what we can do about it recently for my pet project, The Living South (link in the thread), and tonight, I'm on Spectrum News' "Capital Tonight" talking about it. Show airs at 7 pm.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 17d

Take a trip to Mayberry, race a wooly worm, or hit up the rodeos at Benson's Mule Days. Here are eight of our favorite autumn festivals in North Carolina. 🔗 below to read.
cardinalpine.com/2025/09/22/m...

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 17d

Long live Asheville. 💪
For this, and more good news from around North Carolina, click 👇
cardinalpine.com/2025/09/19/g...

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 21d

US Reps Deborah Ross and Valerie Foushee are no longer taking funds from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. A progressive who's been critical of Democrats' position on the Middle East gives his take on what needs to happen next.
cardinalpine.com/opinion/two-...

OPINION: Two NC Democrats just rejected AIPAC money. It’s the right move, but just one step toward healing.

Amid the turmoil in Gaza, two NC Democrats, US Congresswomen Deborah Ross and Valerie Foushee, are no longer taking funds from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. A North Carolina progressive gives h...

cardinalpine.com

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 23d

For more North Carolina news with no paywall (ever!), sign up for Cardinal & Pine's free, award-winning newsletter at the link below.

cardinalpine.com/newsletter/

Newsletter

No one should have to pay for news they can trustThat’s why we never have paywalls. We do, however, have a really great newsletter.It’s free, and it’s written for North Carolinians, by North Carolinia...

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 23d

So if you are over 65 or over 18 with underlying medical conditions, you should now be able to get the new COVID vaccine at your pharmacist without first going to your doctor.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 23d

State law says that pharmacists must require a prescription for any vaccines that committee has not formally approved.

Gov. Josh Stein @joshsteinnc.bsky.social and state health officials last week directed pharmacists to forgo the prescription as long as patients meet the new federal guidelines.

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Cardinal and Pine @cardinalandpine.bsky.social · 23d

THREAD ALERT 👇

Under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s direction at the US Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA limited access to the newest COVID boosters and is delaying approval from a committee that pharmacists rely on.

Gov. Josh Stein says he's done something about that. Keep reading.

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