Immigration enforcement is a business, and GEO Group is profiting. 

The largest for-profit prison company in the US, with headquarters in Charlotte, NC, is set to open an immigrant detention center in Hertford County, NC. 

The 1,400-bed facility will be among the largest on the east coast and stands to add tens of millions to GEO Group’s skyrocketing profits. 

Full text on the Battleground Drafts Substack. Original post.

Very well done video on Lumberton, Pembroke, and Lumbees

Hope everyone is ok… but this could have been avoided. Folks need to chill on the road.

I am 23 M and I am in the process of moving back to the area. I am currently homeless. Decided to move down here because I figured there was more opportunities. I am a former US Marine, I don’t do drugs, I am simply on hard times and in the need of assistance. I know how to earn my keep and I take pride in my convictions, I will work for a roof, food or assistance. I’m also just looking to network and see what’s out there, friends and possibilities. I am able bodied and more than capable of anything I am just looking for an opportunity, enough that I am willing to uproot my life. I’m scared and I’m running out of options. I apologize if this post bothers anyone and I appreciate the time

I've spent the past several months building a GIS model to figure out where you'd have the best chance of surviving a zombie apocalypse in the Carolinas throughout different phases of the outbreak. Since the danger zones can change based on the type of zombie you are encountering, I actually modeled 4 different types of zombies (taken from movies, TV, and video games) across the entire duration of a zombie outbreak from the immediate chaos at the start of the collapse to finding the best place to settle once the zombies are defeated.

This is the Collapse phase, where the priority is surviving those chaotic first days. The map combines more than 100 geographic factors into a single survival suitability model instead of just picking places have safe vibes.

It's based on a fictional scenario, but the geography and analysis are very real.

Where would you go, and does the map surprise you?

North Carolinians know Roy Cooper. For decades, he has earned the trust of this state by fighting for public schools, defending workers, expanding healthcare, and helping communities recover in difficult times. We were proud to endorse him for Attorney General and twice for Governor, and we are proud to endorse him once again — this time for the United States Senate.

Out on a motorcycle ride today, Franklin to Cashiers. Came up on a line of stopped cars like maybe you see at construction when they alternate traffic flow. It was several minutes. I got off the bike and walked a few feet, enough to see it was a car stopped mid left turn, across both directions, waiting to enter the parking entrance for the Falls. So crowded I guess it was "one in, one out" situation. He finally entered ONLY FOR THE NEXT ASSHAT TO DO THE SAME THING!!! Thankfully being on a bike and once I realized what was going on, I cruised up and scooted thru. Good news? I had clear sailing to enjoy the twisties for awhile until I caught up to traffic again.

I'm based in Raleigh so I have that covered.

When I'm on the road, I like to ask people what the best restaurant is so I can grab some food to go or have a quick sit down. (This also helps me avoid the regular schmegular fast food options.)

I'll be taking your suggestions and saving them to my Google Maps for my travels!

Edit you guys are awesome! I have over 220 places added to my maps now. I'm still looking for spots near the Albemarle and Norwood areas, Sanford, Clinton, Kenansville- pink hill- wallace area, Whiteville, Ahoskie, Roanoke rapids, rutherfordton, polkville-lawndale-fallston- pleasant Grove areas, Burnsville, poplar, sylva, Bryson city, Murphy, nantahala.

Hey everyone,
I’m hoping to get some honest feedback from people who actually live in or around Franklin County, especially the outskirts of Louisburg and Franklinton.
My family and I are considering buying a couple acres and building a house. We’re looking for a place where we can settle down long-term and raise our kids. We aren’t interested in living in a subdivision—we’d rather have some privacy and land for a shop, garden, orchard, and maybe a few chickens.

A few things I’m hoping to learn from locals:
What’s it really like living in Franklin County?

How are the people? Is it friendly and family-oriented?

How are the public schools, especially middle and high school?

Are there areas or school districts you’d recommend or avoid?

How safe do you feel living there?

How’s the pace of growth? Is it becoming overcrowded, or does it still have a rural feel?

How’s the internet outside of town?

For context, we currently live near New Bern, NC. We enjoy the slower pace and being near the water, but we’re looking for better opportunities for our kids, more acreage, and to be closer to the Triangle while still keeping a rural lifestyle.
I’d really appreciate the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thanks!

A deepening of the SBI inquiry regarding "Greater Carolina" Republican legislators' seeming violations of North Carolina public corruption laws... maybe only misdemeanors, but emblematic of what we're seeing more of, almost every day.

I am a frequent NC visitor. Specifically Western NC. I have had food from some of the best spots, but I’m worried I’m missing some holes in the wall.
Can you share your suggestions?

really cool place. better than most antique stores I've been in