Economic Development

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Who will pay for Downtown South? Raleigh debates incentives as rezoning vote nears.
Downtown South returns to a city advisory board Thursday as the developers press for a rezoning they say the massive project needs before the end of the year.

The roughly 140-acre mixed-use development is proposed for the southern edge of downtown at South Saunders Street, South Wilmington Street and Interstate 40.

NORTH STATE JOURNAL: Local distillers survive tough year amid battles and progress with state ABC Commission
The coronavirus pandemic has inflicted major economic losses on the nation’s retail and hospitality sectors. However the spirits industry which also includes sales of beer and wine, has gone gangbusters as people find themselves quarantining at home and turning to the proverbial “cocktail hour” as a means to relieve pandemic-related stress.

Education

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: 'A very conflicting message': NC requires virtual students to take in-person exams
North Carolina high school students who are taking classes from home because of the coronavirus pandemic soon must come on campus to take state-mandated exams. In December and January, some high school students across the state will take required state end-of-course exams and state career and technical education post assessment exams.

NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS: Novant, UNC to expand medical education partnership across the state
Cementing a relationship that began with the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center earlier this year, Novant, UNC Health and the medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill school announced a similar agreement is in the works for other Novant locations across North Carolina.

WITN: State launches Education Corps for public school support during COVID
Starting in January, students across the state will benefit from N.C. Education Corps, a new partnership between the North Carolina State Board of Education, the Office of the Governor, local school systems, and the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. In Eastern Carolina, only a few school districts, Pitt, Perquimans, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, have initially signed up to participate.

Government

WRAL: Gov. Cooper COVID-19 update coming as NC records highest case numbers yet
North Carolina reported its highest number of new coronavirus cases -- 4,514 -- on Sunday as more people get tested before Thanksgiving. Gov. Roy Cooper will hold a press conference Monday afternoon. After limiting indoor gatherings from 25 to 10 people, the governor said last week that, if numbers don't improve, some new restrictions might need to be enacted.

Health

SPECTRUM NEWS 1: Coronavirus Vaccines are on the Horizon, but When Will They be Available in N.C.?
There’s been good news lately on the coronavirus vaccine effort with two candidates that both tested to be about 95% effective. At least one of those, from drugmaker Pfizer, could go to federal regulators for emergency authorization in the coming days.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: With Thanksgiving drawing near, it's difficult to find a COVID-19 test in the Triangle
Local health officials continued over the past week to stress that people should not travel to see family and friends for Thanksgiving this year, especially with COVID-19 cases rising statewide and nationally. Officials have also urged those who are going to have a Thanksgiving celebration anyways to consider limiting the number of people, requiring masks when people aren’t eating and holding the event outside.

Technology

WRAL TECH WIRE: High-tech job openings surge in NC - here's who is hiring and where
Led by a big jump in demand for software programers from even before the pandemic began, high-tech job openings climbed in October to more than 29,000. Nearly 13,000 of those are in the Triangle.

Transportation

WCNC: Silver Line would be partly funded by you, with possible tax hike
It's no secret: Charlotte city leaders want to revamp how we get around our communities. The cost to do it would be between $8 billion and $12 billion, and you would help pay for half of it.