Agriculture

TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL: Impressive crowds at NC State Fair boost local businesses. How the numbers stack up to past years
The N.C. State Fairgrounds operation lost millions due to the pandemic. This year's large crowds at the State Fair in Raleigh will go a long way to putting the organization back on track.

Economic Development

THE LAURINBURG EXCHANGE: Economic development trending upwards in North Carolina
During a presentation given to the Rockingham Rotary Club on Monday, Oct. 25th, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Board Chair Gene McLaurin explained the role of the hybrid public/private organization in attracting and retaining business investment in the state and shared inroads the EDPNC has made towards that mission.

WRAL TECH WIRE: NC’s $1B economic development deal with Centene is now terminated
An economic development deal struck between the state of North Carolina and Centene Corporation in 2020 under which the company committed to hire 6,000 workers and invest $1 billion has been terminated.

Education

WUNC: The UNC System is weighing how to fund universities based on performance
The UNC System Board of Governors is debating policies that would dramatically change how North Carolina’s public universities are funded. Under the administration of President Peter Hans, the UNC System is preparing to move to a performance-based model for funding its universities. The board of governors approved the use of the new model in April, and is now hashing out the details for how a university’s performance will be weighted.

Elections

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: More than 1 million North Carolinians have already voted. What early voting turnout shows us.
The largest group of North Carolina voters — those registered as unaffiliated — are less interested in early voting than Democrats and Republicans. A week into one-stop early voting, Democrats lead the turnout for early voting and absentee mail-in ballots, followed by Republicans and unaffiliated voters in a close third.

CBS 17: Candidate endorsements, events work to drive voter turnout in key NC races
Former President Barack Obama, Sen. Ted Cruz and musician Dave Matthews are all trying to drive turnout Tuesday in North Carolina’s critical race for U.S. Senate with just two weeks to go until Election Day.

Environment

WFAE: NC governor's order calls for a faster shift to electric trucks and buses
Gov. Roy Cooper issued another climate-related executive order Tuesday, this time pushing to increase the sale of electric trucks and buses in North Carolina. The governor said it would help the state meet its climate goals and create jobs.

CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL: Lawmakers say North Carolina has unfinished energy business headed to state legislature in 2023
Rep. Kyle Hall, R-Stokes, says the energy “elephant in the room” when the N.C. General Assembly convenes for its full 2023 session will be the electric monopoly accorded to Duke Energy Corp. in the state and whether to consider significant reforms for a competitive energy market.

Government

THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: Government’s top U.S. Supreme Court lawyer wants say in N.C. redistricting case
The federal government’s top U.S. Supreme Court lawyer wants to jump into a case dealing with North Carolina’s congressional election map. U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar has asked the nation’s highest court for time to speak during oral arguments in the case.

Healthcare

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Charlotte hospitals see ‘higher volumes’ of RSV, respiratory illness as viruses surge
Hospitals in North Carolina are seeing an increase in patients infected with a seasonal respiratory illness that can cause severe breathing issues for children.

CBS 17: NC Senate leader says Medicaid expansion vote likely not until next year
One of the leading Republicans in the General Assembly says he’s not expecting a bill to expand Medicaid coverage to make it to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk this year.

Politics

AXIOS: The race to the middle in North Carolina's "soccer mom district"
Come Election Day, North Carolina's "soccer mom district" will serve as an indicator of which party broke through to some of the state's swingiest voters: suburban white women.

WCNC: Beasley has a significant cash advantage over Budd
Recent polling shows the North Carolina U.S. Senate race continues to be extremely tight. Republican Congressman Ted Budd and Democratic former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley are seemingly tied in public support. Newly released campaign finance reports show Beasley has a significant cash advantage over her opponent.

Transportation

PORT CITY DAILY: NCDOT funds $2M study to assess CF Memorial Bridge replacement
While local and state officials have struggled to identify funding for the replacement of the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, a step was taken this week to get the ball rolling.