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Agriculture
WCTI 12: Local farmer says industry is in crisis
It is a rough year for farmers across the country, including here in eastern North Carolina.Jason Jones, a farmer in Cove City, says this year has devastated the agricultural industry. He says extreme weather conditions and a trade war with China have created a “crisis in agriculture”.
Environment
POWER-TECHNOLOGY: Dominion and Smithfield Foods to build RNG project in North Carolina
US-based power company Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods through their joint venture (JV) firm Align Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) are set to start construction on a renewable natural gas (RNG) project in North Carolina, US. Located in Duplin and Sampson counties of the state, the ‘manure-to-energy’ project will be designed to capture methane emissions from pig farms and convert it into RNG to provide electricity to homes and businesses in the region.
Economic Development
AREA DEVELOPMENT: Xerox Plans Center of Excellence in Cary, North Carolina
Xerox will build a new Center of Excellence in Cary, North Carolina. The company will invest $18.4 million with plans to create 600 jobs in Wake County.
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Visitor spending in Forsyth reaches $950M
Tourism spending in Forsyth County reached $950.6 million during 2018, setting a record for an eighth consecutive year. The spending data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of N.C.
Education
WRAL NEWS: NC superintendent: 3,200 iPads sitting in warehouse will be distributed this school year
More than 3,200 iPads are sitting in a state warehouse – 2,400 of them have been there for a year – but North Carolina Superintendent Mark Johnson says the devices will be delivered to districts this school year. He plans to announce details next week about what schools will be receiving them.
Healthcare
BLUE RIDGE NOW: Small Business Healthcare Act passes, will allow NC businesses to offer health care for employees
Small businesses and sole proprietors may soon be able to band together to form Association Health Plans to classify as one “large employer” and offer affordable and quality health care benefits for employees. In a bipartisan 32-9 vote Tuesday, the North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 86: Small Business Health Care Act, sponsored by Sens. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson), Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth) and Dan Bishop (R-Mecklenburg).
Government
THE CHARLOTTE POST: Broadband expansion bill clears North Carolina House panel
Broadband expansion legislation that stalled earlier this year after strong opposition from cable and telecommunications providers cleared a key N.C. House committee last week, but only after a long debate on the role of government in providing internet access.
Politics
WUNC 91.5: Republican Dan Forest Launches 2020 Bid for NC Governor
North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest officially entered the race for governor on Saturday. His campaign held a kickoff rally at the fairgrounds annex in Winston-Salem.
Transportation
THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: NCDOT to lay off hundreds of workers, as storms, lawsuits sap its budget
The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to lay off hundreds of temporary and contractual workers statewide to help cover the costs of repairing roads damaged by hurricanes and other harsh weather and to settle lawsuits related to a 30-year-old law that was declared unconstitutional.
GROUND BREAK CAROLINAS: Balfour Beatty Awarded $167 Million Contract by North Carolina Department of Transportation to Construct U.S. 70 Havelock Bypass
Balfour Beatty has been awarded a $167 million contract by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to construct the U.S. 70 Havelock Bypass located in Carteret and Craven counties. The Havelock Bypass, located at U.S. 70 from North of Pine Grove to North of Carteret County Line, will consist of a four-lane, median-divided highway that provides a safer, faster alternative to traffic congestion in the area.