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Agriculture
WRAL TECH WIRE: North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative taps agrichemical exec to become its first executive director
The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative at North Carolina State University is set to welcome its first executive director, Adrian Percy, the organization announced this week. The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, or N.C. PSI, is a research and innovation effort seeking to address, and solve, pressing challenges in agriculture.
WBTV: Cleveland County Fair canceled over COVID-10 concerns
North Carolina’s largest outdoor agricultural fair has once again been canceled over COVID-19 concerns. The Cleveland County Fair was scheduled to run Sept. 30 through Oct. 10, but an emergency meeting by the fair’s board on Wednesday night to discuss a sharp rise in local cases and hospitalizations brought forth the decision to cancel.
Economic Development
THE CENTER SQUARE: Economic development roundup: $19M investment to bring nearly 200 jobs to North Carolina
Vitamin and dietary supplements manufacturer Nature’s Value will invest more than $19 million to expand into Winston-Salem, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said. The investment is expected to create 183 jobs in Forsyth County, with the average annual salary for new positions being $57,669.
WRAL TECH WIRE: NC jobs mismatch: Openings exceed number of people looking for work
Tens of thousands of jobs remain unfilled across the Triangle – more than 64,000 in fact – according to new data. And across North Carolina there are many more open jobs than applicants, reflecting a national labor mismatch with more than 11 million jobs going unfilled.
Education
ABC11: North Carolina universities rank high in new Best Colleges report
The newest rankings for U.S. colleges and universities once again shows that North Carolina has some of the best schools in the country. Duke University tied for 9th in the latest rankings, UNC placed 28th and NC State came in at 79th.
AP NEWS: Judge sets deadline for N. Carolina to boost school funding
A North Carolina judge has set a mid-October deadline for state lawmakers to follow a court-ordered plan to provide full funding for improving public education or he will take action himself.
WCNC: Union County schools vote to immediately end contact tracing and quarantine for non-positive students and staff
The Union County Board of Education voted 8-1 Monday morning to immediately end contact tracing and quarantine operations for any asymptomatic and/or non-positive students and staff. According to the school district, students and staff that are not on the COVID-19 positive list and that don’t have symptoms can come back to school effective immediately.
Government
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Felons who registered recently can vote, NC’s highest court says
Certain felons released from prison or never incarcerated and who registered to vote recently in North Carolina will remain eligible as litigation over their right to vote continues, the state’s highest court has ruled.
SPECTRUM NEWS: Public hearings start this week on redrawing North Carolina’s political maps
The first of 13 public hearings on redistricting in North Carolina kicks off Wednesday evening at the JE Broyhill Civic Center on Hickory Boulevard in Lenoir.
Healthcare
CBS 17: UNC Hospitals delay some non-emergency surgeries, procedures; COVID-related hospitalizations still high
Some hospitals in the Triangle are postponing non-emergency surgeries and procedures, as they continue to fill up with coronavirus-related cases. According to the North Carolina Health and Human Services Department, 3,756 COVID-19 patients were in North Carolina hospitals as of Thursday. That is an increase of more than 1,500 in a month’s time.
Politics
PBS: North Carolina governor vetoes bill limiting K-12 racial teaching
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed two bills on Friday that would have limited how public school teachers can discuss certain racial concepts and raised penalties on those who engage in violent protests.
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: N.C. Senate clears bills that removes most of NCHSAA’s authority
The N.C. Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would strip the N.C. High School Athletic Association of most of its oversight authority. The Senate voted 28-14 on third reading to approve the latest version of controversial House Bill 91 with the continuing support of one Senate Democrat, Kirk deViere of Cumberland County.