Recent News
Oak Island, NC – The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held its Inaugural Coastal Home & Lifestyle Showcase on Saturday, May 8th in Middleton Park Extension on Oak Island. The free event attracted over 400 people looking to connect with local businesses who specialize in maintaining their homes, outdoor living, and supporting a healthy and active…
Read More
WILMINGTON, N.C., — TCS Healthcare Technologies, the leading provider of managed care solutions designed by clinicians, announced its acquisition of Montana-based DataSmart Solutions, LLC, a predictive risk analytics software company. The transaction was supported by follow-on funding from HCAP Partners, a California-based private equity firm and nationally recognized impact investor, with M&A services provided by Logan Growth Advisors. TCS software solutions are…
Read More
Wilmington, N.C., — Treatment courts exist to lead those with substance use and mental health disorders in the justice system into a life of recovery and stability. Since 2019, the National Drug Court Resource Center, housed in the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Social Science and Applied Research Center, has provided treatment court practitioners with…
Read More
Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center at the North Carolina Department of Commerce has announced that 52 North Carolina communities have been designated as a 2021 Accredited Main Street America™ program. This accreditation status is Main Street America’s top tier recognition and signifies a demonstrated commitment to comprehensive commercial district revitalization and a…
Read More
The Joint Channel Forecast Model presented by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association and the Auto Care Association details a strong aftermarket recovery coupled with indicators for continued growth RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. and BETHESDA, Md., — The automotive aftermarket proved its resiliency once again with a stronger than expected performance in 2020, despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, and…
Read More
CHARLOTTE, N.C., — Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) announced today that Ankur Vyas has been named the new head of Investor Relations, effective immediately, reporting to the Chief Financial Officer Daryl Bible. Vyas, who most recently led Truist Wealth Omni Channel, has been with Truist and its heritage institution SunTrust since 2013—during which he led Investor Relations at SunTrust…
Read More
by John Trump, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — The North Carolina Senate passed a Republican-led tax reform package Wednesday evening in a quick, 36-14 vote that drew eight Democrats to cross the aisle and vote in favor of the bill. House Bill 334 would raise the standard deduction from $21,500 to $25,500 for joint filers, which…
Read More
Units sold exceed every month of May within 20 years; inventory at record low levels SHALLOTTE, N.C. – Brunswick County’s residential real estate market once again saw record numbers in May, with the number of units sold year-to-date 50% ahead of last year’s record pace. Additionally, the number of units sold in May is higher…
Read More
SOUTHPORT – Dosher Memorial Hospital welcomes Catherine Mohr, RN, DNP, NEA-BC as the new Chief Nursing Officer. Ms. Mohr has an extensive background as a senior healthcare executive with over 26 years in both large academic medical centers as well as community hospitals. Ms. Mohr came to Dosher after serving as the Executive Vice President/System…
Read More
SOUTHPORT – Dosher Memorial Hospital has recently earned their ISO 9001:2015 certification. The ISO 9001 standard is a quality management certification which promotes adaptation of a process approach and demonstrates commitment to consistency, continual improvement, and patient satisfaction. The ISO 9001 standard for healthcare provides a model for a quality management system which focuses on…
Read More
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce awarded twenty-eight local businesses a Golden Pineapple Award at a ceremony held at the Chamber. Spring 2021 Golden Pineapple Award Winners are: Accommodations: LaPolena Bed & Breakfast Inn; Activities & Attractions: The Adventure Kayak Company, Cape Fear Fitness, Inspirations Dance Centre, Yeah Right Charters; Food & Drink: Duffer’s…
Read More
By Johnny Kampis, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — Sports betting legislation hasn’t seen much movement in North Carolina, although sponsors are hopeful to see action in June. Senate Bill 688, sponsored by Sens. Jim Perry, R-Wayne, and Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, was referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate on April 8 and…
Read MoreBusiness Advice & Expertise
The startup ecosystem is a living and growing organism that most cities are trying to add to their modern economic development strategy for job creation. The startup ecosystem is typically a very positive kumbaya environment. There are lots of smiles around town while people with rose colored glasses are selling more commercial and residential real…
Read More
Yesterday I was a last-minute speaker for a business group, filling in for a planned speaker who was under the weather. I had to put on my thinking cap and come up with an interesting topic with little time to spare. Given that we are now at the one-year anniversary of COVID-19’s initial impacts on…
Read More
When I first entered the public relations profession shortly after college, we typically heard about two types of media: earned media and paid media. Thanks to technology-driven changes, social media and owned media have become increasingly prevalent communication tools in recent years. Paid media refers to tools such as traditional advertising and direct mail. While…
Read MoreOpinion & Commentary
by John Hood RALEIGH — I once found a $20 bill on a sidewalk in Washington, D.C. I picked it up, thus ruining the punchline of an old joke. Two economists are walking along when one points to a $20 bill. The other shakes his head. “That’s not really there, because if it were someone…
Read More
by John Hood RALEIGH — With negotiators for the North Carolina House and Senate confirming that they’ve agreed on the broad outlines of a state budget for next year, the prospect of ending the state’s 2.5% corporate income tax is one step closer to becoming reality. A phase-out is already in the Senate’s budget plan,…
Read More
by John Hood RALEIGH — Plenty of politicians, planners, and business folks think they know what North Carolina’s post-pandemic economy will look like. But few seem entirely sure. They are noticeably hedging their predictions, which I consider to be a wise precaution. They ought to be hedging their bets, as well. There are unanswered questions…
Read More