Recent News
CHARLOTTE, N.C., More than 4 in 10 consumers with emergency savings have had to tap into those funds during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest MagnifyMoney survey. MagnifyMoney surveyed more than 1,000 consumers to find out how the pandemic has affected emergency funds, looking at everything from balances to when people think they should be…
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New technology to optimize renewable energy resources, lower costs for customers. A group of energy companies providing electricity to roughly 50 million people across a wide geographic region in the Southeastern U.S. have come together to propose the creation of a centralized, automated, intra-hour energy exchange called the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM). This platform aims…
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by Julie Havlak, Carolina Journal News Service Each week, staff at Carolina Journal looks back at the week in N.C. politics and chooses several interesting, relevant stories you may have missed. Medical bills and price transparency: Patients will have an easier time knowing what they’ll pay for medical services at UNC Health. The system will…
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By John Trump, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — Leaders in the General Assembly and governor say they have reached a deal to ensure $30 million for the GREAT rural broadband program. GREAT is an acronym for Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology, which provides matching grants to internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives to…
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Hamilton leaving Cooper’s cabinet: Wilmington’s Susi Hamilton will be leaving Governor Roy Cooper’s cabinet, where she serves as Secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, at the end of the year. Hamilton said she had future plans in mind, but didn’t share exactly what they are: “At this time in my career, I…
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SOUTHPORT, N.C. — Dosher Memorial Hospital and Medical Clinics have been named 2020 Guardian of Excellence Award® winners by Press Ganey, in three separate areas. Guardian of Excellence for Patient Experience in our Emergency Department Guardian of Excellence for Patient Experience in the Dosher Medical Practices Guardian of Excellence for Quality for hospital services The…
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 2.6 points in November to 101.4 but remains well above the 47-year historical average reading of 98. Six of the 10 Index components declined and four increased. The NFIB Uncertainty Index decreased 8 points to 90, still a historically high reading. Owners expecting better business conditions over the…
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WASHINGTON D.C. – Carl S. Armato, President and CEO of Novant Health in North Carolina, recently received the Steven Schroeder Award for Outstanding Healthcare CEO. The award was presented virtually at The Leapfrog Group’s annual meeting. The award was created by Costs of Care, a leading non-profit dedicated to curating and disseminating insights from the frontlines of health care…
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MILLS RIVER, N.C. — As U.S. consumers turned to takeout, food delivery and online grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic, food and beverage labeling took on fresh importance. Citing a 15-20% increase in grocery industry sales this year, and e-commerce sales up 43%, sustainable label leader UPM Raflatac found its grocery and restaurant delivery customers…
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The following highlights noteworthy business news from across North Carolina. Grover Gaming’s Expansion Brings 200 New Jobs to Greenville: Grover Gaming Inc., a software development and design company with offices and distribution facilities in seven U.S. states, will expand its Greenville headquarters, adding 200 positions to its existing North Carolina workforce. The company will invest…
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The real estate market in southeastern North Carolina remained strong through November, according to statistics released by two local REALTOR® associations. Brunswick County’s real estate market remains on a red-hot record pace, according to the Brunswick County Association of REALTORS®, with last month’s numbers including the highest number of homes sold in November on record.…
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than half of Americans borrowed money from or loaned money to a loved one within the past year, according to a November 2020 LendingTree survey of more than 2,000 Americans. Nearly a third of Americans would prefer to take on debt rather instead of asking friends and family for money. Key Survey Findings: Lending between…
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During the course of my public relations training, I’ve studied a four-step process dubbed “RPIE.” The four steps are: R = Research P = Planning I = Implementation E = Evaluation. The research phase is intended to ensure that a client or organization builds its campaign based upon valid assumptions and informed insight, not guesses…
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Technology is transforming the world of public relations and strategic communication, and many now view the press release as a relic of ages past. At the start of my public relations career over two decades ago, much of my work revolved around traditional media relations. These days, more and more of our work is digital…
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The events of 2020 have dramatically altered the communication landscape in which leaders must operate. This year has been so filled with crises that memes speculating on what could be next are a prevalent feature in my social media feeds. As leaders, we must understand that emotions run high during a crisis, with fear and…
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By Donald Bryson Looking into January, state legislative sessions will begin across the nation. For many states, a critical focus point will be on the emergency powers those states’ governments have exercised in the wake of COVID-19. North Carolina is no exception. Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-19 executive orders have been controversial and provocative. These orders have…
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By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — I have strong opinions — but not about how to perform brain surgery, write a smart-phone app, design a golf course, or produce a hip-hop album. Perhaps you do have a strong view about one of these, but almost certainly not about all four. Why? Because none of us can…
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By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — It was the summer of 1987 when I first stepped inside the United States Capitol to work instead of visit. As part of a summer program, I spent a couple of months interning with syndicated columnist Don Lambro. Rather than have me run errands or fetch coffee, Don sent me…
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