Attorney General Josh Stein today sued Facebook Inc., alleging that the company used its monopoly power to buy competitors and cut services to others to maintain its monopoly, which ultimately harms people by reducing privacy protections, degrading services, and stifling competition. Attorney General Stein was part of the executive committee leading the multistate investigation into Facebook.
Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing produced a $1 million prize for someone who bought a ticket at a convenience store in Iredell County. The lucky winner bought the ticket at Fast Phil’s on Brawley School Road in Mooresville. The win was the second time in two weeks that a ticket in North Carolina won a $1 million prize in the game.
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, Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The company will invest $12.5 million in its operations in Pitt County during the coming four years.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., a leading U.S. designer and manufacturer of commercial and sporting firearms, will grow its North Carolina workforce with an expansion at its Rockingham County production facility, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company’s goal is to add roughly 60 jobs and invest approximately $10 million at its site in Mayodan over the next three years.
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in October. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.5 percent while Watauga County had the lowest at 4.1 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville had the highest rate at 8.3 percent while Raleigh and Durham-Chapel Hill each had the lowest at 5.3 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 6.1 percent.
On Thursday, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded more than $2.4 million in funding to support agriculture, economic development, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and disaster recovery through projects across North Carolina. The Board also heard from its strategic planning consultants on the results of outreach and data gathering efforts launched over the summer. The Board is expected to adopt a strategic plan in the first quarter of 2021.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2021 today. The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development.
Magic Mile Media, Inc., parent company of Neuse News, has assumed ownership of NCPoliticalNews.com effective December 1, 2020. Frank Williams, a public relations professional who has been involved in North Carolina’s political process for over 25 years, founded N.C. Political News in early 2013. BJ Murphy, president of Magic Mile Media and publisher of Neuse News, will assume publisher duties for NCPoliticalNews.com.
Chick-fil-A®, one of the nation’s leading quick-service restaurant companies, will locate a major distribution center in Alamance County, investing an estimated $52 million to build the new facility, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The project, part of Chick-fil-A Supply®, the company’s new distribution service focused on supplying food and products to its restaurants, will create 160 jobs at the North Carolina Industrial Center in Mebane. It is scheduled to open in early 2022.
