Month: April 2026

Activist investor proposes split of Ingles

The activist investor in Ingles Markets that’s seeking a board seat says it wants to split the company, separating it into one that would focus on selling groceries and a second that would operate as a “grocery-anchored real estate” firm. This would “optimize the capital structure of both entities and potentially catalyze strategic interest from […]

Written by on April 22, 2026

Feds fine Durham energy firm $722M

Federal regulators have fined a Durham-based energy-efficiency trader $722 million, saying it’s behind “one of the largest and most brazen frauds” they’ve ever seen. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also ordered American Efficient and its corporate parents and siblings to return $409.8 million, plus interest, to the PJM Interconnection and another power-grid operator. Released on […]

Written by on April 22, 2026

Port’s future at risk, Wilmington Chamber boss says

The Stein administration’s refusal to endorse plans to deepen the Port of Wilmington’s ship channel has created “uncertainty around a project that has been carefully studied,” one of the city’s key business leaders says. It needs to make good by working with NC Ports and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get the project […]

Written by on April 22, 2026

Duke paid no federal income tax in 2025

Duke Energy and three other large, North Carolina-headquartered corporations paid no federal income tax in 2025, a Washington-based advocacy group says. A common thread linking them and 84 other prominent companies, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says, is that many rely on depreciation-related tax breaks. Congress expanded these last year via the so-called “One […]

Written by on April 22, 2026

House panel shelves hospital-taxation proposals

The House’s property tax committee wrapped up its pre-session work on Wednesday without offering any endorsement of the idea of reeling in some of the tax breaks the state gives hospitals. Members endorsed the idea of putting a constitutional amendment on the fall ballot that, if voter-approved, would require the General Assembly to set limits […]

Written by on April 22, 2026

First State Health Plan claims-processing RFP comes a cropper

State Treasurer Brad Briner’s staff needs to send out a new RFP for a State Health Plan claims processor because the first one didn’t draw any responses that met their minimum requirements. The new RFP will go out “in the coming weeks” and the goal remains to have options for the plan’s trustees to choose […]

Written by on April 22, 2026

UNC Wilmington pushing for new med school

Officials at UNC Wilmington want the university to set up its own standalone medical school, and have a plan they say can enroll the first 60 would-be doctors for the 2029-30 academic year. Chancellor Aswani Volety briefed members of the UNC System Board of Governors about the idea on Wednesday. For now, system officials say […]

Written by on April 22, 2026

2. Canton can’t close its streets: I-40 traffic wreaks havoc on event planning in Canton

Sarah White/The Waynesville Mountaineer Canton’s narrow downtown streets turn into a thoroughfare between Asheville and the rest of Haywood County anytime a wreck backs up traffic on Interstate 40 — a trend that’s becoming more frequent as the number of people traveling between Buncombe and Haywood increases. Now the looming fear of an interstate incident […]

Written by on April 21, 2026

3. Delta Air Lines to suspend a route from RDU, citing higher jet fuel costs

Richard Stradling/The Raleigh News & Observer Delta Air Lines has become the first airline to suspend service from Raleigh-Durham International Airport at least in part due to the soaring cost of jet fuel. Delta will not fly between RDU and Las Vegas from June 2 until Sept. 8. TOP VIDEOS In a statement, the airline […]

Written by on April 21, 2026

4. Over loud protests, Catawba County votes to merge school districts

James Farrell/WFAE Radio Residents fill the County Commission meeting room in Catawba County on Monday to oppose a merger of Catawba’s three school districts. After hours of public comment, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners shortly before midnight Tuesday voted in favor of a controversial proposal to merge Catawba County Schools with the smaller Hickory […]

Written by on April 21, 2026

5. Local, state political leaders turn out to support Robbins grocer

Jonathan Bym/The Southern Pines Pilot In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Monday afternoon grocery shoppers, local and state political officials were circled up near the meat section commending the value of the Carlie C’s grocery store in Robbins. Carlie C’s moved into the former space of Lowes Foods and Just Save four […]

Written by on April 21, 2026

6. As Lenovo Center grows, its transit options should too

Zachery Eanes/Axios Raleigh A Carolina Hurricanes flag is hung on a vehicle outside Lenovo Center on April 18. Photo: NHL Images/NHLI via Getty Images The parking lots around Lenovo Center are packed again for a Stanley Cup playoff series, with thousands of cars paying $50 a spot and traffic on Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill […]

Written by on April 21, 2026

8. Alamance County Commissioners approve controversial landfill permit

DJ Simmons/WFDD Radio The Alamance County Board of Commissioners approved a permit on Monday for a controversial landfill. The move allows property owner Kenneth Phillipie to establish a 99-acre landfill in the southern part of the county. Commissioners delayed a vote earlier this month to let those opposed to present their case after several residents […]

Written by on April 21, 2026