Agriculture

WXII 12: 'We would know by now': NC entomologist says 'murder hornet' unlikely to be found in state
Concerns about the illustrious "murder hornet" have arrived in North Carolina, but agriculture experts do not believe this particular hornet is in the state. "The reason they’re being called the 'murder hornet' is because they are horrible killers of honeybees," said Whitney Swink, a regulatory entomologist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Economic Development

BLUE RIDGE NOW: HCA Healthcare to invest $25M in WNC small businesses
Mission Health is launching the HCA Healthcare Mission Fund, a $25 million innovation fund to support health care-related businesses in Western North Carolina. Created as part of Mission Health’s acquisition by HCA Healthcare in early 2019, the fund will invest $25 million in companies working to improve the quality, cost or efficiency of healthcare in the region, according to a news release.

AREA DEVELOPMENT: Impact Plastics Expands Richmond County, North Carolina Operations
Impact Plastics, a leader in the custom sheet extrusion industry specializing in high efficiency, tight tolerance, thin gauge extruded sheet and roll stock, expanded into West Rockingham Industrial Park’s newest shell building located in Richmond County, North Carolina. This will mark the second location for Impact Plastics in Richmond County, following continued growth and expansion. Impact Plastics – South is located in Pine Hills Industrial Park in Hamlet, North Carolina.

Education

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Coronavirus bill shifts NC's school calendars earlier, among other education effects
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in North Carolina schools closing and students moving to online learning for the rest of the school year. But what about the upcoming school year? When Gov. Roy Cooper signed the General Assembly’s $1.57 billion COVID-19 relief package into law on Monday morning, it also included changes to the school calendar and millions in funding. The legislation designated how federal coronavirus response money is spent.

ABC 11: North Carolina universities receive $165 million to assist with COVID-19 disruptions
Colleges across the country are still struggling to adapt to online learning and stay afloat financially after COVID-19 stripped students from campuses in March. The federal government allocated $14 billion through the CARES Act to help assist with the abrupt halt to operations. Universities around central North Carolina received $165 million. Of the 42 schools ABC11 reviewed, funding ranged from $16,000 to $18.5 million.

Health

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Coronavirus live updates: Here's what to know in North Carolina on May 11
At least 14,945 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 565 have died as of Monday morning, according to state and county health departments. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 404 new cases of the virus on Sunday, down from 492 reported the day before.

NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS: NC dentists plan to reopen for routine care amid COVID-19
After providing only emergency care for the past month, NC dentists plan to bring hygienists back to work for more routine oral health care. As the state eases some social distancing restrictions Riccobene and many other dentists across the state have mapped out plans to open for more routine cleanings and other oral health care, knowing full well that COVID-19 spread is a continued threat.

THE MOUNTAINEER: Child care centers brace for reopening in North Carolina
As some North Carolinians return to work this weekend and into next week, child care centers across the state are allowed to reopen to accommodate parents. Gov. Roy Cooper’s first phase of reopening the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic took effect at 5 p.m. Friday and allows North Carolinians to leave home to go to work or to seek employment as most businesses in the state are allowed to reopen.

WXII 12: North Carolina ranks 15th in nation for number of completed coronavirus tests
North Carolina ranks 15th in the nation for the total number of coronavirus tests completed as it begins receiving additional supplies and federal testing sites. Dr. Mandy Cohen said North Carolina has, in 7 of the last 10 days, tested an average of 6,000 people per day.

Government

WSOC TV: North Carolina stay-at-home order eased with Phase 1 of reopening
North Carolina entered Phase 1 of reopening on Friday, and residents are now able to frequent reopening businesses and parks as Gov. Roy Cooper’s modified statewide stay-at-home order to address COVID-19 took effect.

Technology

WRAL TECH WIRE: NC tech executives see economic rebound starting in August or later
North Carolina technology company executives don’t see an economic recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic really starting until August or later, according to a new survey from the North Carolina Technology Association. That’s a more pessimistic view from a poll in March. While 73 percent seeing an August or later “measurable improvement” in the economy, only 26 percent see an early summer revival. That’s a decline of five percentage points.

WCNC CHARLOTTE: Amid pandemic, uninsured patients benefiting from emergence of telemedicine
While COVID-19 is causing devastating health problems for so many, the pandemic is also resulting in better access to health care for some of our most vulnerable neighbors thanks to the emergence of telemedicine.

Transportation

SPECTRUM NEWS: N.C. Transportation Services Adapt to Changing Coronavirus Concerns
Across the state, transit agencies across North Carolina are staying flexible as restrictions and orders change. The Greensboro Transit Agency had to temporarily stop all services on Wednesday because of a lack of bus operators and supporting staff. A GTA representative says an operator tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and that driver's not the first, one in the Triangle tested positive last month.

CBS 17: NC transportation agency overspent by $740 million, audit finds
An audit says the North Carolina Department of Transportation needs to improve monitoring of its spending after determining it spent $740 million beyond what it planned to last year. The performance review released on Tuesday by State Auditor Beth Wood’s office says the overspending happened because DOT cost estimates were based on past spending levels, not on specific projects and operations.