Charlotte
Charlotte business leaders support tax hike for Panthers' upgrades
February 26, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Charlotte business leaders have pledged their support to a proposal to raise taxes to help pay for part of the Carolina Panthers' planned $250 million upgrade to Bank of America Stadium.
Chinese firm picks Charlotte for U.S. headquarters
April 23, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Chinese information-technology company Pactera Technology International will bring its U.S. headquarters to Charlotte, adding 200 jobs that pay an average of $100,000. The company already employs 60 in the city.
Duke Energy wants to double renewable-energy investment
April 23, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Charlotte-based Duke Energy wants to double its renewable-energy portfolio by 2020, according to its annual sustainability report. The company also wants to reduce its carbon-dioxide emissions by 17% by then.
MetLife begins filling jobs in Charlotte
April 23, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Insurance giant MetLife is starting to post and fill jobs for its planned retail hub in Charlotte. The company, which has been promised lucrative incentives to relocate the operations, is expected to hire 1,386 in the city and about as many in Cary.
Google picks Lenoir for $600M expansion
April 22, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Tech giant Google will expand its Lenoir data center with a $600 million investment, doubling the initial investment it made about six years ago. No jobs will be created initially, though an unknown number of additional hires are expected in the future.
Charlotte company poised to buy Knights Stadium
April 22, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Charlotte-based Cato Corp. wants to purchase the 32-acre property in Fort Mill, S.C., that includes the soon-to-be former home of the minor-league baseball team Charlotte Knights for $844,160. Part of the land would be used for a $36 million distribution center.
Some in Salisbury question value of 'Sleepy Hollow' pilot
April 22, 2013
(The Salisbury Post)
Twentieth Century Fox spent $8 million in North Carolina this spring filming a "Sleepy Hollow" TV pilot, but some in Salisbury, one of the main backdrops, are unhappy because the town was only paid about $30 and several restaurants lost business.
Airport bill strains politics in Charlotte
April 22, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)A proposal to take Charlotte's airport from city control and establish an independent authority has angered city officials, who plan to hold a hearing Monday with airport advisory committee members to grill them on why some are supporting the change.
Rumors swirl about Publix in Gastonia
April 22, 2013
(The Gaston Gazette)
Rumors are circulating in Gastonia that Florida-based grocer Publix may enter the market as it looks to expand its presence in the Charlotte region.
Charlotte, Carolina Panthers reach scaled-back stadium deal
April 19, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Charlotte officials and the Carolina Panthers have reached an agreement that the city will provide $87.5 million for renovations to Bank of America Stadium and the NFL team won't relocate for at least six years. That's less than the $125 million the city originally planned to contribute.
Catawba named one of nation's 'most endangered rivers'
April 18, 2013
(The Gaston Gazette)
Conservation organization American Rivers named the Catawba River, which borders Gaston and Mecklenburg counties, one of "America’s Most Endangered River" because of unlined coal ash ponds along the river.
Bank of America posts $2.3B profit but misses expectations
April 18, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Bank of America reported a nearly $2.3 billion profit during the first quarter, though it fell slightly short of analyst expectations. Mortgages continued to weigh down the Charlotte-based lender.
State treasurer concerned about possible Charlotte airport transfer
April 18, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
State Treasurer Janet Cowell, a Democrat, said she is concerned a proposal to take Charlotte's airport from city control and establish an independent airport authority will result in prolonged litigation over the transfer of its debt. Republican supporters of the bill say those concerns are unfounded.
Mecklenburg ranks 10th in state for renewable-energy investments
April 18, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
The N.C. Sustainable Energy Association ranked Mecklenburg County 10th for renewable-energy investments between 2007 and 2012. Davidson County led the ranking with more than $130 million, followed by Person and Robeson counties.
Piedmont Natural Gas asks for higher rate
April 18, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Charlotte-based Piedmont Natural Gas has asked regulators to approve a request to increase rates this summer to account for higher wholesale prices it's paying.
MetLife incentives could push N.C. over its limit
April 17, 2013
(Associated Press)
A large package of incentives for insurer MetLife to bring two hubs to Charlotte and Cary could cause the state to go over its $15 million incentive limit for the year soon unless rules are relaxed. Otherwise, other companies' payments could be delayed.
CaroMont Health fires CEO
April 17, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Gastonia-based CaroMont Health fired CEO Randall Kelley on Tuesday amid complaints about his management decisions and a new "cheat death" slogan that it later retracted. Kelley was hired in January 2012.
Workers rally as Freightliner union contract nears expiration
April 17, 2013
(The Salisbury Post)
Several hundred workers rallied at Freightliner's Cleveland plant Tuesday as its union contract prepares to expire Friday. The union wants an increase in its guaranteed-build rate.
Charlotte downtown office tower sold for $245M
April 17, 2013
(The Charlotte Observer)
Real-estate investment firms Starwood Capital Group and Vision Equities bought One Wells Fargo tower in downtown Charlotte for $245 million from Childress Klein. It once housed Wachovia Corp.'s headquarters.
Cleveland commissioners want U.S. 74 widened
April 17, 2013
(The Star, Shelby)
Cleveland County commissioners want the N.C. Department of Transportation to study widening U.S. 74, a measure some oppose because they fear it will further delay plans for a bypass along the road.
