USDA Names Raleigh One of 5 Hubs

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday that Raleigh will serve as one of five USDA hubs across the country as part of a broader restructuring effort to bring the department closer to the communities it serves, reduce costs, eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, and streamline operations.

The remaining four hubs will be located in Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Raleigh already has a regional USDA office on NC State’s Centennial Campus, but it’s unclear how many employees will move to Raleigh or how many might resign rather than relocate.

A spokesperson for the USDA said the reorganization will begin in the coming months but could “take more time to implement” fully.

UNC System to Verify DEI Purge

The UNC System Board of Governors is mandating “meaningful verification” by Sept. 1 that North Carolina’s public universities have eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies under the 2024 Equality Policy.

A board memo instructs trustees to form five-member subcommittees by July 31 to receive briefings from chancellors on trainings related to the Equality Policy, reports on updated web pages and mission statements, and briefings on campus personnel performance.

The subcommittees will assess role changes, performance, and disciplinary actions to ensure the DEI initiatives no longer exist, then draft certifications of their assessments by Sept. 1.

The memo follows secret recordings showing three UNC employees, no longer employed by the system, discussing how their universities would circumvent DEI restrictions. Fifty-nine DEI jobs were eliminated and 131 were reassigned statewide, saving approximately $17 million.

Best NC Companies to Work for, Ranked

U.S. News released its list of the best public and private companies to work for in North Carolina using six metrics based on factors such as pay, work-life balance, and stability. Scores were normalized, weighted by reader surveys, and scaled 1-5.

The best public companies include Bioventus in Durham, Brighthouse Financial in Charlotte, Duke Energy in Charlotte, Extreme Networks in Morrisville, and Premier in Charlotte.

The best private companies include AmWINS in Charlotte, Hendrick Automotive Group in Charlotte, SAS in Cary, and Swinerton in Charlotte. (Note: Direct Supply is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, not North Carolina.)

View a video report of the top North Carolina companies to work for, as well as the full nationwide list of best companies to work for.

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➤ Wake County: Former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) may suspend his Senate campaign to run for Wake County district attorney, potentially clearing the way for former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to enter the open Senate race. (More)

➤ Asheville: Two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials were placed on leave amid renewed scrutiny of their roles in the 2019 “Sharpiegate” investigation that involved President Trump altering a hurricane forecast. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Despite a reorganization plan, the North Carolina Theatre, a 40-year Raleigh arts institution, permanently closed after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and suspending its 2024 season. (More)

➤ Durham: The Budweiser Clydesdales trotted through town Friday to celebrate 15 years with Folds of Honor, which provides scholarships to families of fallen or disabled service members and first responders. Budweiser later gave a $10,000 check to a local recipient during the Durham Bulls game. (More)

➤ Duke University: The American Dance Festival’s 92nd season, which started June 12 and ended Saturday, featured 40 performances by 22 dance companies and included 10 world premieres, 13 commissioned works, and 11 debuts. (More)

➤ Ocracoke: Cape Hatteras National Seashore rangers will conduct a public sea turtle nest excavation this morning at 9 a.m., 250 feet north of the Pony Pen Beach Access. Spectators can watch, but should allow extra time to walk to the nest. (More)

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➤ Carolina Panthers receiver Hunter Renfrow showcased his incredible route running at training camp, shaking Panthers’ new safety Tre’von Moehrig on a nasty whip route. (Watch Video)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes now have seven players signed through the 2030-31 NHL season, more than any other team in the league. (More)

➤ Former UNC men’s basketball star R.J. Davis has landed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after a solid showing during the NBA Summer League. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | PGA | LPGA | Tour de France | NASCAR | F1 | Indy | Tennis

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➤ Duke University announced Friday that nearly 600 staff members will depart under a voluntary separation program, with involuntary layoffs to follow in August. The cuts are expected to reshape university operations significantly. (More)

➤ Western North Carolina Christmas tree farms are rebounding after damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024, with Fraser firs thriving in ideal growing conditions ahead of the holidays. (More)

➤ Escazú Chocolates in Raleigh expanded to a new location in Gateway Plaza and now offers scooped ice cream in addition to chocolate bars, confections, and coffee drinks. (More)

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➤ A painted bunting, known for its vibrant colors and rarely seen in Raleigh, returned to Dorothea Dix Park behind the sunflower field for what birders believe is its fourth year, with the best chance to spot it between 6 and 9 a.m. or in the late afternoon. (See Photo)

➤ Starting today at Raleigh’s Juniper Level Botanic Garden, visitors can see the rare Amorphophallus titanum, or corpse flower, which is expected to bloom between Aug. 2 and 4 for just 24 to 48 hours, releasing a powerful stench of rotting meat. (See Photo)

➤ Thanks to offshore fossil beds near several Wilmington beaches, fossilized shark teeth can be found at Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Topsail Island, and Shark’s Tooth Island, which is accessible only via kayak or boat. (More)

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