Jeff Tiberii

The nation’s largest employer plans to add 450 workers at a new perishable grocery distribution center in Mebane. The facility will serve about 120 Walmart retail stores across the region and expand the company’s workforce in the state, which current stands at about 52-thousand people. State officials touted economic expansion at a Tuesday announcement.

Greensboro City Councilman Zack Matheny declared his candidacy for congress Monday. He made his announcement in front of a private jet inside of an airplane hangar. He’s known as a moderate republican who will vie for the 6th congressional seat being vacated by the retiring Howard Coble.  He touted job creation, corporate recruitment and his hopes to follow Coble’s reputation for strong constituent services. Matheny was recently re-elected to his 4th term on the City Council and he’s well known in parts of the 6th district.

Franklin Graham is joining many well known North Carolinians in expressing his condolences on the passing of Nelson Mandela. The Christian evangelist and son of Billy Graham spoke with WUNC News Friday.  The younger Graham said he will remember Mandela as a freedom fighter, and man of forgiveness.  "The South African regime under Apartheid was afraid of him." says Franklin Graham.  "But they didn’t need to be afraid of him. Because when he came out of prison he never, never tried to be vindictive. He never tried to go back and get even. Nelson Mandela looked forward looked forward not backward.

Guilford County school officials and the manufacturer of tablet computers once used in district classrooms disagree on why thousands of devices broke. Asus, the company that built the more than 15,000 tablet computers used for a time in Guilford County classrooms, is not taking blame for melted chargers. In a statement Asus says is has run tests on its products and found no problems.  The tablet program was paused in October after thousands of devices broke and nearly a dozen chargers partially melted. School officials believe the devices were defective. Meanwhile students are without tablets and the school system is working with Amplify, a for-profit education company to find another manufacturer and try to re-start the program.

“This doesn’t really change out view of what happened and our view of what’s needed to move forward, which is still to make sure that we get the products and services at the expected quality,” said Nora Carr, Chief of Staff for Guilford County Schools.

Contributors to 529 college savings plans will no longer qualify for a state tax credit. The elimination of the deduction is part of a larger overhaul to the state’s tax code that goes into effect January 1st.

 Audio FileJeff Tiberii's report on candidates who want to succeed Congressman Howard Coble.Edit | Remove

Organizers behind a downtown performing arts center in Greensboro announced this week that the project is on schedule to break ground next fall.  The arts center will cost an estimated $65 million, with $30 million in funding from the city and $35 million in private donations from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (CFGG).

Construction of a new aviation manufacturing facility is underway in Asheville. GE Aviation broke ground on a $ 124 million plant this week. The site will produce CMC's (ceramic matrix composite) materials, for jet engines. The CMCs replace metal and make for a more efficient engine with better combustion and less emissions.  "This material has been in development, at least in our research labs for almost years.. It's used in small scale production in rocket loaders.

Two more indictments have been unsealed in the case of alleged improper benefits for UNC Football players. A former N.C. Central quarterback is one of the latest people who stand accused of acting as an intermediary between a sports agent and then UNC football players.