[Editor’s Note: “Good News Friday” is Cardinal & Pine’s weekly roundup of positive news stories from around North Carolina. For past editions, tap here.]
As I write this column on Thursday evening, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the New York Times’ live coverage of the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s final round, where one of the nine finalists, Morrisville’s Kushi Gottimukkala, hoped to become the first winner representing North Carolina since 1970.
But alas, Gottimukkala has just been eliminated, finishing in fourth place after misspelling “cara sposa,” apparently an Italian phrase that translates to “dear wife.”
Not to sound like a nationalist or anything, but I was unaware that this was a multilingual contest. I’m sure Kushi has been studying English phrases in the lead-up to the final, and for that reason I appeal this result on her behalf.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the good news that’s occurred in North Carolina this week for Good News Friday.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson takes aim at delivery fees
Having fought Live Nation to an unlikely win in April, NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson has set his sights on another industry where greedy corporations are squeezing customers for every nickel and dime: food delivery apps.
Jackson joined a group of fellow attorneys general in submitting a comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission this week calling on the agency to crack down on unfair and deceptive fees on food delivery platforms.
The letter was a response to FTC’s April request for public input on whether to address deceptive food and grocery delivery fees, which makes it more likely that the federal government will act on the suggestions of the participating attorneys general.
“People should know upfront how much they’ll pay for something, instead of getting to the checkout page to see surprise fees tacked on,” Jackson said in a release. “Many food delivery apps play this game. It’s not right, and I’m urging the FTC to take action against it.”
The letter requests that the FTC add new rules requiring platforms to clearly display the total cost at each stage of the order process, accurately describe the purpose of each fee and how it’s calculated, disclose markups from in-store prices, and disclose any use of pricing technology that may lead to varying prices.
‘Transformational’ renewal project kicks off at Fort Fisher Aquarium
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday to mark the launch of a major renovation and expansion that will make it the largest aquarium in the state.
The project, which is expected to take around 30 months to finish, will add a 400,000-gallon shark habitat, a new coral habitat, an interactive touch pool, and an expanded education center to the facility.
“This project represents a major investment in the future of the North Carolina Aquariums,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “As we celebrate 50 years of inspiring appreciation for our aquatic environments, this groundbreaking signals our continued commitment to education, conservation, and meaningful visitor experiences for generations to come.”
The aquarium temporarily closed on Tuesday. While construction is underway, the popular Discovery Bay will move to Independence Mall in Wilmington. Set to open in mid-June, the interactive experience will feature aquatic habitats, educational exhibits, and a retail store.
Meanwhile, most of the aquarium’s aquatic animals will remain onsite with dedicated animal care, facilities, and safety teams.
BorgWarner expansion to bring hundreds of jobs to Henderson County
Gov. Josh Stein on Tuesday announced BorgWarner Inc.’s intention to invest $100 million in its current Hendersonville operations, adding 379 jobs with an average annual salary of $67,047.
The expansion will add 140,000 square feet to the current Hendersonville site, creating a potential annual payroll impact of more than $25.3 million for the region.
“When companies like BorgWarner deepen their roots in rural North Carolina, they signal to the rest of the world that success and opportunity are awaiting them here,” said NC Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Advanced manufacturers are important to our growing supply chain, and we are committed to making sure the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast is also highly skilled and resilient for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
BorgWarner develops propulsion systems and other parts for electric and hybrid vehicles. New positions with the company will include technicians, logistics personnel, and production staff.
