As Monday morning rolls in, we’re providing TechWire readers with a quick recap of the past week’s news headlines.
Hot news for December 16-20 included: Microsoft is bringing 500 new jobs to Morrisville with an average wage of $125,000; tech job openings in North Carolina neared a record high, particularly in Charlotte — here are the most in-demand skills; RE/MAX acquired Durham-based real estate tech startup First; Wilmington startup Tribecan landed a deal on the ‘Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch’ show; Aircraft Solutions will invest $100 million in a new aircraft recycling center in Lenoir, creating 475 jobs; Charlotte and the Triangle are among the 10 markets expected to outperform in the coming years; NC’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 3.8%.
- Check out TechWire’s comprehensive resource package for Triangle startups.
And, some national news: Job openings are increasing and stocks are reaching record highs in the U.S.; Uber will pay $4.4 million to settle a sexual harassment investigation; 9,000 retail stores closed in 2019 as ecommerce continues to replace physical shopping; Facebook is cracking down on efforts to interfere with the 2020 census; Twitter removed nearly 6,000 Saudi accounts it deemed state-backed; the WeWork saga was a sort of reckoning for tech valuations in private markets–here’s why.
Keeping with our Monday tradition, here’s a look back at 68 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY December 16 Headlines:
- Asheville startup SimpleTix offers all-in-one mobile box office app
- Curious about in investing in 5G and the telecom boom? Here’s how
- December headliners, part I: 14 events coming up in the Triangle
- December headliners, part II: 20 events & deadlines across NC this month
- Duke Clinical Research scores $102.5M federal award for its work on antibacterial resistance
- Never seen a purple carrot? Well, you soon may see them in NC
- On the horizon: Startup Weekend Davidson, State of Mobility, Seed the South + more events across NC in January
- Our Triangle Startup Guide keeps growing: Here’s what we’ve added
- ‘Still a lot of uncertainty’ over initial US-China trade deal
- TechWire rewind: Durham makes Inc. ‘Surge Cities’ list; NC startups raise funding + 66 more stories
- Triangle tech calendar: Our comprehensive list of local meetups to join
- Truist Financial Corp. CEO Kelly King to headline January’s Economic Forecast Forum
- Q&A with Racepoint Global’s Larry Weber on the future of marketing and purpose-driven strategies
- Warming climate brings ‘existential challenges’ to agriculture
TUESDAY December 17 Headlines:
- Amazon bans sellers from using FedEx on some deliveries
- Can tech help solve transportation issues? NCDOT to fund research centers at 3 NC universities
- Cisco moves to speed up networks with deal for Australian firm
- Durham legal software firm GrowPath taps woman as its new CEO
- Epic’s Tim Sweeney (David) is pushing Google (Goliath) to give up app-store fees
- Intel makes another $2B bet on future of artificial intelligence
- Is plant growth an orchestrated symphony led by a ‘conductor’ gene? Yes, NCSU scientists find
- Lenovo founder to retire from chairmanship of tech giant’s parent, reports say
- Microsoft picks Morrisville for hundreds of new jobs – average wage $125,000
- Report: Early-stage startups likely to see funding crunch in 2020
- Star Wars goes Fortnite: ‘Luke’ deploys his light saber to tease Skywalker premier
- Town of Carrboro, Google Fiber pause construction after ‘numerous complications’
- UNC students could be building a digital media winner in Triad Studios
- What recession? Job openings jump, stocks keep climbing
WEDNESDAY December 18 Headlines:
- Amazon expands free return program – just in time for Christmas
- Another fired Google worker files labor complaint with feds
- Auto parts manufacturer Cataler plans $42M plant in Hickory, creating 151 jobs in IT, engineering
- Battery breakthrough? Powerful IBM design uses minerals from seawater, no heavy metals
- Duke launches firm targeting rare disease treatments; partner to provide $130M
- Great news for tech job hunters: Open positions climb to near-record levels
- Healthcare innovation thrives in Chapel Hill with help from UNC
- Lenovo Group confirms its founder will retire
- Most needed tech skills in NC? Artificial intelligence, automation, systems, software
- Tech giants including Apple, Microsoft face lawsuit over child labor in cobalt mines
- The giving season: Cisco raises $80,000 for 4 local non-profits
- Two new breast cancer drugs show promise in clinical studies
- UNC Rex Healthcare cracks ‘Top Hospitals’ list – and tech is a driver
THURSDAY December 19 Headlines:
- Aircraft recycling company to invest $100M in NC’s Global TransPark, creating 475 jobs
- Eight-year-old is top earner on YouTube – $26M
- Former senior Quintiles exec to take over as Novan CEO
- INVESTinNC: Rich folks aside, here’s a peek into how the rest of us invest
- Let’s make a fast deal: 60-second pitch lands Wilmington startup cash on ‘Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch’
- Price of booming ecommerce: 9,000 retail stores close in 2019 – it could get worse
- Real estate giant gobbles up Durham data startup First
- Report: More teens are vaping marijuana; overall e-cig use increases
- RTI International spinout SWIR Vision Systems raises $1.01M in debt
- Toyota unveils upgraded version of its humanoid robot
- Triangle-based AskBio to pay up to $240M for rights to use gene therapy technology
- Uber to pay $4.4M to settle sexual harassment investigation
- UNC alumna, astronaut Zena Cardman could be first woman to walk on Moon
- Which CEOs are best at social media – and why? Triangle firm ranks them
FRIDAY December 20 Headlines:
- As Trump digs in with ‘America First’ mindset, China invests in diplomacy
- Facebook to clamp down on efforts to interfere with 2020 US census
- Give the gift of home theater with these best buys
- Homeowners rejoice: Triangle, Charlotte markets expected to outperform due to ‘job growth, affordability’
- NC’s unemployment rate dips slightly to 3.8%, with almost 8,000 newly employed
- Race, gender affect face-scanning tech, federal study finds
- Raleigh analytics firm Cymatic named most promising startup finalist in The Cloud Awards
- Raleigh tech startup figures out how to age spirits in days, not years
- SAS hosts TEDxWomen Event showcasing bold + brilliant thought leadership and innovation
- Twitter removes 5,929 Saudi accounts it deems state backed
- UNC researchers may have discovered why some casual drinkers develop an alcohol use disorder
- WAKE FOREST BUSINESS & INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP: Success of public-private partnership in Wake Forest’s strategic development
- Why the WeWork debacle hasn’t killed off big venture capital deals
