As Monday morning rolls in, we’re providing TechWire readers with a quick recap of the past week’s news headlines.
Notable news stories from last week included: North Carolina’s economy is rebounding fast, but it’s unclear if this momentum will continue; JCPenney is cutting 65 jobs in North Carolina with the close of its In-Home Custom Window business, Durham-based digital advertising startup Adwerx reported strong 79% growth in Q3-4 and expects to grow its team by 20% in the first quarter of 2021; the newly signed COVID-19 relief package includes over $280 billion in new Payroll Protection Plan funding.
A few North Carolina companies secured new funding last week, including Durham-based IMMvention Therapeutix ($3.9 million) and Raleigh-based 10 Federal ($32 million). Read more local startup news in our weekly Startup Rewind edition.
And, in national news: Retail sales got a 3% boost during the holiday shopping season, while online shopping sales grew 49% from Oct. 11 to Dec. 24; the Federal Aviation Administration made significant changes to U.S. drone law; Microsoft’s source code was viewed in the SolarWinds hack; the Dow and the S&P 500 started and ended 2020 at all-time highs; Bitcoin surpassed $33,000 in value on Saturday.
Keeping with our Monday “TechWire Rewind” tradition, here’s a look back at 54 local, state and national headlines as reported by WRAL TechWire last week:
MONDAY | Dec. 28 Headlines:
- Changing copyright law under cover of darkness – we deserve better
- Ecommerce surges 49%, hitting nearly 20% of all retail sales
- First look at busy Feb. across NC: Environmental Compliance, Taking the Leap, Duke Startup Connect + much more
- Going virtual: Triangle Startup Guide evolves to reflect growing digitization of meetups
- In the LimeLight: Chatham County Economic Development names new president
- Kicking off 2021: Triangle event headliners, deadlines through January
- NC headliners: 46 statewide events & program deadlines make for busy start to 2021
- North Carolina’s economy is rebounding sharply – but will it last?
- Startup Rewind: From funding to deals, recapping a busy Christmas week
- Startup Spotlight: How will you adapt and pivot in 2021 to embrace new normal?
- Start your 2021 off with some networking: Here are 155 local meetups to join
- TechWire Rewind: COVID-19 vaccines; companies expand in Charlotte; Peloton acquires NC plant + 60 more headlines
- Think bitcoin is just a fad? Nope – it’s now worth more than Visa or Mastercard
- Triangle startup developing therapies to fight inflammation lands $3.9M from investors
- United Therapeutics pays $105M for voucher to speed up new drug process
TUESDAY | Dec. 29 Headlines:
- Billions in federal loans saved many NC companies in pandemic, but not all
- COVID-19, streaming and ‘Trolls World Tour’ have changed Hollywood forever – here’s how
- Durham pharma firm Biocryst pulls plug on COVID-19 efforts
- Epic Games tackles bug that has machines running hot, using resources even when idle
- Get a drone for Christmas? FAA’s flying rules are changing – here’s how
- High-tech storage firm 10 Federal raises $32M, acquires 5 more properties
- How bad is your Spotify? This snarky AI bot will tell you – if you can bear it
- In the LimeLight: Mountain BizWorks receives ‘Open for Business’ grant from Wells Fargo
- JCPenney closing In-Home Custom Window business; 65 jobs being cut in NC
- Short circuit? Cisco pulls plug on its smart cities efforts
- Teaching Startup: How new ventures create their own markets
WEDNESDAY | Dec. 30 Headlines:
- BUILDING1: The work-office balance
- Durham-based Adwerx posts strong growth, plans hiring
- Key 2020 health stories you may have missed because of Covid-19
- In 2021, make your resolution to become a competitive learner
- In search of pandemic relief? Breaking down the new Payroll Protection Plan
- Inside the new PPP program: How it differs, what changes mean, who can apply, much more
- Major rail safety technology installed before deadline
- What’s in new Paycheck Protection Program, Small Business Relief – NC Bankers CEO breaks it down
- Where will all the jobs be in 2021? NCSU economist says …
- Why the AstraZeneca vaccine is so important to the global economy
THURSDAY | Dec. 31 Headlines:
- Dude Solutions credit facility funds acquisition of Confirm Solutions
- From Zoom to Quibi, the tech winners and losers of 2020
- Making sci-fi like metaverse a reality – that’s ambitious goal of this Raleigh startup
- Nashville bombing spotlights vulnerable voice, data networks
- Prosecutors seek 9-year prison term for Samsung chief Lee
- Ticketmaster to pay $10 million in fines after admitting to illegally accessing competitor’s computers
- U.S. 10th in R&D intensity, but leads in total spending
- Wilmington’s nCino banks equity stake in its Tokyo subsidiary
FRIDAY | Jan. 1 Headlines:
- Amazon buys podcast platform for music streaming service
- Bitcoin sizzles to a new high – now above $33,000
- Dow and S&P 500 end 2020 at record highs
- Microsoft says hackers viewed source code, didn’t change it
- Scientists trying to understand new virus variant
- SolarWinds hack reached actual source code – in Microsoft’s own words
- These businesses were the surprise winners of 2020
