NC Agencies Recognized Nationally for State Government IT Innovation

Charlotte Stories
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NC Agencies Recognized Nationally for State Government IT Innovation

Two North Carolina agencies were recognized this week at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) annual conference, which brings together state chief information officers, other technology officials and technology organizations from across the country. The NASCIO State IT Recognition Awards are held annually to recognize innovative technology solutions utilized by state governments.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) won the Data Management, Analytics and Visualization award for its Business Intelligence Data Platform (BIDP): “Bridging the Data Divide and Bringing Health Equity.” The N.C. 911 Board, a division of NCDIT, won the award for Enterprise IT Management Initiatives for its leadership in Next Gen 911.

“The Next Gen 911 and COVID-19 dashboard projects demonstrate how we are leveraging technology to transform government services for North Carolinians,” said Jim Weaver, state chief information officer and secretary for NCDIT. “It is an honor for that work and our people to be recognized on a national level.”

When COVID-19 hit N.C., NCDHHS was faced with mountains of data from many different data systems that needed to be collected, cleaned and manually entered. Often, by the time the data was entered, it was already out of date. NCDHHS needed a system that the organization could use in real time and deliver to the public almost instantaneously. With the help of NCDIT, NCDHHS stood up BIDP, a HIPAA-compliant, cloud-based platform, within 48 hours of COVID-19 impacting our state. The platform collects COVID-related data from 10 different dashboards and automatically processes it.

“BIDP allowed NCDHHS to break out COVID case counts by demographics, which helped to further shine a light on the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has on historically marginalized populations,” said NCDHHS’ Deputy Secretary for Operational Excellence, Dr. Cardra Burns. “BIDP helped us to prioritize data transparency, drive accountability, promote equity, and guide our decision-making.”

Technology has changed the way residents communicate on a daily basis, and that includes when they need emergency services. Emergency services across the country realized this change, and have migrated from a “legacy” system, which only accepted phone calls, to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIp) system. VoIP can not only accept text messages but can better pinpoint the location of a caller and provide call backup in the event a 911 call center is hit with a natural disaster or call overload. The N.C. 911 Board contracted with AT&T and GeoComm to be the leader in this transition, with a hosted and managed approach. In 2018, Durham 911 became the first call center in the country to be transitioned over to this system.

N.C. also had two other finalists in the NASCIO awards. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Employment Security partnered with NCDIT to create an unemployment benefit claim status solution, which was a finalist in the Information Communications Technology Innovations category. NCDIT was a finalist in the Cybersecurity category for its whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity, which increases its ability to protect state data and taxpayer funds.

A Quick Guide To Betting On MLB Pitchers

Sharon Anderson
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A Quick Guide To Betting On MLB Pitchers

Understanding Baseball Betting. 

For a long time Baseball has been considered to be a popular American pastime, and with all the history and culture around it, it is now also a spot for a bit of betting action. 

Other sports such as football may get more attention for betting, but baseball attracts dedicated sports fans who love the long grind of a long. Not only do baseball fans enjoy the game, they know how the sport works, the teams, the trends and the players like the back of their hand. With baseball fans, betting on the games is popular, and with its rising popularity it is even getting close with fantasy sports partners. 

If you are a beginner to betting on MLB, then check out Fanduel’s MLB sportsbook. One of the most popular ways to bet on MLB is ‘pitchers’ and there are a few different ways to do this. Today, we will look at how you can bet on MLB pitchers. 

Terminology to know. 

  • Chalk– i.e. The favored team to win. 
  • Dog– i.e. The underdog team, not favored to win. 
  • Futures– These bets are odds on events in the future, such as division winners or the teams that will win the pennant or World Series. 
  • Listed Pitchers– The two starting pitchers announced by the teams taking part in the game. 
  • Money Line– Simply select the winning team, no matter how many runs they win by or the total runs scored. This is a bet on who the winner will be. 
  • Spread– The spread is a set at plus or minus 1.5. The chalk is listed at -1.5 and the underdog is listed as +1.5 for the game. 
  • Over/Under– This is the predicted total score for a game set by the sports book. It can also be referred to as the ‘totals’ or as the ‘run line’ in MLB games. 

Listed Pitchers Vs Action. 

When betting on pitchers, if you choose to bet the ‘listed’ starting pitcher, then your bet will only be valid if the pitchers listed at the time that you placed your bet tackle the mound as they are scheduled to. This means that if you take the ‘listed’ pitcher, then your bet would be canceled if the expected starting pitcher is scratched before the first pitch. 

However, if you take an ‘action pitcher’ then all money line wagers will be valid. This means that even if there is a pitching change, that you would be locked into the original bet with a revised money line based on the new pitches. A majority of experienced MLB betters will avoid taking action pitchers because it gives up the element of control that they seek and negates the whole previous analysis. It is far more desirable to take the listed pitcher and then decide whether you still like either team at the new and adjusted price. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Listed and Action Pitchers. 

By betting listed pitchers, you are stating that your bet will only be valid if both of the starting pitchers start their game for their respective teams. If, for any reason, one of the starting pitchers does not make their scheduled appearance, then your money is refunded, and the bet has no action. Action bets are more for who will win, regardless of who takes the mound for either team. 

It is strongly recommended using the ‘listed’ option, while there are some advantages to using the on and against option, the option that you select depends on the reasoning behind your pick. More often than not, you will make your pick based on which team has the better starting pitcher. However, if you are picking the team simply because you think they have more going for them on the mound, then you may want to always choose the ‘listed option. 

If you make bets on the run line or total, you don’t need to worry about listed or action bets. Sports books will automatically use ‘listed’ options on these. This is just an example that proves how many sports books will use starting pitching when they set up the lines, and why it is advantageous to use the ‘listed’ options in bets. 

Listed is probably the preference among most, and it is the most sensible. After all, if the sports books are using it to set the lines for total bets, then it is obviously a good port of call to take advantage of this when you are placing your own bets. 

Statistics of The Marijuana Industry

Sharon Anderson
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The marijuana industry has been a booming business in the past few years. The legalization of recreational and medical marijuana is becoming more prevalent with each passing day. There are many reasons why this industry is successfully growing, but one that stands out to many people is the economic benefits it provides for society. When people buy from these dispensaries, they get high-quality products at affordable prices which stimulate their local economy, and explain how now is a great time to enter the market, whether as a business or investor, and here are a few statistics that you should know.

Medically Approved States

One of the reasons why marijuana was legalized for recreational use in the first place was the fact that a few states initially legalized it for medicinal use. Today 36 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal use, which means that doctors can prescribe it to patients, or patients can get a medical license for it. 

A few of these states include Montana, Florida, California, Arizona, Ohio, Washington, New Jersey, Oregon, and more. Even though it has been legalized for medical use, this doesn’t mean that it is prescribed for every medical condition, and the medical conditions it is legal for vary from state to state. 

How Big Is the Market Now?

The marijuana industry is quickly becoming one of the most successful industries in the world and is currently worth around $61 billion and climbing. There are many factors for this, for example, there are many consumption methods that range from dry herb vaporizers to edibles, which can be bought online even at cannabis stores like Canna Cabana. There are also bongs, joints, dab rigs, and so much more, all easily available. This allows the industry to reach a wide audience that all have different preferences on how to consume. 

More than this, 22% of adults (18-25 years old) in America have consumed marijuana in the past month, and if that age range were broadened, the percentage would increase.

Which State Is the Most Successful?

As with every market, some states will do better than others, and as the number of states that have legalized continues to climb, so will the competition. Prior market studies show quite a vast difference in sales across states, with the number one spot going to California with either $5.6 billion or $3.8 billion, depending on which market research is used.  

Other states that are the top 10 include Colorado at $1.7 billion, Michigan at $1.21 billion, Florida at $1.2 billion, Washington at $1.1 billion, Nevada at $960 million, Oregon at $831 million, Arizona at $804 million, Massachusetts at $682 million, and Illinois at $543 million.

Recreationally Approved States

Just like the states across America that have legalized medical use, many states have legalized recreational use, and as of today, there are 18 states where to buy Super Speciosa Kratom. Even though marijuana has been legalized for recreational use, it doesn’t mean that there are no laws that pertain to how much can be carried or grown, and these also differ from state to state. 

For example, in Colorado you can grow up to six plants at home and carry up to 1 ounce, however, in Alaska, even though you can grow up to six plants, three of them can only be flowering at any given time. In Oregon, you can carry up to 1 ounce, up to 8 at home, and grow a maximum of 4 plants. 

How Much Is Spent on Advertising?

As it is with any market in the world, it cannot be successful without advertising, and the marijuana market is no different. However, the biggest difference between the marijuana market and others, is that marijuana is still illegal under federal law, which means that advertising it can be very difficult. This has not stopped the market, however, since $370.3 million was spent on advertising on the internet. 

Many store owners have also started using social media to advertise, as well as starting blogs or writing blog posts to inform the public about marijuana, what it does, what consumption methods there are, and more. Guest blogging has also become a very effective method of advertising, however, the exact amount for any other kind of advertising is hard to ascertain with there being so many restrictions. 

How To Open An Auto Insurance Business

Sharon Anderson
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How To Open An Auto Insurance Business

Recent numbers provided by Statista show that insurance premium gross profit losses reached 60.59 %. This is how much profits were lost compared to the year before. This may seem like unwelcome news for an aspiring entrepreneur looking to open an auto insurance business. That is actually opposite of what you can expect. Numbers are projected to increase as drivers are no longer on lockdowns.

To open your own insurance branch, you must first make sure that you have researched the market thoroughly. Do not rush in headfirst without knowing what is happening in the industry. Changes are coming due to technological advances on cars.

  1. Understand the Industry-If you have not worked as an agent before it is even more imperative to take the time to research. Understand the industry that you plan to jump into. Learn about every type of auto insurance that you will be dealing with. Find access to a publication that keeps you informed of changes that are coming. It is important to know every aspect of the business, and to keep ahead of new requirements that come down through public demand.
  2. Business Plan-As with any other type of company that you plan to start, take the time to write up a business plan. There are many resources online that you can use to write up a complete outline of how you plan to start, and run, your business. Once you have it in writing remember that as things come up you can change aspects of the plan when needed. However, it is best to stick with your outline as much as possible to avoid the possibility of not obtaining your goals.
  3. Licensed-You will need to make sure that you have all the local and governmental requirements. You may have to take some classes and pass a test to sell insurance. Whatever the demands are, be sure to proceed in the order that is required. Do not open your doors for customers until you are one hundred percent legal.
  4. Financing-It is extremely important to find a good lender when you plan to open a business to offer cheap car insurance. Unless you have an endless supply of money use a trusted bank, or lending agency, to ensure that you have the capital to cover an accident. After a couple of months, you will find that the premiums you charge will cover the costs associated with a claim. Until then, though, make sure that you have borrowed enough money to cover any of them.
  5. Insurance Carrier-Opening an office to offer auto insurance is not the only step. You must have a big insurance carrier back you so you can sell their policies. The more carriers that are backing you, the more options that you will be able to offer to your customers. 
  6. Promote-Once you are set up, have your connections, and are ready to go, you will have to promote your company. Use marketing to your advantage. Social media and email introductions can help you gain consumers that buy your insurance packages. Make some cold calls and see if you can get some people to convert.

Remember that when you run an auto insurance business, your company will be based on trust. Your customers must have faith in you, and you must do whatever it takes to maintain that level of emotional trust. If someone makes a claim, investigate to make sure it is legit, but do not hold back on making payments to resolve the issue if it is a true claim. If it is a fraud case, make sure to pursue it to the last dollar to make a fast statement. 

Do your research. Obtain enough money to operate efficiently. Get all the necessary licenses. Stay current in changes coming to the industry. Gain the trust of the public and begin to enjoy the efforts of your demanding work.

What are the best ways to prepare for residential moving?

Scott Browder
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What are the best ways to prepare for residential moving?

It is never easy to move. It only gets more complicated if you move to another city. In this case, returning for something you forgot quickly is no longer as easy as moving to a different neighborhood. If you choose to move to another city, you should prepare in advance, hire apartment movers, try to anticipate all surprises, and make sure you don’t miss anything.

It is important to consider three aspects when packing efficiently: what you’re going to take along and how you will pack it and how you intend to move it. It is possible to hire professional residential movers who can help.

The first step is to and decides what you’re not going to take with you. Make the packing. You can put anything you don’t use in one of three categories: donate to charities, sell it or recycle.

The surrender of unnecessary items could be given directly to people who are in need, or too specialized funds that are engaged in the disbursement of donated goods. You can sell items that have been used in bulletin boards and groups on social media and messengers. You can find a group close to you or even at home. Surely you will find some things that aren’t recyclable. Don’t be rushed to dispose of them. Consider other options, especially when dealing with household appliances.

Next, measure everything you’re planning to bring with you and make a list. This will help you determine the kind of vehicle you’ll require, like a car or a gazelle. It’s also easy to determine the amount and type of packaging required. It will also be easy to ensure that everything arrives in good condition using the same checklist.

All furniture and large objects must be measured with care from the sides and, if feasible with weight. Of course, weighing the refrigerator or sideboard is not feasible, but typically, such information can be located in the manual of the product or on the site of the maker. All these measurements will help in negotiations with the shipping interstate moving company in NYC.

There are many moving companies that offer moving services. Make sure you look at reviews of customers and how the final price is calculated. There are many companies that provide furniture disassembly and packing before shipment. This is an excellent service particularly for furniture that is large and appliances.

The final cost of transporting your belongings may comprise:

  • It is crucial to know who will be in the truck for the duration of the transport. If you want your family member to sit in the truck or other vehicle, you might need additional money.
  • Transportation using various kinds of vehicles Payments can be based on the distance or the time it takes to travel;
  • You can descend and lift objects using an elevator or the staircase. Be sure that all your heavy items can fit through the doors and elevators. Extra charges could be imposed for lifting things through windows. Costs for moving up and down can be determined by the weight of the objects and the number and floors of the buildings.
  • Prices for movers will vary depending on how many workers will be required to load the truck.
  • Large furniture should be removed
  • Services for packing and moving apartments and the cost of packing materials;

How do you pack your belongings for moving to a different city using the help of residential moving companies?

If you choose to complete the packing by yourself, make sure to stock up on the necessary equipment – newspaper and canvas bags are not enough.

You’ll need a tape measure, screwdrivers, screwdrivers tape, markers, and a screwdriver. Utilizing these tools, you can dismantle large objects close and seal boxes, label what’s where, and most importantly take measurements of everything.

For organized moving and packaging it is best to utilize boxes, air bubble wrap, wrapping paper, bags, vacuum packing. All of these items can be sold in stores, but you can try to get some for free. When putting things in boxes, follow the rule that the heavier items are down and the lightest is up. For clothing, use vacuum bags, which can free up a lot of space in your boxes. Label delicate items like glass and dishes, with bright labels. Do not mix items like cosmetic bottles and books as well as food, and documents.

It is essential to select a suitable vehicle for the transportation of things for a long distance if you’re planning to relocate. Discuss with your managers the number of things that you will need to transport, then consult, measure, and take a van with the capacity to hold a reserve, so that should something happen, you don’t have to give up things and throw them away or be able to retrieve them later. Check out reviews and determine how long they have been shifting things around. Don’t take risks and choose reliable people with excellent reviews. You can avoid all the hassle and expense by using the residential relocation services provided by transport firms. Along with packing, the firm which handles apartment moves offers installation and assembly of appliances and furniture.

World’s Largest Jeweler Buying Charlotte’s Diamonds Direct For $490 Million

Charlotte Stories
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World’s Largest Jeweler Buying Charlotte’s Diamonds Direct For $490 Million

The largest diamond jeweler in the world has just announced plans to buy Charlotte-based Diamonds Direct for $490 million in cash.

According to a press release from the company, Signet Jewelers Limited plans to increase Diamonds Direct profits “by leveraging scale in purchasing, targeted marketing, Connected Commerce and jewelry services“.

“The accretive addition of Diamonds Direct to our portfolio will further drive shareholder value with its distinct bridal-focused shopping experience and add a new entry point as we build lifetime customer relationships and strive to reach our $9 billion revenue goal over time,” said Signet CEO, Virginia C. Drosos. “The Signet team continues to deliver strong business performance as part of our Inspiring Brilliance growth strategy. We are executing on our strategic priorities and investing in our business, while also returning cash to shareholders through our previously announced reinstated dividend and share buy-back program.”

Diamonds Direct started as a small jewelry store in SouthPark in 1995 and has since grown to 22 locations across 13 states. They still operate their flagship store in their original SouthPark location at 4521 Sharon Rd.

What do you think about the merger? 

USAA Increasing Minimum Pay to $21/hr and Announces New Charlotte Leadership Team

Charlotte Stories
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USAA Increasing Minimum Pay to $21/hr and Announces New Charlotte Leadership Team

USAA announced today the hiring of Chief Accounting Officer Brad Weber, Bank Chief Risk Officer Mani Sulur and Senior Vice President, Financial Risk, George Stamatelatos. All three executives will be based out of USAA’s new Charlotte headquarters. The company also announced that it’s increasing minimum pay from $16 to $21 per hour, or $43,680 annually, and looking to fill 2,600 positions nationwide including approximately 50 in the Charlotte area.

“USAA’s employees are the heart of our association and providing a competitive pay and benefits package is one way we reward them for providing exceptional service to military members and their families,” said Wayne Peacock, President and CEO of USAA. “Increasing our minimum pay and enhancing our already comprehensive benefits package helps ensure we’re being responsive to our employees’ needs and dynamically changing market conditions.”

In addition to the minimum pay increase, USAA is enhancing many of its benefits to include:

  • No medical, dental or vision insurance premium increase in 2022
  • USAA Childcare Reimbursement Program for employees making less than $100,000 base pay
  • New college scholarship program for employee dependents with a financial need
  • New paid leave program for family events such as caring for a sick family member
  • Family support benefit up to $20,000 to cover adoption, surrogacy, and infertility treatment expenses

You can find out more about their benefits, compensation, and apply for jobs in Charlotte on their career site here.

Duke Energy Now Making Power Out Of Chicken Poop

Charlotte Stories
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Duke Energy Now Making Power Out Of Chicken Poop

Duke Energy and a consortium of other utilities are securing poultry waste renewable energy certificates (RECs) from a $32 million Pitt County facility that started operating recently.

The Carolina Poultry Power facility in Farmville generates 2 megawatts (MW) of power and 75,000 tons of steam per hour – using more than 230 tons of turkey waste a day. Carolina Poultry Power is 100% owned and operated by the Power Resource Group.

“Duke Energy supports the innovative way biomass can complement the other resources in our energy mix,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Using poultry waste to generate electricity diversifies our energy portfolio and supports the important agriculture industry in North Carolina.”

The project will help Duke Energy satisfy state poultry waste-to-energy mandates under the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (“REPS”) law in North Carolina. In 2018, 300,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of the total electric power sold to retail electric customers in North Carolina was supplied by poultry waste.

The utilities buy the RECs generated by the facility when it produces 1 MWh of electricity. The RECs help the utilities meet the REPS requirements.

“This is a great example of North Carolina’s portfolio standard directly causing the deployment of $32 million into the state to create jobs while helping divert pollution from our waterways,” said Rich Deming, CEO of the Power Resource Group. “This project would have died during the long finance process if it were not for the support of Duke Energy and the utility counterparties when we needed contract extensions and other help.”

The facility, which is connected to the energy grid by Pitt and Greene Electric Membership Corporation, collects poultry litter from dozens of nearby farms. It is dried to create a boiler fuel, which then creates steam and electricity.

The financing for the facility was provided by First National Bank of Pittsburgh and a consortium of private investors.

The basics of setting up an appointment reminder service for your new business

Scott Browder
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The basics of setting up an appointment reminder service for your new business

Do your customers constantly cancel at the last minute? Do they frequently no-show for your appointments, causing you to waste employee time, money, and resources? If you’re fed up with people not showing up to your business when their appointment is happening, then you need to invest in using a patient reminder service. If your clients are constantly canceling their appointments or not showing up, this means that your current outreach methods are not working. Whether you are calling them, leaving voicemails, or sending emails, the current strategy is not very effective in adherence to the patient schedule. 

In this case, you need to use a new method to ensure your clients and customers show up when they are supposed to – we recommend using an appointment reminder service. Not only will an appointment reminder system make it easy for you to communicate with your clients, send messages quickly and easily, and save money, but you can also make sure that you are connecting with your customers in the most effective way possible. 

How to set up an appointment reminder service for your business

If you’re new to setting up text messages and reminders that can help your clients adhere to their appointment schedule, then you need to learn how to formulate an appointment reminder service that works well for your specific business. Let’s see the basics of how to set up this program so you can avoid wasted time, missed appointments, and employee dissatisfaction!

The basics of using an appointment reminder service are that you will have to choose the specific type of online scheduling software that is optimized for your business. Do you want to use a more complicated system, but can customize more aspects? In this case, you might spend more money, but you have more personalization options. If you want a cheaper alternative, you can give up some of the personalization features and save some money in the long run. 

By creating an appointment reminder service, you can increase the effectiveness of your business in no time. Using this service helps your business in various ways such as the following:

  • Reduce no-shows for appointments – if you have ever waited around 10-15 minutes for your client to show up, only to realize they forgot, you know that this can be a frustrating experience. After all, you are wasting your own time and money. Avoid this by using an appointment reminder service to reduce no-shows and maximize your productivity.
  • They have to read it – the next benefit of using an appointment reminder service is the chances of them seeing the message are very high. People are always on their phones and checking messages – when compared to calls, emails, and voicemails, people check their texts much more often. There is even a 90% chance they will read the text within 3 minutes!

Conclusion

Using an appointment reminder service is the best way to keep in touch with your clients and reduce no-shows in your business! You can easily set up service by using the correct type of online scheduling software that works for your specific needs. There’s also the option of using a WordPress appointment plugin which has the reminder service included. 

6 Interior Design Tips For Your Home

Sharon Anderson
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6 Interior Design Tips For Your Home

If you are a proud homeowner, whether it is a modern or traditional environment, knowing some of the best interior design tips and tricks can be extremely beneficial. If you are looking to enhance your home aesthetic, or buy radiators online at Radiator Outlet, then why not work smarter, rather than harder? We have compiled 6 of the best interior design tips, so you can begin restyling your home like never before. 

Mix and Match Patterns

Say goodbye to the myth that you can’t mix patterns! This is a modern trend that many homeowners are utilizing upon. Whether it is varying color schemes, old and new pieces of furniture or ornaments in the same room or any other clashing items, mismatch is the new way to go! By searching online, you can find inspiration to help you with this new way of designing. 

Create a Mood board

This is a great tip for the modern homeowner who wants to get started. If you find yourself stuck for ideas in terms of interior design, this can be an excellent option for you. Use websites like Pinterest, or if you prefer the traditional take, use magazine clipping and paste them into a book. This will prove of great benefit if you are stuck and need to get the creative process going. Compare the ideas of others and incorporate what you can into your own home décor. 

Heat up in Style

Often, radiators and heating appliances are forgotten about. This should not be the case! All items within your room should have their own dominant presence, rather than remaining as an afterthought. Stelrad column radiators are some of the most fashionable yet functional appliances you can get hold of, allowing for a modern yet rustic look with the ability to sufficiently heat any room you choose to install it in. Warm up while you enhance your décor.  

Pallet Colors

Although not the boldest of color schemes, pallet colors are a great addition to any home. They allow for other items within your room to stand out against a more muted background, meaning you are enabled with the ability to style your home out in your own way! Think of using pieces of furniture as focal points of the room that can standout against your blank canvas. 

Mix The Old with The New

Using antique features and combing them with ultramodern furnishing will allow your guests to know you mean business! This trend is really taking the interior design world by storm, so you should seriously consider investing in something rustic that can be combined with other furnishings that really scream 2021!

Any Wall Can be Any Color

So many people still stick to one color per way. Why not get experimental? Combine your appliances and furnishing choices with the sides of the room they are placed within. This includes the ceiling! No one ever said that the ceiling must remain white. Get bold, feel confident and begin coloring your home in a way that is reflective of you, your style, and most importantly, your personality.

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