Eli Lilly Announces Building $1 Billion Drug Plant in Concord

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Eli Lilly Announces Building $1 Billion Drug Plant in Concord

Eli Lilly and Company is planning to invest over $1 billion in our region to build a sprawling new manufacturing facility on Concord’s old Phillip Morris site. The new 800,000 square feet, 5-building campus will employ nearly 600 workers with an average salary of over $70k.

Eli Lilly is a American pharmaceutical manufacturer with an annual revenue of over $22 billion. Last year, the company was ranked 118 on the Fortune 500 list. They are the makers of Cialis, Cymbalta, Prozac, Thimerosal, Zyprexa, and dozens of other brand-name and generic drugs. 

 

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“We are thrilled to welcome Lilly as they usher in a new era of biotechnology in our region, with Concord as a leading destination for innovation and excellence,” said Concord Mayor Bill Dusch in a press release. “Lilly is a global leader in biotechnology, and we are proud to partner with them as they deliver hope to patients in our community and around the world through life-saving medical treatments manufactured right here in Concord.”

What do you think about the new facility?

Several Tornados Touch Down Last Night Across South Carolina

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Several Tornados Touch Down Last Night Across South Carolina

Several massive tornados were spotted across the Palmetto State last night as a strong storm system blew through our region.

One of the largest confirmed twisters touched down in Allendale County, just south of Barnwell at around 4 p.m.

Storm chaser Brannon Deal took a video of the tornado as it touched down, saying, “Ya’ll what you’re seeing is a tornado Allendale South Carolina – we watched it form around us, as you can see, its…Lord help the ones that are in the path of that tornado right now…”

Here’s a closer shot of the tornado:

The twister was so strong, it lofted debris over 10,000 feet in the air, according to reports.

Another tornado was also reported to have touched down near South Carolina’s coast on Hilton Head Island:

The national weather service is still collecting data on the damage and possible injuries and deaths from yesterday’s storm system.

We will update this article as new information comes in.

USAA to Hosting Grand Opening of Charlotte Headquarters Today

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USAA to Hosting Grand Opening of Charlotte Headquarters Today

The USAA will be holding their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of their new Charlotte headquarters today at their new South End location (200 West Boulevard).

The event will feture USAA executives, including USAA Board Chairman Vice Adm. James Zortman (USN, Ret.), USAA CEO Wayne Peacock and USAA’s Charlotte-based CFO Jeff Wallace.

The new location was selected because of the availability of highly skilled individuals in the financial services sector.

“Opening an office in Charlotte is a win-win for USAA,” said USAA President and CEO Wayne Peacock. “It gives us even greater access to some of the top banking and technology professionals in a community that has a deep understanding and care for the military. USAA has been serving military families for nearly a century and we are excited to begin our second century with a growing presence in Charlotte.”

This new regional office location will eventually host approximately 750 employees who will work either onsite or in a hybrid model.

USAA is leasing six floors of the 10-story, 153,000-square-foot building consisting of approximately 90,000 square feet of office space. Employees are expected to begin moving into the building by the end of 2021.

Interested job seekers can search www.usaajobs.com for available roles.

Charlotte Premium Outlets Launching New ‘Movie Under the Stars’ Series

Sharon Anderson
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Charlotte Premium Outlets Launching New ‘Movie Under the Stars’ Series

Charlotte Premium Outlets has just announced plans to relaunch their ‘Movie Under the Stars’ event series starting this morning.

The series will officially kick off on April 23 with a showing of Disney’s recent movie Encanto, an animated tale about the Madrigals, a family living in the Colombian mountains.

The night will also feature a dance party from DJ Mr. Nigel, as well as games, giveaways, face painting, balloon art and more. Movie-theater food will be available at the event, including; popcorn, funnel cakes, water ice and nachos.

The movie begins at dusk and is shown on a giant, 11’ x 20’ inflatable screen, complete with a massive sound system that includes two, 1000-watt speakers. Guests should bring blankets, lawn chairs or other comfortable seating arrangements to complete the outdoor movie experience.

“We’re so happy to be bringing back an event that our shoppers and local families love,” said Sharon Campbell, general manager of Charlotte Premium Outlets. “As live events and experiences return, Charlotte Premium Outlets will continue to offer opportunities like this to bring the community together.”

WHEN: April 23, 6:30 p.m. with the movie beginning at dusk (around 8 p.m.)

WHERE: Charlotte Premium Outlets, 5404 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, NC 28278

Parking lot B, adjacent to Shopton Road and the Outlet entrance near Under Armour. Movie-goers will be able to park in Lot A or C, next to the event site.

Charlotte Ranked The #8 Best City in America for Water Quality

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Charlotte Ranked The #8 Best City in America for Water Quality

With clean, safe water more crucial than ever to public health, some U.S. cities are making waves when it comes to pumping out high-quality H2O to their residents.

They include cities like Charlotte, on account of high consumer satisfaction, great infrastructure, and few violations of quality standards, for example.

Charlotte ranked No. 8 on LawnStarter’s Best Cities for Water Quality report, which compares the 200 biggest U.S. cities across seven key factors, including those listed below.

How does Charlotte stack up?

Charlotte’s Rank for Some of the Key Metrics (1 = Best)

    • Satisfaction with Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility – 39th
    • Increase/Decrease in Number of Water Quality Violations – 12th
    • Share of Homes Lacking Plumbing or Kitchen Facilities – 7th
    • Share of Homes with Sewage Disposal Breakdowns in Last 3 Months – 15th

Best Cities for Water Quality

8 Ways to Personalize Wedding Planning

Sharon Anderson
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8 Ways to Personalize Wedding Planning

A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event that allows a couple to express their love for one another and appreciate those who have supported them on their journey. Naturally, you want to do this in a way that is different from how any other bride and groom has done it in the past, a way that showcases both your personalities and your individual creativity and style.

There are several ways you can make your nuptials stand out. You can offer guests a customized food menu or a cocktail menu with quirkily named options. Break away from tradition and have a bridal speech, or do away with tried-and-tested wedding staples in favor of the love classics you grew up listening to. Here are more ideas you can consider as you plan your big day.

  1. Personalize Menu Options

Your typical wedding will have steak, fish, and chicken offerings, but you don’t have to conform to this norm. In keeping with the idea of sharing your love story, why not create a menu out of your and your soon-to-be spouse’s favorites? You could make things even more intimate by including the meal you had on your first date.

If you’re a pastry lover, you can lay a basket of fresh bagels or croissants on each table. You can treat your guests to a selection of customized dessert options.

  1. Add Custom Cocktails

Signature cocktails with names that reference your love story in some way can be a great way to give the day a more personal feel.

  1. Be Thoughtful About Vendors

Your choice of vendor will determine how well the vision of your personalized wedding will be delivered. So you can’t afford to simply go with the first florist or photographer that meets your price point. Before you sign a contract with any one vendor, insist on going through their portfolio or sampling their work.

Take the time to meet and interview each vendor and give them a clear idea of the direction you want to go.

  1. Choose Your Favorite Song For The Aisle

You don’t have to march down to “Here Comes The Bride” like your mum and aunts did. Flick through your Apple Music or Spotify library to find a song that tells your love story in a more personal way. It could be the song you and your groom-to-be first danced to.

  1. Personalize Your Table Names

The concept of table numbers were introduced to create a sense of order when sitting guests at your reception. But if you know the names of all your guests, you can take it a step further and put their names on the tables.

This will not only help you achieve organization in getting folks seated and served, but it will also give each guest a feeling of personal recognition from the bride and groom, especially if the names are as they are, font and all, in your custom wedding invitations.

  1. Add Photo Walls

Photo walls are a creative way to share your love story with guests. So sit down with your beloved and go through your photo albums, including the selfies taken on random outings. From these options, select a few that capture your most fun and sentimental moments for printing; you can then think of an ideal spot in your reception venue where you can place your photo collage. Your pictures can spice up conversations in an indoor cocktail reception.

  1. Personalize Décor Colors

Decoration colors offer you and your sweetheart the chance to really put your signature on your big day. Your choice of colors will convey your sense of style and set up the mood for the afternoon or evening. Begin by coming up with a theme for the day that tells your unique journey to love.

Choose colors to bring out your desired theme in the most beautiful way. As you choose your colors, it’s wise to think about the kind of pictures or video footage you want to immortalize the day. Think about how your chosen theme color will play out in the bridal party’s outfits and the venue.

Don’t be afraid to go for bolder colors that break from the more predictable color combinations seen in weddings.

  1. Include Your Favorite Songs For The Playlist

You don’t have to use the go-to list of wedding day instrumental songs to provide a backdrop for guests as they indulge and socialize. A curated mix of you and your lovebird’s personal favorites will make you and your guests feel more at home during the ceremony.

It’s Your Day

As much as you want to please and entertain your guests in appreciation of their contribution to your nuptials, don’t forget that it’s your special day. No doubt, there will be no shortage of opinions about what you should or shouldn’t do as you plan your wedding. It’s always worthwhile to heed sound advice from those who’ve been there before, but in the end, what should matter most is that your big day is personalized to match your distinct taste and style memorably. 

Watching Netflix on Samsung TV VPN: Top 5 Settings to Use

Sharon Anderson
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Watching Netflix on Samsung TV VPN: Top 5 Settings to Use

Smart TV is a cutting-edge tech TV that allows you to stream your favorite content, browse the internet, listen to music, and access useful apps. However, accessing some geo-restricted content and apps from specific regions is challenging. But this is where VPN providers come in.

VPNs are essential tools in streaming geo-restricted content on many sites and social media all over the world. These VPNs keep your online activities hidden and mask your IP address from Internet Service Providers and cybercriminals. Though most modern Smart TVs are not VPN compatible, you can still manage VPN and select Samsung TV to watch Netflix and other restricted content. However, you will need to find a way to install a VPN on your Samsung TV. But how do you install a VPN on your VPN non-compatible Smart TV?

This article will show you the most authentic ways of installing a VPN on your Samsung TV.

Installing a VPN on Samsung Smart TV

Samsung Smart TVs use the Tizen Operating System, which doesn’t support VPN apps. Therefore, you will require to install a VPN on the router, enable Smart DNS, or use Windows connection sharing.

Though setting up Smart DNS is the easiest option, it does not encrypt your connection. As a result, your activities will not be kept private. You could find standalone DNS proxies, but streaming services frequently block them, and they can collect your personal data.  

Installing a VPN on your router has one key advantage: not only will your Samsung TV access restricted content, but all the devices connected to the router can unblock geo-restricted content. However, you will have to check your router manual to confirm whether the router is VPN-compatible or not. There are different types of routers: a DD-WRT/Tomato router, a pre-flashed router, and a VPN-compatible router. As a result, installing a VPN may vary for each router category. 

Luckily, we will show you the processes of installing a VPN on your Samsung TV.

Setting Up a VPN on Samsung TV Through Your Router

Though specific routers may differ slightly in their processes, the basic steps for setting up a router with a VPN are similar.

  1. Download your preferred VPN: Numerous VPNs are compatible with Samsung Smart TVs. Go for an easy-to-install router app.
  2. Find the router’s IP address: This is pretty simple. Type “IPCONFIG” in the Windows command prompt.” The “Default Gateway” is the router’s IP. If you use a Mac, you can find it under System – Preferences – Network – Advanced – TCP/IP.
  3. Log in: Log in to the router by typing the IP address into your web browser.
  4. Configure the router using the guidelines on the VPN’s website.
  5. Download the Netflix App, sign in, and start streaming movies on your Samsung TV.

Setting UP a VPN on Samsung TV with a Virtual Router or Windows Connection Sharing

You can set up connection sharing via an ethernet cable from a VPN-protected device to your Samsung TV. Alternatively, you can share your device’s WiFi connection. Though an ethernet cable will offer faster speeds, connecting via WiFi is more convenient. If you have installed a VPN on your Windows PC, you can share the VPN connection with your TV by turning the PC into a Virtual Router. However, you will require:

  • A PC with a Broadcom-based WiFi adapter
  • A subscription that uses OpenVPN
  • Admin rights to the PC

You can check if your PC can set up a virtual router by clicking here:

  1. Type “Command Prompt” on the Windows search bar and select “Run as administrator.”
  2. Type “netsh wlan show drivers” on the window and press enter.
  3. Look for “Hosted Network Supported.”
  4. If it reads “Yes,” you can use your PC to create a Wireless Hotspot.

Follow the following steps to set up a virtual router:

  1. Download your preferred VPN for Samsung TV
  2. Connect to the VPN via a server in the country with the content you need to access. 
  3. On your Windows PC, open “Mobile Hotspot Settings.”
  4. Select your WiFi network under “Share my Internet connection from.”
  5. To share the VPN, activate the mobile hotspot.
  6. Connect your Samsung TV to the mobile hotspot.
  7. Watch your geo-restricted content.

Setting Up a VPN on a Samsung TV Using Smart DNS

  1. Download your preferred VPN with a Smart DNS feature
  2. On your VPN’s website, find the Smart DNS page and activate Smart DNS.
  3. Go to the Settings Menu on your Samsung TV.
  4. Go to the Network tab and pick either WiFi connection or Ethernet Connection, depending on how your Smart TV is connected.
  5.  Open the Network Status tab, pick “IP Settings,” then “DNS Settings,” and pick “Enter Manually.”
  6. Under “Primary DNS,” type one of the DNS addresses you find on our VPN’s website.
  7. Click Ok, restart your Samsung Smart TV, and enjoy watching. 

Watching Netflix on Samsung TV VPN is one of the best ways of getting more from your TV, especially if you pay a subscription fee. A VPN will enable you to access most of the content. 

The Carolina’s Rank Among America’s Lowest Tax Burden States for 2022

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The Carolina’s Rank Among America’s Lowest Tax Burden States for 2022

With Tax Day approaching on April 18 and 81% of Americans thinking that the government does not spend their tax dollars wisely, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its 2022 Tax Burden by State report.

In order to determine which states tax their residents most aggressively, the site compared the 50 states based on the three components of state tax burden — property taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and excise taxes — as a share of total personal income.

South Carolina came in as the 39th least tax burdened states and North Carolina was ranked just slightly worse, coming in at the 35th spot.

Overall Tax Burden by State

Overall Rank*  State Total Tax Burden
(%) 		 Property Tax Burden
(%) 		 Individual Income Tax Burden
(%) 		 Total Sales & Excise Tax Burden
(%) 
1 New York 12.75% 4.43%
(6)		 4.90%
(1)		 3.42%
(25)
2 Hawaii 12.70% 2.55%
(34)		 3.18%
(8)		 6.97%
(1)
3 Maine 11.42% 5.48%
(1)		 2.51%
(21)		 3.43%
(24)
4 Vermont 11.13% 5.31%
(2)		 2.49%
(22)		 3.33%
(27)
5 Minnesota 10.20% 2.93%
(22)		 3.74%
(5)		 3.53%
(22)
6 New Jersey 10.11% 4.98%
(4)		 2.54%
(20)		 2.59%
(43)
7 Connecticut 10.06% 4.16%
(7)		 3.07%
(11)		 2.83%
(41)
8 Rhode Island 9.91% 4.48%
(5)		 2.31%
(28)		 3.12%
(34)
9 California 9.72% 2.76%
(30)		 3.80%
(4)		 3.16%
(32)
10 Illinois 9.70% 3.98%
(8)		 2.22%
(30)		 3.50%
(23)
11 Maryland 9.47% 2.61%
(33)		 4.07%
(3)		 2.79%
(42)
12 New Mexico 9.37% 2.04%
(42)		 1.75%
(37)		 5.58%
(4)
13 Iowa 9.34% 3.42%
(14)		 2.57%
(18)		 3.35%
(26)
14 Kansas 9.34% 3.11%
(18)		 2.43%
(23)		 3.80%
(18)
15 Utah 9.19% 2.36%
(37)		 3.17%
(9)		 3.66%
(19)
16 Mississippi 9.16% 2.84%
(23)		 1.70%
(39)		 4.62%
(7)
17 West Virginia 9.08% 2.28%
(40)		 2.76%
(14)		 4.04%
(12)
18 Nebraska 9.01% 3.69%
(10)		 2.41%
(24)		 2.91%
(39)
19 Ohio 8.99% 2.78%
(27)		 2.60%
(17)		 3.61%
(21)
20 Wisconsin 8.92% 3.17%
(16)		 2.83%
(13)		 2.92%
(38)
21 Massachusetts 8.80% 3.49%
(12)		 3.35%
(6)		 1.96%
(45)
22 Arkansas 8.77% 1.77%
(46)		 2.24%
(29)		 4.76%
(6)
22 Kentucky 8.77% 1.99%
(44)		 3.16%
(10)		 3.62%
(20)
24 Louisiana 8.75% 1.95%
(45)		 1.74%
(38)		 5.06%
(5)
25 Oregon 8.65% 3.14%
(17)		 4.39%
(2)		 1.12%
(50)
26 Pennsylvania 8.57% 2.81%
(25)		 2.57%
(18)		 3.19%
(30)
27 Colorado 8.52% 2.97%
(20)		 2.32%
(27)		 3.23%
(29)
28 Indiana 8.42% 2.34%
(38)		 2.17%
(32)		 3.91%
(15)
29 Arizona 8.39% 2.50%
(35)		 1.60%
(40)		 4.29%
(8)
30 Washington 8.37% 2.63%
(32)		 0.00%
(44)		 5.74%
(3)
31 Michigan 8.25% 3.09%
(19)		 2.19%
(31)		 2.97%
(36)
32 Texas 8.22% 3.97%
(9)		 0.00%
(44)		 4.25%
(11)
33 Nevada 8.19% 2.03%
(43)		 0.00%
(44)		 6.16%
(2)
34 Virginia 8.18% 2.97%
(20)		 2.92%
(12)		 2.29%
(44)
35 North Carolina 8.16% 2.19%
(41)		 2.65%
(16)		 3.32%
(28)
36 Georgia 8.01% 2.68%
(31)		 2.38%
(25)		 2.95%
(37)
37 North Dakota 8.00% 2.77%
(28)		 0.95%
(41)		 4.28%
(9)
38 Missouri 7.80% 2.30%
(39)		 2.36%
(26)		 3.14%
(33)
39 South Carolina 7.67% 2.80%
(26)		 2.03%
(33)		 2.84%
(40)
40 Idaho 7.59% 2.39%
(36)		 2.03%
(33)		 3.17%
(31)
41 Oklahoma 7.47% 1.74%
(48)		 1.90%
(36)		 3.83%
(17)
42 Alabama 7.41% 1.41%
(50)		 2.00%
(35)		 4.00%
(13)
43 Montana 7.39% 3.45%
(13)		 2.66%
(15)		 1.28%
(47)
44 South Dakota 7.12% 2.84%
(23)		 0.00%
(44)		 4.28%
(9)
45 Florida 6.64% 2.77%
(28)		 0.00%
(44)		 3.87%
(16)
46 New Hampshire 6.41% 5.11%
(3)		 0.14%
(42)		 1.16%
(49)
47 Wyoming 6.32% 3.32%
(15)		 0.00%
(44)		 3.00%
(35)
48 Delaware 6.22% 1.77%
(46)		 3.28%
(7)		 1.17%
(48)
49 Tennessee 5.75% 1.71%
(49)		 0.06%
(43)		 3.98%
(14)
50 Alaska 5.06% 3.54%
(11)		 0.00%
(44)		 1.52%
(46)

Note: *No. 1 = Highest

Do you think we pay too many taxes in the Carolinas? 

Falfurrias Capital Partners Announces Investment in South End’s Carolina Foods

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Falfurrias Capital Partners Announces Investment in South End’s Carolina Foods

Charlotte-based private equity firm Falfurrias Capital Partners today announced an investment in Carolina Foods, LLC.

Carolina Foods is one of the leading wholesale bakeries in the country, making donuts, honey buns, pies, fritters, and a host of other sweet treats under the Duchess brand. Carolina Foods also does private-label manufacturing and co-packing for numerous major snack brands. All told, Carolina Foods produces nearly a million honey buns daily, and enough donuts each year to circle the globe twice.

Tad Dickson and Mary-Ann Somers served as advisors to Falfurrias throughout the transaction process and will serve on the Board of Directors of Carolina Foods post-close. Dickson is the former CEO of Harris Teeter, a 260-store grocery chain in the Southeastern United States, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Dollar Tree. Somers has extensive general management experience, having led Hershey’s confection business and Coca-Cola’s water, tea and coffee segment. 

“This partnership will give us the financial resources and management expertise to take Carolina Foods to another level,” said Paul Scarborough, who joined the family business in 1977. “Falfurrias has a tremendous track record of helping the companies they invest in realize next-stage growth, and their expertise in food marketing and distribution will be especially useful to our organization.”

All of Carolina Food’s 400 employees are expected to be retained.

Introducing the Charlotte StrEATs Festival April 15-16, 2022

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Introducing the Charlotte StrEATs Festival April 15-16, 2022

Come celebrate Charlotte’s food scene at the first-ever Charlotte StrEATs Festival this April! The two-day festival will take place at Gateway Village in the heart of Uptown and will serve as the finale of the Charlotte SHOUT! Festival.

Kristen Wile of Unpretentious Palate and Casey Wilson of Carben Events + Marketing have partnered to produce the event. Through Charlotte SHOUT! and presenting sponsors Atrium Health and Bank of America, the two received a grant to be able to bring the food pillar back to the Charlotte SHOUT! Festival.

“We are excited to highlight the restaurants that give the city its personality,” says Wile. “Attendees both from Charlotte and from out of town will get to experience our city’s amazing culinary talents.”

Charlotte StrEATs will kick off Friday with a free family night that will feature cooking demonstrations from local culinary students, food trucks, vendors, and kid-friendly activities.

On Saturday festival-goers will walk through a mini-map of the city organized by neighborhoods. Those who purchase Tasting Tickets will be able to taste their way through Charlotte’s most iconic neighborhoods. There will be plenty of free entertainment for those who attend Saturday’s festival without a tasting ticket. Attendees will be able to watch multiple cooking demonstrations on the main stage, shop small businesses, enjoy live music, sip on beverages from NoDa Brewing and Summit Seltzer, and can purchase food from our participating food trucks.

At 3 p.m., StrEATs will host the first Neighborhood Cook-off, where chefs representing different neighborhoods will each be tasked with preparing a dish that best represents their neighborhood.

The festival is free and open to the public; however, tickets are required to participate in the restaurant tasting portion of the event on Saturday.

“Unpretentious Palate’s motto begins with ‘Celebrate the good,’” shares Wile. “That’s precisely what this festival is all about: celebrating the diverse restaurants that make Charlotte’s culinary scene so impressive.”

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:

Representing NoDa – The Goodyear House and Salud Cervecería
Representing Plaza Midwood – Dish and Supperland
Representing South Park – Dogwood
Representing Dilworth – 300 East
Representing East Charlotte – Manolo’s Bakery
Representing Camp North End – Leah & Louise and Plant Joy
Representing South End – Bardo
Representing Uptown – The Asbury and Sea Level
Representing West Charlotte – Counter- Biblio and Toucan Louie’s Cafe and Roastery

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