ASHEBORO – Whit Corporation and Sapona Plastics, LLC of Asheboro announced that Sapona purchased the assets of Whit on June 1, and the companies expect to consolidate manufacturing operations during August.

CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB) announced that it has completed its acquisition of the defined contribution recordkeeping business of Minneapolis-based Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

SANFORD - The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire six Fuel Mate convenience stores in North Carolina.

ABERDEEN – Symmetry Fitness LLC, a fitness equipment manufacturer, has announced plans to locate its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Aberdeen.

SOUTHERN PINES – Smithson of Southern Pines, Inc., a manufacturer of custom bedding, window treatments and other custom soft goods for the interior design industry, has combined its Stover, Mo., facility with its Southern Pines location and added 12 new jobs.

DUNN – Servpro of Fayetteville, a franchise that cleans residential and commercial buildings after fire, smoke or water damage, has purchased 6.25 acres in the Edgerton Industrial Park and plans to construct a 10,000-square-foot building.

ASHEBORO – Driven by steady growth in its cancer care program, Randolph Hospital and Randolph Cancer Center were recently granted a Certificate of Need from the North Carolina Division of Facility Services to construct a new $9.6 million comprehensive cancer center.

RALEIGH – Reflecting continued high prices for coal, natural gas and other fuel used to produce electricity, Progress Energy Carolinas has filed for an increase in the fuel rate charged to its North Carolina customers.

SOUTHERN PINES – Tickets for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club will go on sale to the general public beginning June 19.

MOUNT GILEAD – McRae Industries, Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: MRINA; MRINB) reported consolidated net revenues from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2006 of $17,122,000, compared to $12,768,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The North Carolina Professional Appraisers Coalition has selected the Hondros Learning appraisal education materials as the preferred resource for the 2008 Appraisal Qualification Criteria.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced today that North Carolina has been named “State of the Year” by Southern Business & Development magazine for the second consecutive year.

CHAPEL HILL – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced it is extending its zero-copayment program for generic prescription drugs through the end of 2006.

SALISBURY – Food Lion is showing its support of North Carolina farmers and food companies with the “Got To Be NC Products” promotional campaign.

PINEHURST – FirstCarolinaCare, a locally owned health insurance company, ranked higher than competing health insurance companies in the Southeast in a first-ever review of industry performance.

WAKE FOREST – Embarq Corp. (NYSE: EQ), announced today that the company has launched a full suite of wireless communications services that includes innovative service plans that emphasize both wireline and wireless devices for customers.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Thirty-two Sprint retail stores across the country opened for business today as EMBARQ (NYSE: EQ) after a weekend makeover marathon by employee teams who re-branded the stores with new colors and products that are distinctive to Embarq.

WAKE FOREST – Today, Embarq Corporation (NYSE: EQ), the fifth largest local communications company in the country, introduces the first of what will become a broad portfolio of new products and services designed to simplify communications options for companies and combine services in ways that make sense.

SOUTHERN PINES – Delta Air Lines announced today that it is extending its special low introductory fares through July 7 for travel to and from Moore County Airport.

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation will officially kick off a $1.75 million capital campaign on Thursday to help establish a comprehensive “one-stop” Diabetes & Endocrine Center in downtown Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley is looking for potential partners for its cardiac program because new competitive threats have emerged at a time when the number of cardiac surgeries has declined.

CHARLOTTE – The Carolinas AGC Construction Barometer for 4th quarter 2005 posted its strongest – and most broad-based – advance in the last year.

RALEIGH – If you’re looking for a good education at a reasonable price that will quickly lead to employment, go to a community college. If you’re an employer looking for employee training, or looking for new, well-trained employees, try your local community college. According to a new report on community college performance, you’ll both be very satisfied.

DURHAM – Chief financial officers are growing more pessimistic about the U.S. economy, but still plan to increase capital spending and hiring this year. Their expansion plans will be in substantial jeopardy, however, if inflation, the Federal Funds rate or the price of oil continues to rise.

RALEIGH – Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN) announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 6 cents per share.

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health System today announced that it has launched a new logo, a new tagline and a new marketing campaign to communicate its new brand image to the public.

MOCKSVILLE – Bank of the Carolinas (Nasdaq: BCAR) announced that its board of directors has declared a cash dividend of 5 cents per share of common stock, payable on July 26 to shareholders of record on July 12.

HAMLET – APG Meridian Inc., a manufacturer of aluminum fences, gates and railings, will open a new plant in the former Stanley-Bostich building in Hamlet, creating 70 news jobs and investing $2.5 million over the next three years.

RALEIGH – North Carolina's Touchstone Energy cooperatives are the title sponsors of the Touchstone Energy Open, a tournament on the National Golf Association (NGA) Hooters Tour, to be held at Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville. This is the electric cooperatives' third year in a row serving as title sponsor.

SANFORD -- Sanford, North Carolina based Static Control Components, Inc. announced today plans for an 81,000 square foot expansion of its worldwide distribution facility.

NEW YORK – The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) announced that June 29, 2006 is the confirmed date for launching NAMIC-Carolinas. The chapter additions expand the organization's reach to 19 regions nationwide, increasing the membership to over 2,000.

PINEHURST – In an unusual move in the health benefits industry, FirstCarolinaCare Inc., the locally owned health plan of FirstHealth of the Carolinas, is returning to its clients a portion of the premiums they paid for group health coverage during 2005. FirstCarolinaCare’s decision to return the premium is based on fulfilling its mission as a not-for-profit organization and on having a successful year in 2005.

ASHEBORO – The Board of Directors of FNB United Corp. (NASDAQ: FNBN) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.15 per share, which is the same rate as paid in the prior quarter. The dividend will be paid on July 15, 2006 to shareholders of record on June 30, 2006.

FAYETTEVILLE – Embarq Corporation (NYSE: EQ) announced that its distribution and supply chain organization, formerly known as Sprint North Supply, will now be known as EMBARQ Logistics.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) today completed its acquisition of Main Street Banks Inc., metropolitan Atlanta's largest community bank.