SANFORD – A $647,620 Facilities and Equipment grant from the North Carolina Community College System will turn a planned West Harnett Center for Central Carolina Community College into a reality.

RALEIGH – During the month of November, North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives will award teachers across the state with Bright Ideas Education Grants.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today provided an update on its recent acquisition and new store development activity.

BERWYN, Pa. – SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TPC) today announced that it has agreed to sell 69 wireless communications towers to SBA Towers II LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SBA Communications (Nasdaq: SBAC) ("SBA"), for $18.0 million.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced that North Carolina, for the second consecutive year, has been named the state with the “Top Business Climate” by Site Selection magazine.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) has announced the commencement of cash tender offers for up to $550 million aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior notes as part of the company’s previously announced debt reduction plan.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy today submitted a license-renewal application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), requesting 20 additional years of operation for its Harris Nuclear Plant. Electricity generated by the Harris Plant is essential for Progress Energy to meet the needs of its 1.4 million customers in the Carolinas reliably, affordably and in an environmentally sound manner.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) today announced that its recent tender offers have exceeded expectations.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) announced third-quarter earnings of $319 million, or $1.27 per share, compared to earnings of $450 million, or $1.82 per share, for the same period last year.

DUNN – William L. "Bill" Hedgepeth, president and CEO of New Century Bank South, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer for New Century Bank, announced John Q. Shaw, president and CEO of New Century Bank and New Century Bancorp (Nasdaq: NCBC), the holding company for the two banks.

DUNN – New Century Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: NCBC), the holding company for New Century Bank and New Century Bank South, reported net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30 of $1.1 million, compared to $812,000 for the same period in 2005.

MOUNT GILEAD – McRae Industries, Inc. (Pink Sheets: MRINA; MRINB) reported consolidated net revenues from continuing operations for fiscal 2006 of $68,852,000, compared to $62,404,000 for fiscal 2005.

ASHEBORO – Gov. Mike Easley announced today that Minnesota-based cereal maker Malt-O-Meal Company will open a manufacturing facility in Asheboro.

FAYETTEVILLE – Operation Sickle Cell, Inc., in collaboration with the Stedman-Wade Federally Qualified Health Center, has been awarded $1.28 million over the next four years from the Health Resources & Services Administration to address the needs of sickle cell disease patients.

FAYETTEVILLE – UNC Air Care, the ambulance service at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, has extended its operations to 24 hours a day.

ATLANTA – Delta Air Lines will resume nonstop air service between its Atlanta hub and Moore County Airport next March.

SANFORD - The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and year ended Sept. 28.

DUNN – At a specially called meeting yesterday, the board of directors of New Century Bancorp (Nasdaq: NCBC) unanimously approved a six-for-five stock split to be effected in the form of a 20 percent stock dividend.

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 16 Angler’s Mini-Mart convenience stores in the Charleston, S.C., market.

LAURINBURG – Butler Manufacturing Company has started a 34,000-square-foot addition to the company’s metal building systems plant in Laurinburg, a move that will increase capacity in the structural frame shop, welding operations and a paint line and could create up to 25 new jobs.

CHARLOTTE – Bank of America, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, today announced that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing to become the “Official Bank of NASCAR,” beginning with the 2007 season.

MOCKSVILLE – Bank of the Carolinas Corporation (Nasdaq: BCAR) announced that its board of directors has declared a cash dividend of 5 cents per share of common stock, payable on Jan. 19 to shareholders of record on Jan. 5.

PITTSBORO – Biolex Therapeutics today announced results published in Nature Biotechnology demonstrating the ability of its proprietary LEX System to produce monoclonal antibodies that have enhanced in vitro potency and efficacy.

CHAPEL HILL – About a third of the children covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina are overweight or in danger of becoming overweight, yet most of their parents see no problem with their kids’ weight.

CHARLOTTE – Bank of America Corporation today announced a definitive agreement to acquire U.S. Trust Corporation, one of the largest and most respected U.S. firms focused exclusively on managing wealth for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals and families.

SANFORD – The Golden LEAF Foundation has awarded Central Carolina Community College a $223,006 grant for its dental hygiene/dental assisting programs, which are expected to receive initial accreditation by the American Dental Association early next year.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) has begun offering the BB&T Visa Gift Card to retail and business clients, its fourth new prepaid product in the last two
years.