SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that it has executed a new gasoline branding and supply agreement with Chevron covering the 66 Petro Express convenience stores that The Pantry recently acquired in North and South Carolina.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) Chairman and CEO Bob McGehee told shareholders yesterday that the company is strong, healthy and moving in the right direction.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) announced first-quarter net income of $275 million, or $1.08 per share, compared with net income of $45 million or 18 cents per share, for the same period last year.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that it has completed the expansion and renegotiation of certain terms of its senior secured credit facilities.

DUNN – New Century Bancorp (Nasdaq: NCBC), the holding company for New Century Bank and New Century Bank South, reported net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 of $1.3 million, or basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.20 and $0.19, respectively, compared to net income of $1.1 million or basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.21 and $0.20, respectively, for the same period in 2006.

ASHEBORO – FNB United Corp. (NASDAQ: FNBN) announced that First National Bank and Trust Company, including its divisions Catawba Valley Bank, First Gaston Bank and Northwestern Bank of Wilkesboro, will change its name to CommunityONE Bank, National Association.

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Technology Association continues to embrace enterprise-level security as a corporate ethic by announcing today that top executives, global security experts and distinguished government officials will converge in Raleigh on June 7 for the NCTA Five Pillars of Executive Leadership in a Non-Secure World conference.

MOUNT GILEAD – McRae Industries, Inc. (Pink Sheet: MRINA; MRINB) reported it has been awarded a new contract to produce direct molded sole military combat boots for the U.S. government.

PINEHURST – FirstCarolinaCare Inc., a health maintenance organization currently offering health benefits to local businesses, has applied for and received approval from the North Carolina Department of Insurance to be licensed as a health and accident insurer with a health maintenance organization line of business.

TROY – First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, reports on the results of its 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held yesterday at the James H. Garner Conference Center in Troy. President and CEO Jerry L. Ocheltree presided over the meeting and reported that the following three proposals had been approved by the Company's shareholders:

TROY – The Board of Directors of First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend of 19 cents per share payable July 25 to shareholders of record as of June 30.

SOUTHERN PINES – While the U.S. Women’s Open is being played down the road at Pine Needles next month, the Executive Women’s Golf Association Foundation will host its 5th Annual fundraising dinner and charity golf tournament at National Golf Club.

CHAPEL HILL – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina today announced a new dental insurance product that allows employers to provide dental coverage to their workers at no required cost to the employer.

FAYETTEVILLE – The U.S. Census Bureau is debuting innovative new mobile handheld devices and database management technology from Harris Corporation as it launches its dress rehearsal for the nation’s 2010 Decennial Census today in Fayetteville.

WASHINGTON – The Census Bureau is entering the first major phase of the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal after months of recruiting hundreds of people from the Fayetteville area.

CHAPEL HILL – The National Business Group on Health has chosen Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina as one of the best employers in the nation for healthy lifestyles.