ASHEBORO – N.C.-A 19-year-old female elephant arrived early Sunday at the North Carolina Zoo, becoming the first addition to the herd in a major expansion of the state zoo's elephant exhibit and holding facilities.

CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB) has reported net income of $1.69 billion, or 89 cents per share, in the third quarter of 2007, compared with $1.88 billion, or $1.17 per share, in the third quarter of 2006.

CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB) announced that its board of directors approved the company's regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 64 cents per share.

ROCKINGHAM — A former racer and driving school owner has bought North Carolina Speedway, a one-time NASCAR track than opened more than 40 years ago.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., has announced that it expects its gasoline gross margin and earnings per share for the fiscal year ending Sept. 27 to be below its previous targets.

HAMLET – Progress Energy plans to invest up to $750 million in building new electric generation capacity at its energy complex in Richmond County and new transmission capacity to move electricity to where it’s needed.

TROY – This month, Primer Banco has opened its first two locations in Asheboro and Candor to serve the growing Hispanic community.

LAURINBURG – Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced today that Golf Pride® is releasing a limited edition pink and black DD2(TM) swing grip with 25 cents of each grip benefiting Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization™.

SANFORD – Matthew Garrett, president of Central Carolina Community College since August 2004, has announced his retirement, effective Sept. 1, 2008.

ASHEBORO – FNB United Corp. (NASDAQ: FNBN), the holding company for CommunityONE Bank, N.A. and Dover Mortgage Company, today reported third quarter and year-to-date profits for the periods ended Sept. 30.

RALEIGH – First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA) reports earnings for the quarter ending Sept. 30 of $22.6 million, compared to $32.9 million for the corresponding period of 2006, a decrease of 31.3 percent.

TROY – First Bancorp (NASDAQ: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has announced net income of $5,743,000 for the three months ended Sept. 30, a 31.4 percent increase over the $4,372,000 reported for the corresponding period of 2006.

WASHINGTON – In December, more than 4 million American businesses will receive 2007 Economic Census forms, underscoring the importance of their participation in the nation’s most comprehensive measure of business and industry taken every five years.

CARY – Crescent Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CRFN), parent company of Crescent State Bank, today announced unaudited net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30 of $1,563,000, or 16 cents per diluted share, compared with $1,274,000, or 16 cents per diluted share for the prior year period.

CHARLOTTE – During the week of Oct. 14, 2007, nearly 2,000 Census Bureau field representatives will interview about 72,000 households across the nation for the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS).

PITTSBORO – Leaders of Chatham County and Central Carolina Community College have broken ground for two eagerly awaited buildings on the college’s Chatham campus.

BUIES CREEK – Campbell University dedicated its new School of Pharmacy building in honor of Dean Ronald Maddox. The 42,000-square foot, three-story facility features classrooms; a student study center; breakout rooms; administrative and alumni suites; two 3,534 square-foot lecture halls; faculty offices; a Professional Association room; and close to 6,000 square-feet of laboratory space.

BUIES CREEK – Campbell University has entered into an agreement with Arbor Pharmaceuticals to develop Arbor’s latest product, a novel formulation for the treatment of ear infections in children.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) has partnered with two California-based mobile banking and payment providers to offer one of the industry’s most comprehensive mobile banking services.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) has reported net income for the third quarter of 2007 totaling $444 million, or 80 cents per diluted share, compared with $417 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, earned during the third quarter of 2006.

MOCKSVILLE – Bank of the Carolinas Corporation (Nasdaq: BCAR) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock, payable on October 24, 2007, to shareholders of record on October 10, 2007.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the release of more than $44 million to assist states in providing career training as well as job search and relocation assistance to U.S. workers who lose their jobs for reasons related to trade.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that federal disaster loans are available to small businesses located in the State of North Carolina as a result of drought and high temperatures that occurred January 1, 2007 and continuing.