Despite dropping four spots to No. 35 this year, Mooresville-based home-improvement retail giant Lowe's edged out Bank of America as the Charlotte region's highest-ranked company on the Fortune 500 list. There were nine companies in the greater Charlotte area on the list and 13 in North Carolina.

Because of the town government's alleged mishandling of more than $1 million, residents of Spring Lake might have to pay more for essential services like roads and water or they might not get some services at all. State Treasurer Dale Folwell compared investigating the town’s finances to an onion. “The more we peel, the more we cry,” he said.

Cone Health and Novant Health signed a letter of intent that will allow Novant to invest in HealthTeam Advantage, a Medicare Advantage plan owned by Cone. HealthTeam Advantage offers all the benefits of Medicare plus additional benefits such as dental, vision, hearing and fitness as well as Medicare Part D prescription coverage.

Federal authorities accused Wynn Charlebois of Charlotte of operating a $7 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 75 investors. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Charlebois used the money to make mortgage payments and pay for private schools for his children.

Forward Cities, a nonprofit based in Durham, is launching an initiative to grow and sustain Black businesses. The program was unveiled in Durham. Other participating communities include Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Fayetteville.

Morganton city officials plan to use some of the COVID pandemic relief dollars on a sewer system expansion. City Manager Sally Sandy hopes expansion will invite real estate development on the city’s west side.

North Carolina Senate Republicans are strongly considering legislation that would expand Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of additional low-income adults. According to a summary, the bill would include other medical, health care coverage and insurance reforms.

Western North Carolina businesses are encouraged to participate in the State of Our Workforce survey to help workforce development leaders identify gaps and strengthen the region’s talent pipeline. The survey asks employer participants to indicate which skills, credentials and training they need most.