Clorox is moving its Better Health Vitamins, Minerals and Supplement group headquarters to Durham with 158 jobs promised and a $7.5 million investment. The jobs are expected to pay an average of $123,000 and will include product researchers and developers. Oakland, Calif.-based Clorox has about 500 employees in Durham, where it bought locally based Burt’s Bees in 2007. The company may receive more than $2 million in incentives if it meets hiring goals.

The Atlantic Coast Conference switched to the Greensboro Coliseum as the site of its men’s basketball tournament in March, citing pandemic concerns. It had been scheduled to take place in the Capital One Arena in Washington. The Greensboro Coliseum, which has hosted the event 27 times, is also slated for the 2023 ACC Tournament site.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has selected Garner for a $100 million, 244,860-square-foot outpatient multispecialty clinic. It’s expected in employ about 400 VA employees. Services could include cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, pathology, audiology and speech, rehabilitation medicine, and imaging services including CT and MRI. Hickory’s Atriax/PPGG JV is the developer and lessor on the project.

Lowe’s Cos. wants to sublease 125,000 square feet of its office space at the Charlotte Plaza building in downtown Charlotte. The Mooresville-based retailer is moving many of its IT workers to a new office tower in the South End area that is expected to be finished in late 2021. Lowe’s has about 200,000 square feet of space leased at the Charlotte Plaza.  More than 1 million square feet of Charlotte office space is available for sublease, real estate industry officials say.

Gov. Roy Cooper says North Carolina is “in danger” when it comes to the rapid spread of COVID-19. The state reported 2,419 new cases Monday and 1,601 people hospitalized from the virus. Cooper tightened mask mandates, ordering masks must be worn indoors if in close proximity to someone who “is not a member of the same household.”

Novant Health is planning a 186,000-square-foot, 32-bed hospital with two operating rooms in southwest Charlotte near Interstate 485 and Steele Creek Road. The proposed $178.6 million project is called Steele Creek Medical Center and is scheduled to open in 2025, pending regulatory approval. The Winston-Salem-based system has been approved for a $154 million, 161,000-square-foot hospital in Charlotte’s Ballantyne area, with construction expected to start in December.

Longfellow Real Estate Partners secured a $52 million loan to change an office park in RTP to accommodate more lab space. The Boston-based company received the loan from MetLife Investment Management to help convert its Perimeter’s Edge development. Longfellow bought the five buildings last year for about $65 million.

Greensboro retirement community Whitestone has kicked off a $75 million expansion that includes 67 new independent-living residences, 36 assisted-living apartments and a new three-story building. Construction is expected to be completed over the next two years. The expansion includes renovating the health center by adding private rooms and services.

Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Verona Pharma entered into a debt financing agreement for as much as $30 million with Silicon Valley Bank. Verona has its U.S. headquarters in Raleigh and focuses on respiratory diseases.

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, the Durham-based subsidiary of Japanese Toshiba Tec, named Rance Poehler CEO. He was previously president of Panasonic Systems Communications. Poehler succeeds Scott Maccabe, who served as CEO since 2015 and is retiring.

A federal appeals court overturned a multimillion-dollar verdict against Smithfield Foods’ Murphy Brown subsidiary after noting that the jury shouldn’t have been told that four executives were receiving $245 million in compensation over four years. A lawyer for Bladen County residents made the statement about pay during the hog farm pollution case, which led to a $2.5 million damages award, the most allowed under state law. Now the decision on damages must go back to court, minus any comments on exec compensation.

The Foundation for the Carolinas is delaying construction for a $100 million, 257-room InterContinental Hotel atop the renovated Carolina Theatre in downtown Charlotte because of the pandemic. Work is continuing on restoring the 93-year-old theater, which is part of a $50 million North Tryon Street project. Hotel developer Salter Brothers, an Australian firm, says lodging financing has dried up.

Cary entrepreneur Jonathan Hayes showed smart timing in selling his business, RewardStock, to credit-reporting company Experian, according to Triangle venture capital investor David Gardner. His Cofounders Capital made “a multiple” on its $590,000 investment in RewardStock, which helps consumers make the best use of their travel-related reward points. Hayes hasn’t shared details of the transaction, which occurred in early 2020 before the pandemic caused major damage on the travel industry.

Downtown Charlotte appears likely to remain quiet through January, at least. Major employers Bank of America and Wells Fargo say they are hoping that workers will be back to the office towers early next year, but the timing depends on vaccines and Covid-19 status. Meanwhile, other big employers such as Red Ventures, Brighthouse Financial and others are suggesting workers are likely to return in mass to their offices in mid- to late 2021.

Tremendous turnout for Republicans devoted to President Donald Trump, news of U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham’s extramarital affair and aggressive campaigns by GOP candidates are key factors why N.C. Democrats failed in their bid to take control of the N.C. House and Senate, according to an Associated Press analysis. Joe Biden’s decision not to visit the state in the last 16 days of the campaign may have also helped the Republicans, analysts say.

Hotel room demand in Buncombe County declined 18% from a year earlier, showing continued improvement since the pandemic caused an 82% decline in April, tourism industry officials said. The industry is hoping that a strong holiday period can help the region’s hotels, restaurants and attractions finish the year strong. About 30% of the Biltmore Estate’s annual revenue is typically related to the holidays, while 40% of the Omni Grove Park Inn’s revenue comes from the fourth quarter in most years, officials said.

The University of North Carolina system named Andrew Tripp as general counsel, while Bart Goodson will head government affairs under President Peter Hans. Tripp has been chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, while Goodson was chief of staff under House Speaker Tim Moore. Berger and Moore are considered the state’s two most powerful lawmakers. Current UNC General Counsel Tom Shanahan is joining UNC Health, which is affiliated with UNC Chapel Hill, a health care system spokesman said.

New York-based Clarion Partners bought Metrolina Park in north Charlotte from Queen City developer Beacon Partners for $201 million, real estate records show. The eight buildings and nearly 2 million square feet of space netted nearly $108 per square foot, reflecting robust demand for industrial space.

N.C. Senate Republicans are criticizing Gov. Roy Cooper for eliminating federal pandemic relief funding to rural broadband projects, apparently to instead pay for a new education program. Fifteen Senate Republicans wrote the governor asking him to explain his decision. Cooper’s move may be related to the new N.C. Education Corps partnership, which will hire tutors to assist public schools students across the state. Local schools will pay the tutors with money from federal stimulus funds, which the Republicans say had been intended for broadband.

An unnamed institutional client bought The Dillon mixed-used property in downtown Raleigh from Kane Realty and Washington, D.C.-based FCP for $236 million. The Dillon opened two years ago and includes 221,300 square feet of office space in an 18-story tower, two 6-story apartment buildings, retail space and a 994-space parking deck.

Winston-Salem-based software company OnceLogix named Ty McLaughlin CEO. McLaughlin is one of the company’s three co-founders and previously served as its chief financial officer. He succeeds Trinity Manning, who will now serve as vice president of operations for ShareNote, a product of OnceLogix that is now its own entity.

Don Beto’s Tacos Y Tequila, located in south Raleigh, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The restaurant plans on continuing to operate and serve customers. In the filing, the company listed assets ranging between $50,000 and $100,000, and debts include thousands in credit card debt and nearly $86,000 from small-business lender National Funding Inc.

Morrisville drugmaker Liquida Technologies has closed on its acquisition of Durham-based RareGen. As part of the deal, RareGen’s owners will receive 5.5 million Liquida shares and an additional 2.7 million shares dependent on net sales goals in 2021. RareGen focuses on drugs for rare diseases including Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that affects arteries in the lungs and heart.

Former Barings CEO Tom Finke is leading a new special purpose acquisition company in Charlotte that is seeking a $100 million initial public offering. Adara Acquisition expects to offer 10 million units at $10 each. SPACs gather money to acquire existing businesses, similar to private-equity groups. Other Adara executives are Martin Sumichrast, co-CEO of Charlotte-based cbdMD, and Paul Porter, formerly with Stone Street Partners. Finke is leaving Barings on Nov. 30.

The Raleigh and Charlotte areas are still experiencing a red-hot housing market, despite the challenges of the pandemic. The median list price of houses is up 11.4% from this time last year in Raleigh, and homes are spending a shorter time on the market. In Charlotte, median housing prices have increased 9.8% from last year, according to data from home-buying website Zillow.

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $27 million economic development incentive for aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, its largest corporate subsidy ever. The incentive would be paid over 14 years as business targets are met. Some members of the public criticized the funding, citing Pratt & Whitney’s military work. The East Hartford, Conn.-based company plans a $650 million plant near Asheville that is expected to employ as many as  800 people.

The N.C. Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice has recommended North Carolina legalize small amounts of marijuana, making it a civil offense and expunging past convictions. In their recommendations, the panel also suggests a separate study looking at the full legalization of possessing, growing and selling marijuana. The panel will make formal recommendations to Gov. Roy Cooper on Dec. 15.

Raleigh’s Downtown South development will be discussed at a city advisory board today for rezoning approval, but it faces financing difficulties. The major mixed-use development requires a financing method the city has not used before, which would allow developers to pay for certain community benefits from the project’s tax revenue. City officials have opposed tax increment financing previously and remain split on this project.

Gov. Roy Cooper announced a partnership that will give families who lack money for food access to $5 million in grants. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities and Livingstone College will work to provide resources to communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Nearly half of N.C. households have reported little to no confidence they can afford food in the next four weeks.

The Alamance County Board of Commissioners approved incentives for a Chik-fil-A distribution center in Mebane. The board approved a $390,000 cash incentive and would waive $150,000 in impact costs. If Chik-fil-A chooses Mebane, a $52 million, 182,625-square-foot facility would be built to serve 175 restaurants.

A 166,000-square-foot warehouse near downtown Goldsboro was sold earlier this month by Tampa real estate investor Welfont Investments LLC to private investors based in Pennsylvania. The property sits on nearly 10 acres and is being leased by Beacon Roofing Supply, which has been at the site for 20 years. Beacon Roofing’s lease and the building’s location near the interchange of two highways made the property an attractive.

Cary’s Epic Games has expanded its legal battle with Apple to Australia, claiming the tech giant is violating Australian consumer law by banning its popular game Fortnite from the Apple app store and iOS system. The Competition and Consumer Commission is already reviewing the app store policies. This comes as the two companies are in the midst of a legal battle in the U.S. as well; a trial is expected early 2021.

Award-winning steakhouse Steak 48 will debut in Charlotte’s Southpark area on Dec. 18, complete with an in-house butcher shop. The steakhouse has other locations in major cities across the U.S., including Philadelphia, Houston and Chicago. An exposed kitchen will allow guests to watch the preparation of their dinner. The restaurant will have a 6,000-bottle wine vault.

Employment in the Charlotte area increased by 43,100 jobs, or 3.5% in the third quarter, benefiting from a partial recovery in the leisure and hospitality industry, according to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. Highlighting the quarter was health insurer Centene’s announcement of more than 3,200 jobs at a University City campus, the largest jobs announcement in decades. Thirteen other companies made expansion plans during the quarter, pledging $200 million.

Hunter Rowe Real Estate Agents and Advisors, a Raleigh agency that started 16 years ago, is planning to expand nationally. The company employs 65 agents and this month hired Kevin Woody, the former Better Homes and Gardens Raleigh market president, to help lead the company. Woody will handle vetting new markets for the business.

North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley has asked for a recount after final votes were tallied and her challenger, Justice Paul Newby, led by only 406 votes. The recount will begin Thursday and be finished by Nov. 25. If Newby wins, the Supreme Court would be made up of four Democrats and 3 Republicans. He would also oversee the state judicial system and determine how the courts move forward in response to Covid-19.

IPM Chirana, a European-based medical device company, chose Research Triangle Park for its U.S. headquarters. The company, pending application approval, will manufacture ventilators in Boston. Plans call for eventually manufacturing in North Carolina also.There

A solar project developed by Durham-based Cypress Creek Renewables is delivering power in Brazoria County, Texas near Houston. It’s Cypress Creek’s biggest project ever, involving 162 megawatts. Cypress Creek, which will operate the site, collaborated with project owner Cubico Sustainable Investments on tax equity and the debt financing. Starbucks pledged to buy the project’s power.

New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve two rezoning requests that affect over 500 acres of land in Wilmington near the I-40 and I-140 interchange. The rezonings will allow a developer to put a mix of housing in two communities over the next 10 years. The homes, owned by the Trask family, will be developed by Trask Land Co. and will include single-family houses, apartments and townhomes.

Just months after Raleigh startup Virtue Labs received backing from actress Jennifer Garner, the company has closed on $28.6 million in new financing. There were 26 investors involved in the latest round for the nail, skin and hair treatment business. The firm had raised $23 million in equity and debt in 2017 and 2018.

Toshiba named Rance Poehler as CEO of its Global Commerce Solutions arm in Research Triangle Park. Poehler succeeds Scott Maccabe, who has been with Global Commerce Solutions since 2015. Maccabe will remain in charge of Toshiba’s America Business Solutions segment.

Sentara Healthcare and officials with Pasquotank County announced plans for a replacement hospital for the 60-year-old Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City. Sentara already owns the 135-acre site where the facility will be built. After the move to the new hospital takes place, the county will retain ownership of the current hospital site.

The owners, architects and builders of five apartment complexes in the Triad agreed to pay $1.3 million in updates to comply with the federal Fair Housing Act after receiving complaints of housing discrimination. The complaints alleged 325 units and common areas at the complexes were not accessible to people with disabilities. In addition to making the updates, employees of the 10 organizations will receive Fair Housing Act training.

Charlotte City Council approved an industrial job site in southwest Charlotte despite concerns from residents about the environmental impact. The Keith Corp. project is expected to bring 1,000 logistics-oriented jobs and would include 1.5 million square feet of industrial and outdoor storage uses for e-commerce companies and large manufacturers. The chief environmental concern is that the job site, located in the Lake Wylie Protected Area, could affect water quality.

An attorney representing female athletes on swimming and tennis teams cut by East Carolina University early this year due to budget constraints sent a letter threatening a class action lawsuit against the school if the teams are not reinstated. The letter cited federal Title IX rules related to bias. The cuts, which were announced in May, also eliminated the men’s tennis and swimming and diving teams. The letter asks for a response from the ECU  chancellor by Thursday.