Business - Randolph Record

15 Feb

Toyota announces electric car parts production expansion

The Associated PressBusiness, Government, NewsElectric Vehicles, Toyota

BUFFALO, W.Va. — Toyota Motor Corp. announced Friday that it will further expand production of electric vehicle parts at plants in West Virginia and Tennessee in a $90 million investment. The announcement comes three months after the Japanese automaker said it would invest $240 million to add a production line dedicated to hybrid powertrains at its facility in Buffalo, West Virginia. The latest upgrade involves spending $73 million at the plant to annually assemble an estimated 120,000 rear motor stators, a key component in electric motors. “Toyota is moving quickly toward an electrified future, and West Virginia will play a…

02 Feb

Asheboro ABC Board seeks additional site

Bob SuttonBusinessABC stores, Asheboro

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ABC Board is looking to open another location in Asheboro, board general manager Rodney Johnson said. Business has been on the uptick for Asheboro’s only ABC store and keeping enough inventory in stock has been troublesome at times. The best-case scenario would be to secure a second venue in north Asheboro. “We’re trying to do everything we can to help north Asheboro,” Johnson said. Johnson said traffic studies and addresses of building permits have gone into determining where another store should be located. He said it’s clear that’s a part of the city and county that…

26 Jan

Justices to hear challenge to race in college admissions

Randolph RecordBusinessHarvard, SCOTUS, UNC

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the consideration of race in college admissions, adding affirmative action to major cases on abortion, guns, religion and COVID-19 already on the agenda. The court said it will take up lawsuits claiming that Harvard University, a private institution, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a state school, discriminate against Asian American applicants. A decision against the schools could mean the end of affirmative action in college admissions. Lower courts rejected the challenges, citing more than 40 years of high court rulings that…

25 Jan

McDonald’s expanding test of McPlant burger in US stores

Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated PressBusiness, Newsfood, McDonald's

NEW YORK — McDonald's is expanding sales of its meatless McPlant burger to hundreds of locations. The company said the McPlant — which it co-developed with plant-based protein company Beyond Meat — will be sold at 600 stores in the San Francisco and Dallas areas starting Feb. 14. It's a major expansion for the McPlant, which was introduced last November at eight stores in Texas, Iowa, Louisiana and California. That test run helped the company determine how a plant-based option would alter its kitchen operations. McDonald's said the larger product offering will help it understand customer demand. The Chicago company…

21 Jan

Randolph Mall staple to close

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsRandolph Mall, The Cookie Jar

ASHEBORO — Generations of locals have enjoyed a sweet treat on their way around Randolph Mall but soon that tradition will end. The Cooke Jar — the original cookie store in Randolph Mall — will turn out its lights for the last time on January 30, according to employees at the store. Randolph Mall, which opened in 1982, has seen many restaurants come and go over its 40 years of existence. The Cookie Jar is one of the longest serving stores at Randolph Mall. Another long-time snack and treats store, The Peanut Shack, closed its doors in 2013. According to…

21 Jan

RCC president to retire

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsBob Shackleford, Randolph Community College

Community Colleges president Thomas Stith and RCC president Shackleford talk to third-year Apprenticeship Randolph apprentice Abby Goss in the Gene Haas Computer-Integrated Machining Institute. (Photos courtesy of Randolph Community College) ASHEBORO – Randolph Community College president Dr. Robert Shackleford is retiring after slightly more than 15 years in the position and more than two decades at the two-year school. Shackleford notified the board of trustees and later emailed a letter to faculty and staff Jan. 20 to notify them of his intentions. “These 15 years you have granted me the opportunity to serve as President of RCC have been…

16 Jan

Roads remain treacherous as power is restored

Randolph RecordBusiness, News

ASHEBORO – A dangerous winter storm combining high winds and ice swept through parts of North Carolina and the South on Sunday, knocking out power, felling trees, covering roads with ice. Tens of thousands of customers were without power in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Highway patrols were reporting hundreds of vehicle accidents, and a tornado ripped through a trailer park in Florida. More than 1,200 Sunday flights at Charlotte Douglas International were cancelled – more than 90% of the airport’s Sunday schedule, according to the flight tracking service flightaware.com. Winter Storm Izzy dumped as much as 10…

12 Jan

Asheboro music, jewelry store to close

Bob SuttonBusiness, FeaturesAsheboro, Monroe's Music and Jewelry, Sunset Avenue

ASHEBORO – Monroe’s Music & Jewelry is closing later this month after more than six decades in business in Asheboro. Business owner Tony Hoover said he wants an opportunity to experience different things. “I feel like it’s time,” Hoover said. “It has been my life. When you’re on your dying bed, you don’t ask God for more money, you ask for more time.” The store on Sunset Avenue will close Jan. 29. Hoover owns the building, but he said he’s not sure what’s next for the site. At one time, there were five employees. Now, it’s just Hoover, 63. The…

07 Jan

Asheboro blacksmith wins competition on reality show

Bob SuttonBusiness, Entertainment, NewsChris Mos

ASHEBORO – Chris Moss kept his secret since last spring. When the answer was revealed, it was rewarding for the Asheboro man. Moss was the winner of an episode of “Forged in Fire,” which aired Wednesday night on the History Channel. “I’ve been sitting on it for nine months,” Moss said. “I kind of wish I could have told people. It was a great thing.” In the final challenge for the show, Moss made a two-handed battle sword that was a replica from Southeast Asia. “I had four days to make it,” Moss said of the sword, which was 4…

03 Jan

County and city schools delayed 3 hours

Randolph RecordBusiness, Newsschools, Weather

ASHEBORO — After strong winds, snow and power outages caused school cancellations across Randolph County on Monday, the first school of of the new year, the second school day of 2022 will also start with a delay. Randolph County Schools and Asheboro City Schools will both operate on a three-hour delay Tuesday. In a statement announcing the delay, the county school system said the delay was "due to concerns about road conditions in the early morning hours." The city schools said their delay was "out of an abundance of caution." Randolph Community College, which also closed Monday, will delay the…