It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Bennett Place gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Durham, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with.”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed,”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by”
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team of caregivers who really care about the well fare of their clients. They go above and beyond taking care of my parents and have been very professional and dependable. I would recommend ABC to anyone who needs a reliable and competent care team. Karen Lussi”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart to see the services being rendered to clients. Extra miles taken to make sure every client is well taken care, even in unpleasant weather conditions. The CEO and administrators were out in the snow last week picking up workers who were unsure of driving . I was glad to see this commitment, making sure families could sit back and relax. With no fear, I will recommend Always best to any family who needs awesome care for their love ones.”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office staff are great people, very helpful and always treat everyone with love and respect. Definitively it is a bless to work for this agency.”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time with our father. It all began with a fall, followed by an ER visit, and soon after, my sister and I found ourselves flying to NC to care for him and plan the next steps. Kathryn from Always Best Care was an absolute lifesaver! She guided us seamlessly through the process of finding the perfect independent senior living community for our father. Her extensive industry knowledge helped us navigate the additional health services he required with ease. Kathryn went above and beyond, consistently checking in and patiently responding to countless texts and emails from us. Thanks to her support, our father is now thriving in a supportive environment and is healthier than ever. We can’t imagine how we would have managed this journey without Kathryn’s expertise and compassion. Truly an incredible experience!”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of what someone living with dementia is like. This is such a horrible disease but this helps care givers understand the disease. Thanks so much!!”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things . I didn’t know it was that bad for them and it’s very sad , I will always treat them all with care and love no matter what because there dealing with something that’s really hard to deal with .”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I now know what to do differently when working with my residents. I think A all caregivers should experience this training.”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and caring home health assistance to my mother who was recovering from an unexpected surgery. They were able to assist on incredibly short notice and made a difficult situation for our family much better. Each of their carers was exceptionally professional and attentive, especially Lori and Kylie who were incredible. I felt safe leaving my loved one in their care and appreciated that they went above and beyond to meet our needs. They provided regular updates to me and my family and made my mother feel so well attended, especially as she needed extra mobility and personal care help. I would absolutely not work with any other company, should we ever need home health assistance again. Highly recommend.”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me gain my mobility! They are all super nice and very helpful! Give them your trust, they have mine. If I ever need home help, it'll be through them!”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had to downsize due to an unexpected illness and Always Best Care (ABC) stepped in to make this possible. Kind, compassion, pleasant, friendly, joyful and talented professionals comprise those providing this service. I literally couldn’t have lived for at my assisted living since I had so many hospital visits each week. I didn’t want to go alone to these appointments and this freed my family from needless distress and worry about my wellbeing when they couldn’t be there. I highly recommend ABC since they are an essential component providing excellent and reliable support.”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in law transition into her new home after moving to Raleigh from Winston Salem. She has dialysis 3x a week and they have worked so hard to coordinate a schedule to make sure everything runs smoothly. Sherry continues to amaze me in how she is able to help figure out schedules and provide customer services in a kind and professional manner. We will continue to look to this wonderful service provider as her needs change and feel blessed to have them on site at Atri”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with. He was sincerely concerned about my mom and our family. He is an excellent listener and introduced me to Paige who is equally wonderful. Together they found a great place for my mother in a very short time. Paige was always available to speak on the phone and addressed my questions or concerns. I would recommend using this service for your loved one. Laura B of Raleigh”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed, and things changed constantly. My dad has a chance to live the rest of his life with dignity and my mom has a chance to live a fuller life because of the help we got from Kathryn and this team. They have a great network and valuable knowledge but what observed that makes them invaluable is that they care...and when you are on this situation I found that this is the quality that matters the most. Cannot thank them enough.”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We are very satisfied with his service and professionalism. He took his time and our requirements and found the perfect place. Highly recommend him and Always Best Care!”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many options it was confusing for me! Shawn and his team sent me several places to review and then accompanied me to visit independent living facilities. I appreciate the resources and information provided. Shawn, thank you for being focused on our family's needs and sharing your expertise. Your compassion and patience is so very appreciated!”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by far the best place I've worked our boss and staff are everything.????????????????????????????????????????????????????”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Sandy Creek Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Nanas or visit Duke Homestead, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Durham, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Durham, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Durham, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Within an hour of trading Friday morning, the Durham semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed had lost half its value. Its shares dove below $2.80 before eventually plateauing around lunchtime. By percentage, it ended up being the biggest single-day decline in Wolfspeed’s 32 years as a public company.The reason for this drop wasn’t immediately clear.Unwelcome Wall Street turns have become common for the wobbling North Carolina firm, whose stock sold above $100 as recently as two and a half years ago. At that time, Wolfs...
Within an hour of trading Friday morning, the Durham semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed had lost half its value. Its shares dove below $2.80 before eventually plateauing around lunchtime. By percentage, it ended up being the biggest single-day decline in Wolfspeed’s 32 years as a public company.
The reason for this drop wasn’t immediately clear.
Unwelcome Wall Street turns have become common for the wobbling North Carolina firm, whose stock sold above $100 as recently as two and a half years ago. At that time, Wolfspeed was well into a transformation under then-CEO Gregg Lowe, divesting its lighting and radio frequency divisions — and ditching its original name, Cree — to exclusively produce a special semiconductor material called silicon carbide.
Wolfspeed both makes silicon carbide, which promises higher efficiency than standard silicon, and fabricates it into chips for electric vehicles, power systems and other industrial applications. In 2022, Wolfspeed opened a fabrication plant in New York State’s Mohawk Valley and announced plans to build a massive materials facility near Siler City in western Chatham County.
But optimism around Wolfspeed’s big semiconductor bet has been replaced by fears over its future. Softer demand for electric vehicles mixed with production delays at its Mohawk Valley facility and looming debt obligations have raised liquidity concerns. In November, Wolfspeed fired Lowe as its top executive. By then, one of Durham’s largest employers had already reduced its staff roughly 20% through layoffs, buyouts and attrition. In early March, it announced additional layoffs as one of several “aggressive steps to strengthen its balance sheet.”
Uncertainties surrounding the company’s outlook resurfaced late last week. Midday Friday, after its stock halved, Wolfspeed released a statement reiterating the belt-tightening steps it would take to strengthen its finances. The release also included news that Wolfspeed had received another $192.1 million in expected tax refunds through a provision of the federal CHIPS and Science Act.
But what happened last week to require this statement? One possibility involves a different portion of the CHIPS Act, the bipartisan bill passed in 2022 to support U.S. semiconductor production.
On Thursday morning, Wolfspeed named long-time semiconductor industry executive Robert Feurle its next CEO. During a press conference discussing the hiring, Wolfspeed board chair and interim CEO Thomas Werner also addressed the company’s prospective $750 million CHIPS Act award, which the Biden administration announced in October but did not finalize before leaving office.
In early March, President Donald Trump called the CHIPS program “a horrible, horrible thing” and advised U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to repurpose what money the office hadn’t already spent.
“I would say that it’s likely that the parameters of CHIP funding ... are likely to evolve some because the company has evolved, and because the CHIPS office is different,” Werner said Thursday.
Some saw the new CEO selection as evidence Wolfspeed won’t see the CHIPS dollars.
“We believe the timing of this appointment raises concerns about WOLF’s ability to have its $750M CHIPS Act grant awarded, especially given Feurle’s lack of CEO experience,” CRFA Research analyst Brooks Idlet wrote in a March 28 note, adding that losing this grant could necessitate “a major restructuring” at the Durham company.
In its statement Friday, Wolfspeed noted it continues “constructive dialogue with the White House” regarding domestic semiconductor production.
Another potential reason for Friday’s selloff involves reporting about the status of Wolfspeed’s debt, which is also linked to its CHIPS funding.
Under its preliminary CHIPS agreement with the Biden administration, Wolfspeed agreed to first restructure $575 million in convertible debt that it owes creditors on May 1, 2026. This is debt the company issued to help fund investments like its Mohawk Valley and Siler City factories.
Convertible bonds give holders the option to be paid back at a future date in company equity or cash with interest. Given Wolfspeed’s suppressed stock price, debt holders would likely elect for cash under the current arrangements.
“Wolfspeed continues to explore alternatives with regard to its convertible notes, in partnership with its advisors, and remains in a dialogue with lenders, including Apollo and Renesas,” the company said in its statement Friday.
But early that afternoon, Bloomberg cited “people with knowledge of the matter” who said Wolfspeed was struggling to refinance this debt. “Based on where the company’s stock is currently trading, a conversion to equity is unlikely unless that price reaches $47.32,” Bloomberg wrote.
“We cannot comment on speculation,” Wolfspeed head of investor relations Tyler Gronbach said in an email Friday.
Wolfspeed overall has issued more than $3 billion in convertible bonds in recent years and has future debt obligations of $750 million in 2028, $1.75 billion due in 2029, and $1.25 billion due in 2030.
On Monday, following its worst market day in history, Wolfspeed shares rebounded 18% to inch the company share price above $3. This still marked its lowest stock price since 1998.
While this is poor news for Wolfspeed shareholders, its good news for those who have made the company one of the market’s most-shorted stocks. And it some cases, the shorters and shareholders may actually be the same people as investment firms short stocks in companies they have lent money to as a hedge.
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Brian Gordon is the Business & Technology reporter for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. He writes about jobs, start-ups and all the big tech things transforming the Triangle. Brian previously worked as a senior statewide reporter for the USA Today Network. Please contact him via email, phone, or Signal at 919-861-1238.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has exited one of its two state incentive deals for a gene therapies facility near Research Triangle Park. The North Carolina Economic Investment Committee on Tuesday canceled the company’s 2019 job development investment grant, which promised to create 200 jobs, upon Novartis’ request.“Although Novartis will remain fully operational at the project location, the company does not expect enough growth to meet the headcount commitments for phase II (of the project),” Novartis Ge...
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has exited one of its two state incentive deals for a gene therapies facility near Research Triangle Park. The North Carolina Economic Investment Committee on Tuesday canceled the company’s 2019 job development investment grant, which promised to create 200 jobs, upon Novartis’ request.
“Although Novartis will remain fully operational at the project location, the company does not expect enough growth to meet the headcount commitments for phase II (of the project),” Novartis Gene Therapies secretary Jaime Huertas wrote in a March 6 letter to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
In May 2018, North Carolina awarded the Novartis gene therapy division (then called AveXis, later renamed Novartis Gene Therapies) an initial job development investment grant to build a new manufacturing center in south Durham. Through this first JDIG, which remains active, Novartis has created 198 jobs and invested $55 million at the 170,000-square-foot site off East Cornwallis Road.
Then in February 2019, North Carolina awarded Novartis a second incentive to hire another 200 workers and invest an additional $60 million at the Durham location. The company said the facility started this year with 308 employees and has achieved its investment commitments under both grants. Most JDIG recipients have not met their original hiring targets since North Carolina began the incentive program in 2003.
Novartis’ Durham facility produces Zolgensma, which treats spinal muscular atrophy, an inherited fatal disorder often referred to as SMA. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved Zolgensma for children under the age of 2.
A few months later, the FDA announced Novartis had hidden manipulated data from the federal agency, though the government said the treatment was still safe. Novartis’ efforts to have Zolgensma approved for use in older patients were then slowed for years by clinical delays. In December, the shared a favorable study that suggests the treatment could be given to older patients.
According to the industry news outlet Fierce Pharma, the company intends to file its Zolgensma data with regulators in the first half of this year.
The FDA defines gene therapy as “a technique that modifies a person’s genes to treat or cure disease.” In recent decades, the Triangle has developed into a hub for gene therapy treatments, through research at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Gene Therapy Center as well as in the local presence of companies like AskBio, Tune Therapeutics and Biogen.
As of Wednesday, Novartis was the 55th largest public company in the world with a market value above $200 billion.
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Tax Day is on Tuesday, April 15, but those who opted to file their taxes early are already getting their refunds.Upgraded Points, a site that provides information on credit cards, reward programs and travel information, found that the average tax refund in North Carolina this year was $3,077 — the 26th-highest of any state.The site used two data sources from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to find t...
Tax Day is on Tuesday, April 15, but those who opted to file their taxes early are already getting their refunds.
Upgraded Points, a site that provides information on credit cards, reward programs and travel information, found that the average tax refund in North Carolina this year was $3,077 — the 26th-highest of any state.
The site used two data sources from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to find the average tax refund by state, county and income level: Filing Season Statistics and the Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040).
Here’s how much the average tax refund was this year for North Carolina’s largest metro areas.
Note: All North Carolina taxpayers have until Thursday, May 1 to file and pay their federal and state taxes this year, though people who live in non-disaster counties will begin to accrue interest on April 15, The News & Observer previously reported.
All but three of North Carolina’s largest metro areas had average tax refunds higher than the state average, according to Upgraded Points.
Here is the average tax refund for the state’s 10 largest counties by population:
Yes. According to data from Upgraded Points, those with higher incomes are likely to receive higher refunds.
For example, the average refund for those in Mecklenburg County earning less than $50,000 per year was $2,466, but those who earned more than $200,000 had an average tax refund of $13,791.
However, the data also show that those with higher incomes are less likely to get refunds. Data show that 77.4% of people who earned less than $50,000 got refunds this year, while only 35% of those who earned more than $200,000 got refunds.
Not necessarily. Having extra money is hardly ever a bad thing, but a large refund means too much money was withheld from your paychecks throughout the year, “essentially providing the government with an interest-free loan,” Upgraded Points says.
To optimize your finances, Upgraded Points recommends adjusting your tax withholdings to better match your actual tax liability. You can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator Tool to estimate the federal income tax you want your employer to withhold from your paycheck.
Those who file online can check the status of their returns after 24 hours have passed from the file date. This can be done on the IRS2Go app or through the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website. You can also check on the status of your state refund by going to The North Carolina Department of Revenue site (ncdor.gov) and clicking “Where’s My Refund?”
If it has been at least four weeks since you filed a paper return, you can check on the status of your refund by calling the IRS TeleTax System at 1-800-829-4477. You will be asked to provide the first Social Security number shown on the return, your filing status and the amount of the refund. If the IRS has processed your return, the system will tell you the date your refund will be sent.
President Trump signed an executive order in January that enacted a hiring freeze for federal employees, including those in the IRS, The Charlotte Observer reported. That means the IRS could be short-staffed during filing season. The agency expects more than 140 million individual tax returns to be filed over the next few months.
Trump signed another executive order that forced all federal employees who work remotely to return the office. This move could result in a wave of early retirements, Nina Olson, executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, told the Journal of Accountancy.
“Many of the IRS employees who are retirement age and currently teleworking may just decide to retire and lock in their retirement benefits,” Olson said.
Some tax returns can take longer to process for many reasons, the IRS says, including when a return:
If more information is needed to process returns, the IRS will contact those taxpayers by mail.
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Despite creating hundreds of jobs in the state, a global pharma company is pulling out of its incentives deal with North Carolina.State officials have terminated one of two incentive packages supporting a global pharmaceutical firm's operations in North Carolina.The state's Economic Investment Committee on Tuesday terminated a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) awarded to Novartis (NYSE: AVS). Novartis, which requested to have the grant terminated, told the state it did not expect to meet its required employee numbers for ...
Despite creating hundreds of jobs in the state, a global pharma company is pulling out of its incentives deal with North Carolina.
State officials have terminated one of two incentive packages supporting a global pharmaceutical firm's operations in North Carolina.
The state's Economic Investment Committee on Tuesday terminated a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) awarded to Novartis (NYSE: AVS). Novartis, which requested to have the grant terminated, told the state it did not expect to meet its required employee numbers for the project.
The incentive packages relate to a gene therapy production facility Novartis operates in Durham. AveXis, a company that Novartis acquired and later renamed Novartis Gene Therapies, in 2018 selected Durham for a $55 million manufacturing facility. The company a year later announced an expansion of the facility, supported by an additional job development investment grant.
The first incentives package required Novartis to create 180 new jobs. As of last year, Novartis had met this goal, creating 198 jobs and retaining 86, according to a report the N.C. Department of Commerce published in September. This job development investment grant remains intact.
However, Novartis "does not expect enough growth to meet the headcount commitments" for the second incentives package, which calls for the company to create 180 additional jobs, according to a letter the company sent to the Department of Commerce.
In addition to terminating the second incentives package, the committee on Tuesday approved a motion to make Novartis ineligible for payments for grant year 2023 after the company did not meet its performance requirements.
The company has 308 employees and remains fully operational at the Durham site, according to its letter. Additionally, the company says it has met its financial investment requirements for both JDIG grants.
Novartis in 2022 received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin production at a 170,000-square-foot facility in Durham. The company uses the facility to manufacture its spinal muscular atrophy gene therapy, called Zolgensma.
Last year Novartis reported revenue from Zolgensma of $1.2 billion.
A longtime Durham charter school will stay open after having previously been ordered to close at the end of the school year.The N.C. Charter Schools Review Board voted Monday to give a three-year renewal to the Community School of Digital and Visual Arts in return for a list of requirements the school’s leaders must meet. The Review Board had previously voted in January to not renew the school when its charter expires June 30.“There’s just basic things you’ve got to do to earn the trust of the people aro...
A longtime Durham charter school will stay open after having previously been ordered to close at the end of the school year.
The N.C. Charter Schools Review Board voted Monday to give a three-year renewal to the Community School of Digital and Visual Arts in return for a list of requirements the school’s leaders must meet. The Review Board had previously voted in January to not renew the school when its charter expires June 30.
“There’s just basic things you’ve got to do to earn the trust of the people around you,” Eric Sanchez, a member of the Review Board said Monday. “If this isn’t the big scare of your life, it should be.”
The renewal requirements include:
? Present a governance, academic and financial report to the Review Board at a minimum of once a year.
? Provide monthly meeting minutes of the school’s board of directors to the Office of Charter Schools.
? Submit the annual audit on time.
? All members of the Community School’s board will go through a minimum of two trainings a year and provide documentation in its annual report.
? Provide monthly updates to the Office of Charter Schools regarding the school’s potential move.
Charter schools are taxpayer-funded schools that are exempt from some of the rules that traditional public schools must follow. There are more than 200 charter schools open across North Carolina.
The Community School of Digital and Visual Arts is one of the state’s oldest charter schools. It opened in 1998 and was previously called Carter Community School.
The Community School is locally run, unlike some charter schools that have the resources of large for-profit companies to rely on.
Charter schools can be closed or can be renewed for between three and 10 years due to their academic, financial and governance performance.
The Review Board had cited issues such as the school not having financial audits for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal years and not posting full and accurate board minutes. The late audit reports have since been filed.
The Community School appealed the non-renewal to the State Board of Education, citing the school’s academic track record. The school exceeded academic growth expectations on state exams last school year and met growth targets the prior two years.
The state board voted in March to ask the Review Board to reconsider its non-renewal decision.
On Monday, Community School’s leaders presented a restructuring plan designed to address the Review Board’s concerns.
“Please don’t throw out the baby with the bath water,” Joe Battle, chair of the Community School’s board, told the Review Board. “But don’t lose sight of the good work that we’re doing and the hard-to-serve communities we’re reaching.”
Review board members accepted the plan but said it shouldn’t have take this long, especially for such a long-running charter school, to address the problems.
“Why did it take this process for attentions to be grabbed?” said Bruce Friend, chair of the Review Board. “I hope we don’t have to do this again, not just with this school but with any school.”
The News & Observer
T. Keung Hui has covered K-12 education for the News & Observer since 1999, helping parents, students, school employees and the community understand the vital role education plays in North Carolina. His primary focus is Wake County, but he also covers statewide education issues.
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