As artificial intelligence transforms society at large, what effects are expected in Charlotte specifically? To get a better idea, all this week the Charlotte Ledger business newsletter is looking at the impact of AI in our region. For more, the Ledger’s executive editor, Tony Mecia, joined WFAE’s Marshall Terry for our segment BizWorthy.

Banking giant Wells Fargo is investing $6 million in six nonprofit organizations in west Charlotte. The funds will help advance a neighborhood grocery store and other community projects.

A major business announcement in Charlotte today: Japanese bank SMBC Group says it has chosen the city for its second U.S. headquarters, bringing about 2,000 jobs and a $50.5 million investment.

Local governments and nonprofits in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties can now apply for a share of $40 million to help rebuild business districts damaged by Hurricane Helene.

There’s a new benchmark to assess how well North Carolina is faring economically. The state Commerce Department launched the County Economic Vitality Index tracking unemployment, wages, median household income and educational attainment. One of the big takeaways is that suburbs may be on the rise.

It's not just schools that are banning cellphones. Some bars and restaurants are joining the offline trend. Nick de la Canal takes us to one right in Charlotte.

The project is already in the federal government’s pipeline. The big question now is how local governments will fund their part of it.

The legislature’s budget stalemate has hit North Carolina’s prison system hard, making it difficult to pay bills and keep enough staff to safely operate its 55 facilities.

A Charlotte-based subsidiary of Ally Financial has been ordered to pay a $500,000 penalty over its robo-advisor practices. The Charlotte Observer reports that Ally Invest Advisors was investigated for failing to clearly disclose that some “robo-advisor” investment accounts kept about 30% of customers’ money in cash, a move regulators say helped offset lost fees.

Music festival season is almost upon us, but the Lovin’ Life Music Fest is not happening. It debuted in uptown Charlotte in 2024 with big names such as Stevie Nicks and Post Malone and drew tens of thousands. Last December, festival organizers said they were taking “a short pause” this year and left it at that. For more, Tony Mecia of the Charlotte Ledger Business Newsletter joined WFAE’s Marshall Terry for our segment BizWorthy.