A North Carolina police dog named Uno will raise money for the NC Special Olympics by taking a cold plunge. And more good news from around NC.
So we’re nearing the end of the week and us folks in the Piedmont and western North Carolina are all fully thawed out from the ice storm that rolled through last weekend, right? Let’s take a look at the forecast for this weekend. It must be more enjoyable, right?
That depends on your definition of enjoyable.
With anywhere from 2 to 8 inches of snow forecasted to fall across North Carolina this weekend — and some of the highest measurements predicted along the eastern coast for a change — those of you with kids (or who remain kids at heart) can take comfort in the thought that the snow will be safer to play in than a street covered in ice.
A few good things did materialize during this purgatory week as we tried to act productive in between ice and snow storms. We’ll begin our weekly Good News Friday column with a crime-fighting dog in Pittsboro who is totally fine with the cold (we hope).
Chatham County K-9 Uno commits to a polar plunge to mark birthday
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) made a birthday post Tuesday for loyal K-9 Uno, who turned 3 and has now been roped into a chilling commitment.
The post reads, “Instead of treats and toys, K-9 Uno is celebrating by giving back 💙 He’s raising funds for Special Olympics NC and will be making the ultimate fetch — straight into chilly Jordan Lake at the CCSO Polar Plunge on February 21, 2026 all to support incredible SONC athletes.”
Uno and the rest of the department will take the plunge at the Seaforth Beach Recreation Area at around noon on the aforementioned day, with games and an opening ceremony scheduled for the morning.
I did a little research to make sure I wasn’t advocating for anything that might border on animal abuse here. It appears that, while dogs can develop hypothermia just like humans, a quick dip in and out won’t hurt. And if Uno isn’t feeling it once his feet hit that water, I’m sure there will be no hard feelings if he lets someone else fetch the tennis ball that will be thrown in with all his human colleagues at the department.
The CCSO asks that if you’re interested in donating to the Special Olympics of North Carolina in Uno’s name, visit the dog’s fundraiser page.
Corning plans for major expansion in Hickory following Meta deal
It was not even three years ago that Corning marked the opening of a new optical cable manufacturing campus in Hickory, hosting then-Gov. Roy Cooper and the US commerce secretary to help ring in the special occasion.
The announcement of a $6 billion deal between the optical fiber and cable manufacturer and social media giant Meta on Tuesday means big things are still to come for the nascent Hickory campus.
According to Business North Carolina, Corning currently employs about 5,000 people at its Hickory facilities but is likely to now add around 1,000 more to help meet the needs of Meta, which will acquire all the needed fiber-optic cable for its oncoming AI data centers from the company for the foreseeable future.
BNC reported that CEO Wendell Weeks predicted the deal will “increase Corning’s employment levels in [North Carolina] by 15 to 20%,” which could also mean scaling up at its manufacturing facilities in Newton, Wilmington, Winston-Salem and Concord, as well as its corporate headquarters in Charlotte.
NC’s largest employer announces large investment in workforce
Advocate Health, which operates as Atrium Health in North Carolina and was named the state’s largest employer by Triad Business Journal in 2025, announced $776 million in planned workforce investments for 2026 on Wednesday, beginning with the implementation of a unified minimum starting wage to $18.85 per hour across all six states the company operates in.
The new infusion will also fund other compensation increase packages across the company, according to a release from the company on Wednesday.
Triad Business Journal reported in October that Atrium Health employs 72,595 people in North Carolina, a nearly 19% lead over the state’s second-largest employer, Walmart.
As part of Advocate’s medical and well‑being benefits for 2026, teammates now have enhanced and personalized coverage for family planning, adoption, surrogacy and menopause, according to the release, as well as access to mobile mental health resources including no‑cost virtual therapy, coaching and other tools.
“These benefits reflect our commitment to supporting our teammates during all stages of life and through all available pathways of family and personal health,” said Nakesha Lopez, executive vice president and chief people and culture officer for Advocate Health. “We believe that caring holistically for our teammates strengthens both individual well-being and the communities we serve.”
