State leaders tout new magazine ranking of states with the best workforce development, a Charlotte museum announces major AI grant funding, and a Rougemont man strikes it big on the Powerball.
“Dear Raleigh” by Kooley High. “Night Train” by James Brown. “Wagon Wheel” by … just about any acoustic-centered band that’s ever performed on a North Carolina stage. These are all songs that mention our great state capital of Raleigh somewhere in the lyrics—and songs we’d recommend to Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson for advice on how to pronounce the city’s name.
Johnson went viral (at least among North Carolinians) this week after badly mispronouncing Raleigh’s name as “Raleigh-uh” in Monday’s episode of his Nightcap podcast with fellow former NFL player Shannon Sharpe—then doubling down when Sharpe called him on it.
The clip is a good laugh (Jeremy Markovich provided more context over on his NC Rabbit Hole Substack), and the best way to get warmed up for another edition of Good News Friday, where we share with you the actual good news that’s come out of a trying week. So let’s get into it.
North Carolina named top state in workforce development
“If you’re ready to graduate your company’s operations to the next level on a foundation of skills and talent, North Carolina is a good place to enroll.” So starts the new 2026 workforce development rankings published by Site Selection Magazine this week.
Seen as a credible source in the economic and real estate fields, Site Selection placed North Carolina at the top of the list. In fact, we didn’t only top the countrywide list, we were the only South Atlantic state to crack the Top 10.
Researchers incorporated data on factors including the percentage of the workforce holding credentials and degrees as well as labor productivity in creating its rankings. It also claimed to have incorporated more per-capita metrics this year, ensuring all states were on an even playing field.
“North Carolina’s strength is our people. They power our economy,” said Gov. Josh Stein of the ranking. “In 2025, North Carolina had our best year of job announcements ever. We must continue to invest in our people and expand pathways that prepare more people for the career opportunities being built here. With strategic leadership from my Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, North Carolina will not be outworked when it comes to workforce development.”
Read more about what North Carolina is doing right and how other states ranked at Site Selection Magazine.
Gantt Center announces major AI grant funding
The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture in Charlotte announced this week that it is among the first nonprofits in the country to be awarded funding from the People First AI Fund, a new $50 million initiative dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that take human-centered approaches to the development and use of artificial intelligence.
The Gantt Center is among the first group of 208 nonprofits nationwide to be selected out of nearly 3,000 applicants, according to a release from the museum on Wednesday. The OpenAI Foundation will provide $40.5 million in unrestricted grants to these organizations, which the funders found to “center people, equity, and social good” in their AI programming and development. A second wave of $9.5 million in grants will be announced in the coming months.
“Technology is central to our work, exemplified by our digital arts studio, MODA,” said Martin J. McNeese, director of technology and innovation at Gantt Center. “Building on this, we view AI as a tool to enhance and expand our program offerings, broaden understanding and access, and drive innovation.”
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Rougemont man strikes it big on the Powerball
A man from Rougemont in Durham County is perhaps having the best week of us all as he plans what to do with his new personal windfall: $72,000 in winnings from a $3 lottery ticket.
According to a release from the NC Education Lottery on Monday, Brandon Jeffries tried his luck on a $3 Powerball ticket and won a $100,000 prize when he matched the numbers on four white balls and the red Powerball to win $50,000, then doubled that when the 2x multiplier hit.
Jeffries reportedly went to the lottery headquarters in Raleigh, not far from his home in the Durham suburb of Rougemont (and well worth the drive in our opinion) last Friday to claim his winnings and, after federal and state tax withholdings, took home $72,011.
