Brian Gordon
@skyoutbriout.bsky.social
Covering business, labor and tech — The News & Observer
IBM confirms it will move most Red Hat back-office staff (finance, legal, HR, accounting, and some supporting IT) into the parent company early next year.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
IBM moves Red Hat back-office workers into parent company. Why some are watching.
Most finance, HR, legal, accounting and some IT support staff at the Raleigh software provider Red Hat will be shifted into IBM early next year.
www.newsobserver.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
IBM confirms it will move most Red Hat back-office staff (finance, legal, HR, accounting, and some supporting IT) into the parent company early next year.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
A new drive to unionize four Amazon facilities in Durham begins after labor advocates lost an election earlier this year near Raleigh.
“We didn’t lose, we learned,” one union leader said.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
“We didn’t lose, we learned,” one union leader said.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Amazon union organizers start another NC campaign — this time in Durham
The new drive to unionize Triangle warehouse workers begins eight months after labor advocates lost an election near Raleigh.
www.newsobserver.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A new drive to unionize four Amazon facilities in Durham begins after labor advocates lost an election earlier this year near Raleigh.
“We didn’t lose, we learned,” one union leader said.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
“We didn’t lose, we learned,” one union leader said.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Brian Gordon
Vulcan Elements enters $1.4 billion partnership to pay for its first major commercial facility and challenge Chinese industry dominance.
U.S. government to take $50 million stake in Triangle rare earth magnets startup
Vulcan Elements enters $1.4 billion partnership to pay for its first major commercial facility and challenge Chinese industry dominance.
bit.ly
November 3, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Vulcan Elements enters $1.4 billion partnership to pay for its first major commercial facility and challenge Chinese industry dominance.
While Amazon commits to create 500+ jobs at a future data center in Richmond County, the company's incentive agreement with the local government allows Amazon to only hire 50 full-time workers there to receive its property tax breaks:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Amazon breaks ground on $10 billion data center between Raleigh and Charlotte
While some North Carolina communities battle data centers, Amazon is launching a 20-building project in Richmond County.
www.newsobserver.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:01 PM
While Amazon commits to create 500+ jobs at a future data center in Richmond County, the company's incentive agreement with the local government allows Amazon to only hire 50 full-time workers there to receive its property tax breaks:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
How fast has Nvidia reached an unprecedented $5 trillion valuation? These are all stories I’ve written in the past 2.5 years:
October 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
How fast has Nvidia reached an unprecedented $5 trillion valuation? These are all stories I’ve written in the past 2.5 years:
“Everybody’s here.”
Original Queer Eye cast member/TV personality Carson Kressley gave me an interview yesterday at High Point, NC’s famed biannual furniture market.
Original Queer Eye cast member/TV personality Carson Kressley gave me an interview yesterday at High Point, NC’s famed biannual furniture market.
October 29, 2025 at 1:04 PM
“Everybody’s here.”
Original Queer Eye cast member/TV personality Carson Kressley gave me an interview yesterday at High Point, NC’s famed biannual furniture market.
Original Queer Eye cast member/TV personality Carson Kressley gave me an interview yesterday at High Point, NC’s famed biannual furniture market.
Reposted by Brian Gordon
Many foresee a dire future for entry-level white-collar work.
AI is disappearing entry-level office jobs as NC blue-collar training gets boost
Many foresee a dire future for entry-level white-collar work.
bit.ly
October 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Many foresee a dire future for entry-level white-collar work.
JD Vance officiated at his wedding. Now, Kyle Walsh is the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences after atypical hiring process.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Duke professor, JD Vance friend named director of NIH’s RTP office. Some see issue.
JD Vance officiated at his wedding. Now, Kyle Walsh is the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences after atypical selection process.
www.newsobserver.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
JD Vance officiated at his wedding. Now, Kyle Walsh is the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences after atypical hiring process.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Brian Gordon
Duke University professor, JD Vance friend named director of NIH’s RTP office. Staff and former directors say Kyle Walsh's appointment as NIEHS director bypassed standard nationwide search process.(Via @skyoutbriout.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/busines... #ncpol
Duke professor, JD Vance friend named director of NIH’s RTP office. Some see issue.
JD Vance officiated at his wedding. Now, Kyle Walsh is the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences after atypical selection process.
www.newsobserver.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Duke University professor, JD Vance friend named director of NIH’s RTP office. Staff and former directors say Kyle Walsh's appointment as NIEHS director bypassed standard nationwide search process.(Via @skyoutbriout.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/busines... #ncpol
In an N&O interview, the developer behind the New Hill Digital Campus near Apex defended his data center project against residents' noise, energy, environmental concerns.
The fight unfolding in Wake County is one more common as U.S. data center demand surges.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
The fight unfolding in Wake County is one more common as U.S. data center demand surges.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
If this Wake County farm isn’t right for new data center, developer asks where is?
Residents have raised environmental, energy and noise concerns over the New Hill Digital Campus.
www.newsobserver.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
In an N&O interview, the developer behind the New Hill Digital Campus near Apex defended his data center project against residents' noise, energy, environmental concerns.
The fight unfolding in Wake County is one more common as U.S. data center demand surges.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
The fight unfolding in Wake County is one more common as U.S. data center demand surges.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
If you pass an internet cafe with black out windows in Raleigh or Durham, there's a good chance it's an electronic gaming hall.
Their operations violate NC law, from slot machines to
sweepstakes terminals. I played them, lost and won, and wrote about it:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Their operations violate NC law, from slot machines to
sweepstakes terminals. I played them, lost and won, and wrote about it:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Inside the Triangle’s illegal gaming cafés — where the internet rarely works
Gambling continues at internet sweepstakes cafés in Raleigh, Cary and Durham, even though they violate the law.
www.newsobserver.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:43 PM
If you pass an internet cafe with black out windows in Raleigh or Durham, there's a good chance it's an electronic gaming hall.
Their operations violate NC law, from slot machines to
sweepstakes terminals. I played them, lost and won, and wrote about it:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Their operations violate NC law, from slot machines to
sweepstakes terminals. I played them, lost and won, and wrote about it:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Thief ignored cash in register and took only Pokémon cards at Raleigh’s Hidden Block Games, one of three local stores to have Pokémon cards targeted in recent overnight break-ins.
The largest U.S. printer of Pokémon cards also happens to be in the Triangle:
amp.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
The largest U.S. printer of Pokémon cards also happens to be in the Triangle:
amp.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Pokémon cards stolen in three overnight break-ins of Wake County game stores
A burglar ignored the cash register and took only Pokémon cards, the store’s owner says, reflecting the high prices these cards fetch.
amp.newsobserver.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Thief ignored cash in register and took only Pokémon cards at Raleigh’s Hidden Block Games, one of three local stores to have Pokémon cards targeted in recent overnight break-ins.
The largest U.S. printer of Pokémon cards also happens to be in the Triangle:
amp.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
The largest U.S. printer of Pokémon cards also happens to be in the Triangle:
amp.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Under federal law, employers must give workers 60 days' warning before certain mass layoffs. But as contractors, Amazon delivery drivers can fall into a loophole where they get much less warning — including no warning at all.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Why Amazon drivers can be laid off without the usually required 60 days’ notice
Amazon delivery drivers aren’t Amazon employees. This distinction was recently highlighted during a mass job cut in Durham, N.C.
www.newsobserver.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Under federal law, employers must give workers 60 days' warning before certain mass layoffs. But as contractors, Amazon delivery drivers can fall into a loophole where they get much less warning — including no warning at all.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Saw my first severed leg and learned how a Triangle transplant maker custom 3D prints ankles, knees, hips and shoulders:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Need a knee? Growing Triangle transplant maker blazes 3D-printed joints in RTP
Ankles, shoulders, hips and knees. From its Morrisville headquarters, restord3D is broadening its ambitions to get into more operating rooms.
www.newsobserver.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Saw my first severed leg and learned how a Triangle transplant maker custom 3D prints ankles, knees, hips and shoulders:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Say goodbye to Wolfspeed, and say hello to Wolfspeed.
Shares of the Durham, NC semiconductor supplier appeared to have ballooned 1,700% earlier this week, but the reality explains the new state of this newly non-bankrupt company.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Shares of the Durham, NC semiconductor supplier appeared to have ballooned 1,700% earlier this week, but the reality explains the new state of this newly non-bankrupt company.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Why Wolfspeed’s stock rose 1,700% this week — and what really happened
Was the newly non-bankrupt Durham semiconductor supplier suddenly the next meme stock? Not quite.
www.newsobserver.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Say goodbye to Wolfspeed, and say hello to Wolfspeed.
Shares of the Durham, NC semiconductor supplier appeared to have ballooned 1,700% earlier this week, but the reality explains the new state of this newly non-bankrupt company.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Shares of the Durham, NC semiconductor supplier appeared to have ballooned 1,700% earlier this week, but the reality explains the new state of this newly non-bankrupt company.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
The town of Carrboro and Duke Energy met in a downtown Raleigh courtroom this week to debate whether the town can sue over Duke's approach to climate change:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Can an NC town sue Duke Energy like it’s a tobacco company in 1998?
Carrboro is trying to do what no local government has done before.
www.newsobserver.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The town of Carrboro and Duke Energy met in a downtown Raleigh courtroom this week to debate whether the town can sue over Duke's approach to climate change:
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Research Triangle Park is a few votes from its 50-year plan to remake the Triangle.
This week, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam said she supports an effort to bring housing and transportation to the park.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
This week, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam said she supports an effort to bring housing and transportation to the park.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
What could RTP look like in 2074? The Triangle is a few votes from finding out.
More homes? Towers? Grocery stores? The center of the Research Triangle might never look the same.
www.newsobserver.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Research Triangle Park is a few votes from its 50-year plan to remake the Triangle.
This week, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam said she supports an effort to bring housing and transportation to the park.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
This week, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam said she supports an effort to bring housing and transportation to the park.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Is the future of military drones being designed next to a Burt's Bees factory in Morrisville?
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Anduril doubled Triangle site as trendy defense firm readies AI fighter drone
The fast-growing tech company may have bypassed North Carolina for a 4,000-job factory project, but Anduril has added to its local facility where it makes the unmanned aircraft, Fury.
www.newsobserver.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Is the future of military drones being designed next to a Burt's Bees factory in Morrisville?
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Brian Gordon
New:
NC Gov. Josh Stein just launched a new advisory council about AI. More about what that means for taxpayers, jobs, and an AI reg reform bill coming next #ncga session.
#ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
NC Gov. Josh Stein just launched a new advisory council about AI. More about what that means for taxpayers, jobs, and an AI reg reform bill coming next #ncga session.
#ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
What will NC being an AI leader mean for taxpayers? Gov. Stein creates new group
A new AI Leadership Council will bring together public and private leaders to oversee artificial intelligence efforts in NC.
www.newsobserver.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
New:
NC Gov. Josh Stein just launched a new advisory council about AI. More about what that means for taxpayers, jobs, and an AI reg reform bill coming next #ncga session.
#ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
NC Gov. Josh Stein just launched a new advisory council about AI. More about what that means for taxpayers, jobs, and an AI reg reform bill coming next #ncga session.
#ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
Breaking: The sodium-ion battery startup Natron Energy will cease operating on Wednesday, Sept. 3. It was only last summer that Natron committed to build a $1.4 billion/1,000-worker manufacturing plant in North Carolina's Edgecombe County.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Natron Energy, company behind $1.4 billion NC project, is going out of business
The battery maker behind North Carolina’s largest economic project announced last year, will stop operating Wednesday.
www.newsobserver.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Breaking: The sodium-ion battery startup Natron Energy will cease operating on Wednesday, Sept. 3. It was only last summer that Natron committed to build a $1.4 billion/1,000-worker manufacturing plant in North Carolina's Edgecombe County.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Brian Gordon
The weekly Open Source business newsletter from @skyoutbriout.bsky.social is always an entertaining read. Particularly this week as he reports from Waffle House ahead of National Waffle Day. (And I learned NC is behind only Georgia and Florida in the number of Waffle Houses.)
Pondering AI job displacement at a South Durham Waffle House
Ahead of National Waffle Day, The N&O intrepidly visits two area Waffle Houses to hear what customers think about the economy.
www.newsobserver.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The weekly Open Source business newsletter from @skyoutbriout.bsky.social is always an entertaining read. Particularly this week as he reports from Waffle House ahead of National Waffle Day. (And I learned NC is behind only Georgia and Florida in the number of Waffle Houses.)
Reposted by Brian Gordon
Doctors at @uncchapelhill.bsky.social and @duke-university.bsky.social didn’t mince words this week about US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr’s decision to cancel millions in contracts and grants for vaccine research. @skyoutbriout.bsky.social has details.
UNC, Duke doctors sound off on RFK Jr.’s claims about mRNA vaccines
“I’m going to have to struggle not to use profane language,” one local researcher said.
www.newsobserver.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Doctors at @uncchapelhill.bsky.social and @duke-university.bsky.social didn’t mince words this week about US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr’s decision to cancel millions in contracts and grants for vaccine research. @skyoutbriout.bsky.social has details.
Reposted by Brian Gordon
Fun story from @skyoutbriout.bsky.social on Cooper, Stein and the disappearing necktie. I wonder how quickly ties would disappear from the #ncga if leadership relaxes the dress code for sessions
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol
When will Roy Cooper next wear a tie? No neckwear is no accident.
North Carolina’s top Senate candidates kicked off their campaigns this week without neck ties. Plus, Duke stays quiet on Trump funding threat and inside Garner’s massive Amazon warehouse.
www.newsobserver.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Fun story from @skyoutbriout.bsky.social on Cooper, Stein and the disappearing necktie. I wonder how quickly ties would disappear from the #ncga if leadership relaxes the dress code for sessions
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol
This month, The News & Observer got an exclusive tour of Amazon's RDU1 fulfillment center in Garner. It is a massive warehouse, and what really stood out to me (especially as a journalist) was the prevalence of metrics at the facility.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
At Amazon’s massive Triangle warehouse, metrics drive workers and robots alike
How do customers get Amazon deliveries within days? We toured the RDU1 facility in Garner, North Carolina, to see.
www.newsobserver.com
July 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
This month, The News & Observer got an exclusive tour of Amazon's RDU1 fulfillment center in Garner. It is a massive warehouse, and what really stood out to me (especially as a journalist) was the prevalence of metrics at the facility.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...