Featured Spotlight Friday Five: AI claiming jobs, a tariffs survey and plenty of new businesses Mark Plemmons May 30, 2025 May 30, 2025 Updated Jul 5, 2026 0 Burger King® and Carrols Restaurant Group, LLC celebrated the grand re-opening of their remodeled restaurant on Cannon Boulevard in Kannapolis. The Chamber Leading Business in Cabarrus Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mark Plemmons Today’s Friday Five includes a couple of big picture items that affect the whole country and a few local business notes.k9am}@] `k^9amkAms:DEFC3:?8 ?6HD 23@FE px] x DE2CE65 2 AF3=:D9:?8^HC:E:?8 4=2DD 2 76H >@?E9D 324< 2?5 8@E 6IA@D65 E@ pCE:7:4:2= x?E6==:86?46 WpxX] x 7@F?5 :E :?E6C6DE:?8 2?5 FD67F=] x? E96 AC@46DD[ x D:8?65 FA 7@C 2 4@FA=6 @7 52:=J ?6HD=6EE6CD :? 9@A6D @7 =62C?:?8 >@C6] x 5:5] p =@E :D FD67F=[ 3FE D@>6 :D 5:DEFC3:?8]k^AmkAm(65?6D52J’D ?6HD=6EE6C 7C@> %96 }6FC@? Wk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]E96?6FC@?]2:Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmHHH]E96?6FC@?]2:k^2mX 56=:G6C65 2 3:8 5@D6 @7 5:DEFC3:?8]k^Am People are also reading… Cabarrus gets first case of cyclosporiasis, officials urge precautions Concord breaks ground on David Phillips Park, new nature-focused destination Atrium’s WakeMed acquisition faces new hurdle after State Health Plan decision Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is AMC Concord Mills adds NC's first ScreenX auditorium Cabarrus Elections Board approves 17-day early voting, four sites Court rules in Concord Mills mall effort to evict store and collect back rent Free Charlotte speedway passes for NC leaders went undisclosed. That’s going to change Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Pastor Doug Lattimore's mission to bring food and hope to every doorstep Atrium Health agrees to $1.8 million settlement in patient data case Fickenscher named GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway; Walter expands external affairs role 2026-27 Davis Theatre Season at the Cabarrus Arts Council unveiled Kannapolis Police officers for honored saving lives, outstanding service kAm}@29 t56=>2? 2?5 vC2?E w2CG6J HC:E6 %96 }6FC@?] %96J A@:?E65 @FE EH@ 2CE:4=6D 23@FE ;@3D 2?5 px] %96 7:CDE :D %96 t4@?@>:DE A:646 D9@H:?8 px 42FD:?8 2 8C25F2= C:D6 :? F?6>A=@J>6?E 7@C H9:E6\4@==2C ;@3D] %96 ?F>36CD H@F=5 C:D6 7C@> c]aT E@ fT] %96 }6FC@? 42==D E9:D @AE:>:DE:4]k^AmkAm%96 rt~ @7 p?E9C@A:4 s2C:@ p>@56: :D ?@E @AE:>:DE:4]k^AmkAm“x? 2 8C62E :?E6CG:6H H:E9 pI:@D[ E96 rt~ @7 p?E9C@A:4 ;FDE 56=:G6C65 2 3=F?E H2C?:?8i px 4@F=5 H:A6 @FE d_T @7 2== 6?ECJ\=6G6= H9:E6\4@==2C ;@3D 2?5 DA:<6 F?6>A=@J>6?E E@ `_\a_T :? E96 ?6IE `\d J62CD[” %96 }6FC@? C6A@CE65]k^Am kAm*@F 42? C625 E96 pI:@D DE@CJ 96C6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3:E]=J^pI:@Dpx;@3DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^3:E]=J^pI:@Dpx;@3Dk^2mk^Am kAmp>@56: @776CD D6G6C2= DF886DE:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 65F42E:?8 r@?8C6DD 2?5 86EE:?8 24E:@? E96C6 E@ 96=A :?7@C> E96 AF3=:4 2?5 4C62E6 65F42E:@?2= 2?5 C6E2:?:?8 AC@8C2>D] w6 2=D@ DF886DED “E2I E@<6?D” @? px FD6 E@ 96=A 7F?5 E96 27E6C>2E9 @7 px]k^AmkAmp>@56: :D 2 D>2CE 8FJ[ 3FE 96’D AC6EEJ ?2:G6 :7 96 E9:?<D r@?8C6DD H:== >@G6 BF:4<=J 2?5 5@ E96 C:89E E9:?8D]k^Am k9am}@] ak^9amkAm}6HDA2A6C FD6 @7 px] (6 5@?’E FD6 >F49 px] (6 92G6 2446DD E@ ~EE6C]2:[ H9:49 EC2?D4C:36D C64@C565 :?E6CG:6HD 2?5 >66E:?8D] x 92G6?’E C62==J 7:8FC65 @FE 9@H E@ FD6 :E]k^Am kAm*@F’G6 D66? 2 4@FA=6 @7 8C2A9:4D x 92G6 4C62E65 H:E9 r92Ev!% 2?5 x562@8C2>] %96 4@=F>? D:8D 7@C E96 uC:52J u:G6 2?5 (@C5 @? E96 $EC66ED 2C6 px 86?6C2E65 FD:?8 A9@E@D @7 >6]k^AmkAmx 5@?’E 4C62E6 2?J ?6HD 4@?E6?E H:E9 px 36J@?5 FD:?8 DA6== 4964< 2?5 vC2>>2C=J E@ 4FE 5@H? @? E96 EJA@D 2?5 8C2>>2E:42= 6CC@CD x >2<6]k^Am kAmx FD6 r92Ev!% E@ 82E96C 3C:67D E@ FD6 2D 7:==6CD :? @FC AC:?E 65:E:@?] p== 3C:67D FD65 2C6 G6C:7:65 2?5 4C65:E65 E@ E96 ?6HD D@FC46 E92E HC@E6 E96>] p== @7 E96 3C:67D 2C6 2G2:=23=6 E@ E96 AF3=:4 2?5 E@ >6[ 3FE :E :D 62D:6C E@ 82E96C E96> :? @?6 A=246] x 42? 4@AJ 2?5 A2DE6 7C@> @?6 D@FC46 WpxX :?DE625 @7 7:G6 @C D:I 5:776C6?E A=246D 2?5 4FE 2?5 A2DE6 7:G6 @C D:I E:>6D]k^Am kAmu@C J62CD[ x 92G6 FD65 v@@8=6 2=6CED] x H@F=5 42E68@C:K6 E9:D 2D px] *@F 8:G6 v@@8=6 2 =:DE @7 <6J H@C5D 2?5 :E D6?5D >6 2? 6>2:= 2=6CE 2?5 =:?< E@ DE@C:6D 2?5 H63 A@DED H:E9 E92E H@C5] |J H@C5D :?4=F56 r232CCFD[ z2??2A@=:D[ r@?4@C5[ |:5=2?5[ w2CC:D3FC8[ |E] !=62D2?E[ q2C36C\$4@E:2 2?5 #@H2?\r232CCFD]k^Am kAmvF6DD H9:49 D9@HD FA E96 >@DE — |:5=2?5] xE’D 2=>@DE ?6G6C E96 D@FE9 r232CCFD |:5=2?5] %96C6’D 2 |:5=2?5 :? |:49:82?[ 2?5 x 86E 2=6CED 6G6CJ 52J 7C@> |:49:82?] &DF2==J :E :D 7@C 2? p! DE@CJ 7C@> }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 E92E :D AF3=:D965 @? E96 |:5=2?5[ |:49:82?[ ?6HDA2A6C D:E6]k^AmkAm%96 H@C=5 4@?DE2?E=J 492?86D] *@F 252AE @C E96 >249:?6 H:== CF? @G6C J@F] x 766= =:<6 x 2> 23@FE EH@ DE6AD 2H2J 7C@> 36:?8 4CFD965]k^Am k9am}@] bk^9amkAm}6HD @? E2C:77D] r92C=@EE6\32D65 !=2?E %@FCD D92C65 2 DFCG6J :E 4@?5F4E65 C646?E=J 23@FE E96 67764ED @7 !C6D:56?E %CF>A’D E2C:77D] ~7 4@FCD6[ E96 2:> @7 E96 E2C:77D :D E@ 3C:?8 324< ;@3D E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^Am Plant Tours kAmw6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 <6J E2<62H2JD 7C@> E96 DFCG6J @7 d__ :?5FDEC:2= 6I64FE:G6Dik^AmkAm{6DD E92? `_T @7 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 C6DE@C65 AC@5F4E:@? 56DA:E6 E2C:77 :?46?E:G6D]k^AmkAmddT @7 >2?F724EFC:?8 AC@76DD:@?2=D D2J E2C:77D 92G6 C65F465 E96:C AC@7:E >2C8:?D 3J `_–`dT]k^Am kAmfdT @7 :?5FDEC:2= 3FD:?6DD6D 2C6 A2DD:?8 E2C:77\C6=2E65 4@DE :?4C62D6D 5:C64E=J E@ 4@?DF>6CD]k^Am kAmcdT @7 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 C65F465 E96:C H@C<7@C46 5F6 E@ E2C:77\C6=2E65 4@DE AC6DDFC6D]k^AmkAm}62C=J e_T @7 C6DA@?56?ED 36=:6G6 E96 >65:2 >:DD6D E96 >2C< 23@FE E96 :>A24E @7 E2C:77D]k^AmkAm%96 4@>A=6E6 DFCG6J C6DF=ED 2C6 2G2:=23=6 @?=:?6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A=2?E\E@FCD]4@>^3=@8^E2C:77\DFCG6J\52E2\a_adQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]A=2?E\E@FCD]4@>^3=@8^E2C:77\DFCG6J\52E2\a_ad^k^2m]k^AmkAm!=2?E %@FCD :D }@CE9 p>6C:42’D =625:?8 3C2?5 7@C 4@>>F?:42E:@? 6BF:A>6?E 7@C :?5FDECJ]k^Am kAm“(9:=6 E96 9625=:?6D 7@4FD @? (2== $EC66E 2?5 A@=:E:4D[ @FC A:646 :D 2 C2C6 =@@< 2E E96 5@H?DEC62> :>A24E @? @A6C2E:@?D[ 9:C:?8[ 2?5 DEC2E68:4 A=2??:?8 :? E96 :?5FDEC:2= D64E@C[” D2:5 #:4< u2CC6==[ AC6D:56?E @7 !=2?E %@FCD] “|2?J 3FD:?6DD6D 2C6 4FEE:?8 ;@3D[ 56=2J:?8 AC@;64ED[ @C C2:D:?8 AC:46D] ~E96CD 2C6 7:?5:?8 F?6IA64E65 36?67:ED :? 4FDE@>6C =@J2=EJ @C DFAA=J 492:? D9:7ED] xE’D 2 4@>A=6I 2?5 F?56CC6A@CE65 DE@CJ]”k^Am Plant Tours k9am}@] ck^9amkAmqFC86C z:?8 C6>@56=65 :? z2??2A@=:D] %9:D @?6 D=:AA65 E9C@F89 E96 4C24<D]k^Am kAmqFC86C z:?8® 2?5 r2CC@=D #6DE2FC2?E vC@FA[ {{r] 96=5 2 C:33@?\4FEE:?8 324< :? pAC:= @? :ED C6>@56= 2?5 C656D:8? @7 E96 z2??2A@=:D =@42E:@?] %96J 42== E96 56D:8? “$:KK=6]”k^Am kAmr2CC@=D[ 32D65 @FE @7 $JC24FD6[ }6H *@C<[ :D qFC86C z:?8’D =2C86DE &]$] @A6C2E@C[ H:E9 >@C6 E92? `[___ =@42E:@?D :? ab DE2E6D] %96 4@>A2?J 92D >@C6 E92? `d_ :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ :?4=F5:?8 ca :? E96 8C62E6C r92C=@EE6 >2C<6E] r2CC@=D 2=D@ @A6C2E6D >@C6 E92? d_ !@A6J6D]k^AmkAmqJ E96 H2J[ 92G6 J@F D66? E96 G:56@ @?=:?6 H:E9 E96 8FJ DE2?5:?8 @FED:56 !@A6J6Dn w6 AC@4=2:>D 96’D 7@F?5 2 8C62E r2E9@=:4 C6DE2FC2?E 42==65 “!@A6 J6D]”k^Am kAm}@H 324< E@ qFC86C z:?8] w6C6’D H92E qz vF6DED H:== 6IA6C:6?46 H96? E96J G:D:E E96 ?6H=J C6>@56=65 C6DE2FC2?E 2E g__ }] r2??@? q=G5]ik^AmkAms:8:E2= @C56C:?8 <:@D<D E92E 2==@H 8F6DED E@ >@C6 4@?G6?:6?E=J A=246 2? @C56C 7@C 5:?6\:? @C 42CCJ @FE]k^Am kAmt?92?465 5C:G6\E9CF 762EFC:?8 2 ?6H 42?@A:65 56D:8? H:E9 2? 2FE@>2E65 5C:G6\E9CF G@:46 DJDE6> 2?5 5@F3=6 =2?6D]k^AmkAmp 56D:8?2E65 A:4<\FA 2C62 E@ >2<6 56=:G6CJ 2?5 A:4<\FA @C56CD A=2465 E9C@F89 5:8:E2= 492??6=D >@C6 D62>=6DD]k^Am kAm$:8?2EFC6 :?E6C:@C 56D:8? 6=6>6?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 ?6H “z:?8 q@@E9[” 2 5:DE:?8F:D965 DA246 A6C764E 7@C 72>:=:6D 2?5 =2C86 8C@FAD[ 2 “rC@H? (2==” 7@C 2 >FDE\92G6 A9@E@ >@>6?E :?DA:C65 3J E96 :4@?:4 qFC86C z:?8 4C@H?[ 2?5 2 F?:BF6 (9@AA6C 2CE :?DE2==2E:@?]k^Am kAm|@56C? 6J6\42E49:?8 6IE6C:@C H:E9 2 =2C86 qFC86C z:?8 3F? =@8@ 2?5 “w@>6 @7 E96 (9@AA6C” H2==]k^Am kAm%96 ?6H “$:KK=6” 56D:8? 4@?46AE :D 2? 6IE6?D:@? @7 E96 3C2?5’D 8@2= E@ 249:6G6 gd\h_T >@56C? :>286 24C@DD E96 &]$] 3J a_ag[ 7F6=65 3J >@C6 E92? Sf__ >:==:@? :? :?G6DE>6?ED D:?46 E96 3C2?5 2??@F?465 :ED “#64=2:> E96 u=2>6” DEC2E68J :? a_aa]k^Am kAmx’G6 8@E E@ 25>:E :E’D 366? 2 4@FA=6 J62CD D:?46 x 92G6 366? E@ 2 qFC86C z:?8] %96 =2DE E:>6 x H6?E[ E96 7@=<D @G6C 2E !C64:D:@? %F?6 H6C6 H@C<:?8 @? >J 42C 2?5 x H2=<65 E@ qFC86C z:?8 2E %96 ':==286 :? r@?4@C5] x 8@E >J @C56C 2?5 H2D 62E:?8 H96? E96J =@4<65 E96 5@@CD]k^AmkAm%96J E@=5 >6 E96J 5:5?’E 92G6 6?@F89 H@C<6CD E@ @A6C2E6 E96 5:?:?8 C@@> 2?5 E96 5C:G6\E9CF E@@] %96J H6C6 G6CJ ?:46 2?5 E@=5 >6 E@ ;FDE =6E E96> <?@H H96? x ?66565 E@ =62G6 2?5 E96J H@F=5 F?=@4< E96 5@@C E@ =6E >6 @FE]k^Am k9am}@] dk^9am kAm#646?E C:33@?\4FEE:?8 H:E9 E96 r92>36C] #6>6>36C E96 x?56A6?56?E %C:3F?6 :D ?@ =@?86C @? r9FC49 $EC66E[ 2?5 H6 8@E E96 255C6DD 4@CC64E65 H:E9 %96 r92>36C {625:?8 qFD:?6DD :? r232CCFD] w6C6 2C6 3FD:?6DD6D E92E C646?E=J 96=5 C:33@?\4FEE:?8Dik^AmkAm kDEC@?8m!@DE}6Ek^DEC@?8m @A6?65 2 =@42E:@? 2E d_`` (655:?8E@? #@25[ r@?4@C5] %96 4@>A2?J 5@6D AC:?E:?8[ 8C2A9:4 56D:8?[ 2?5 D9:AA:?8 D6CG:46D]k^Am kAm kDEC@?8m|F=49 $@=FE:@?Dk^DEC@?8m 46=63C2E65 E96 @A6?:?8 @7 2 =@42E:@? 2E h__ (2CC6? r] r@=6>2? q=G5][ r@?4@C5] %96 4@>A2?J H2D 7@F?565 3J |24< ~’}62= !2CE66 yC] %96 =@42==J @H?65 4@>A2?J 92D 8C@H? 7C@> 2 D>2== DE2CEFA E@ @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE 3=@H6C ECF4< 7=66ED :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ D6CG:?8 3@E9 C6D:56?E:2= 2?5 4@>>6C4:2= 4=:6?ED]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m$FA6C:@C x?5@@C $@446C U2>Aj v@=7k^DEC@?8m C646?E=J 46=63C2E65 :ED @A6?:?8 2E f`cg (655:?8E@? #@25[ r@?4@C5] u@F?565 3J %@3J |6==@EE[ E9:D F?:BF6 :?5@@C DA@CED G6?F6 :? r@?4@C5 @776CD DE2E6\@7\E96\2CE 8@=7 2?5 D@446C D:>F=2E@CD E92E 2C6 7F? 7@C 2== 286D[ A=FD D?24<D 2?5 5C:?<D E@ 4@>A=6E6 E96 6IA6C:6?46]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m#:44@36?6 pDD@4:2E6D u2>:=J s6?E:DECJk^DEC@?8m 46=63C2E65 :ED ?6H @77:46 2E `bcf_ !=2K2 #@25 tIE6?D:@?[ w2CC:D3FC8] %96 @77:46 :D =65 3J sC] %2=92 z2C:>:[ 2 w2CC:D3FC8 C6D:56?E 2?5 6IA6C:6?465 56?E2= AC@76DD:@?2=] %96 ?6H =@42E:@? @776CD D6CG:46D C2?8:?8 7C@> C@FE:?6 4=62?:?8D 2?5 A65:2EC:4 42C6 E@ @C2= DFC86CJ[ 4@D>6E:4 56?E:DECJ[ :>A=2?ED[ @CE9@5@?E:4D[ 2?5 >@C6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mp?? $EC66E @7 $925J qC@@< xxk^DEC@?8m 46=63C2E65 :ED @A6?:?8 @? pK2=62 pG6?F6[ z2??2A@=:D] u@F?565 3J sC] r2?5:46 $E@<6D[ s}![ E96 3FD:?6DD :D 2 D6?:@C =:G:?8 724:=:EJ @776C:?8 A6CD@?2=:K65[ @?6\@?\@?6 42C6 :? 2 H2C>[ 9@>6\=:<6 D6EE:?8] xE @776CD ac\9@FC DFAA@CE 2?5 56>6?E:2 42C6 E@ :?\9@>6 D6CG:46D 2?5 4@>A2?:@?D9:A]k^Am kAmx7 J@F 92G6 2 uC:52J u:G6[ DE@CJ DF886DE:@? @C D@>6E9:?8 x 42? C2?E 23@FE[ 6>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i>A=6>>@?Do:?56A6?56?EEC:3F?6]4@>Qm>A=6>>@?Do:?56A6?56?EEC:3F?6]4@>k^2m @C 42== @C E6IE f_c\fge\___`]k^Am Mark Plemmons, Independent Tribune 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mark Plemmons Editor Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Follow Mark Plemmons Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Marvin Caldwell Park opens; the Rogers Lake Road bridge is open in Kannapolis; and more. North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is A Concord mother, writer and speaker shares her experience battling obesity and says North Carolina and insurance companies should treat it li… Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Christmas in July in Concord, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society seeking descendants of Mont Amoena … Robyn Benjamin: Danny the 'server' made an impression Robyn Benjamin recalls a server who made an impression on her recent trip to Chicago. Tom Campbell: Old solutions don't work for problem of teen takeovers Tom Campbell says social media and a different society make the issue of bored teens harder to address. Watch Now: Related Video Democratic leaders respond to President Donald Trump's primetime address US Launches Fresh Strikes As Iran Says Civilian Sites Were Hit US Launches Fresh Strikes As Iran Says Civilian Sites Were Hit Trump reviving election fraud claims to contest midterm results, say Democrats Trump reviving election fraud claims to contest midterm results, say Democrats US media split on airing Trump's speech heavy with unproven claims US media split on airing Trump's speech heavy with unproven claims
Mark Plemmons Editor Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Follow Mark Plemmons Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Marvin Caldwell Park opens; the Rogers Lake Road bridge is open in Kannapolis; and more.
North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is A Concord mother, writer and speaker shares her experience battling obesity and says North Carolina and insurance companies should treat it li…
Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Christmas in July in Concord, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society seeking descendants of Mont Amoena …
Robyn Benjamin: Danny the 'server' made an impression Robyn Benjamin recalls a server who made an impression on her recent trip to Chicago.
Tom Campbell: Old solutions don't work for problem of teen takeovers Tom Campbell says social media and a different society make the issue of bored teens harder to address.
