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Reynolds American Chief Stepping Down
The CEO of Winston-Salem-based Reynolds American is stepping down.
Debra Crew ran the tobacco firm during its acquisition by a former competitor.
Crew has been with Reynolds since 2014, but only took the CEO position at the start of this year, replacing former chief Susan Cameron.
Crew's short tenure was busy, as she was at the wheel when British American Tobacco completed its acquisition of RAI, creating the largest publicly-traded tobacco company in the world.
Ricardo Oberlander, a longtime BAT employee and executive, will take over the corner office at the end of the year.
Reynolds is believed to have roughly 2,000 employees in the Triad, most of them at the company's Tobaccoville plant.
New Drone Laws Take Effect Friday
Two North Carolina House Bills will take effect this week to keep pace with the fast-growing drone industry.
Both laws were passed back in July. House Bill 128 prohibits drone use near prisons, jails and any other correctional facility.
House Bill 337 does several things. First, it clarifies that Unmanned Aircraft System laws will now apply to model aircraft as well. The revision also loosens restrictions on the use of drones in emergency management, allowing agencies to use thermal and infrared technologies.
And, by removing that restriction, private and commercial operators will now be allowed to assist law enforcement with emergency management efforts like search and rescue operations.
The new drone laws will go into effect on Friday.
Audit: Workers Unauthorized To Commute With State Vehicles
North Carolina auditors say two Division of Motor Vehicles employees used government vehicles for unauthorized work commutes over three years, resulting in $90,000 in state expense.
State Auditor Beth Wood's office released findings Tuesday based on a complaint.
Auditors determined an unnamed license and theft bureau inspector drove daily from his home in Washington, North Carolina, to Raleigh to work on special projects for top DMV officials at the time. The report says his boss didn't formally OK the long commute.
The audit also found a Triad-area employee used a state vehicle to commute without reimbursing the state. Auditors say two agencies failed to properly review the vehicle-use application.
Western Carolina Provost To Serve As Acting Chancellor
The provost of Western Carolina University will serve as the school's acting chancellor when the current chancellor leaves for medical treatment.
The News & Record reports that Alison Morrison-Shetlar will lead the Cullowhee university starting Jan. 1. The president of the University of North Carolina system, Margaret Spellings, made the announcement on Tuesday.
Chancellor David Belcher, who's been at the helm since 2011, announced Monday that he'll go on medical leave starting Dec. 31 for further treatment of a brain tumor.
Belcher says he doesn't expect to return to the job.
Scotland native Morrison-Shetlar has been at Western Carolina since 2014, and is also a tenured biology professor.
Cooper To Join In Celebrations For Durham Bulls, UNC Hoops
Gov. Roy Cooper is spending part of his work day in the midst of champions.
Cooper is scheduled to make remarks on Wednesday at the celebration marking the Durham Bulls' 2017 Triple-A national minor league baseball championship. The celebration is being held at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
From Durham, Cooper will make the short trip to Chapel Hill to unveil a highway sign celebrating the University of North Carolina's men's basketball national championship last season. The event will be held at the Dean E. Smith Center.