Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has announced a $450 million investment in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park to develop new drugs, and put more people to work in the state.

It is the latest in a series of investments in North Carolina's research sector, designed to put more medications and more jobs in the pipeline.

Edgardo Hernandez, president of global manufacturing for Lilly, said it builds on investments the company has already made in the area, and will help them keep up with the soaring demand for pharmaceuticals.

"We are building capacity ahead of these promising medicines, including medicines for Alzheimer's disease, medicines for immunology, and medicines for diabetes," Hernandez outlined. "An extensive pipeline of new molecular entities that we are testing in the clinic to commercialize."

In addition to being used to create pharmaceuticals, the investment will also boost enrollment at trade schools and universities, but especially at Durham Technical Community College, which has an agreement with Lilly to train the students the company needs for many of its jobs.

So far, Lilly's recent investments have created at least 350 jobs in the pharmaceutical field, and the new money is projected to mean 100 more. Once trained, Hernandez explained the employees will do a wide variety of industry jobs.

"It goes from scientists, engineers and pharmacists to operators that operate our lines and maintenance technicians, lab technicians and even logistics and warehouse operators," Hernandez noted.

Nationwide, employers have said there is a shortage of work-ready high school graduates in lots of industries, and an investment in community colleges such as Durham and other trade schools will help train workers to address the problem in the rapidly expanding pharmaceutical sector.

Indiana's new budget does not include funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

The program sends free books to children from birth to age 5. It has helped Indiana's child literacy ranking rise from 19th to 6th nationwide.

Gov. Mike Braun is looking for solutions and appointed first lady Maureen Braun to work with donors and state leaders. He said their goal is to keep the program running in all 92 counties.

"When you're engaging your wife to make sure that you find the private sector to be the main funder of stuff because we've got a lot of other things, infrastructure, education, health care that we have to do," Braun explained.

Without state funding, local groups may struggle to cover costs. The program relies on partnerships, and some areas might not be able to continue.

Parents whose kids have benefited from the Imagination Library are concerned. One mother said the books have helped her child develop a love for reading. She praised the diverse selections and interactive guides that make learning fun.

Educators also worry about the effects. They said early access to books is key to childhood development and without the program, many children may miss out.

Braun said the discussion to save the program was loud and quick.

"That was one of them obviously -- it was well received -- didn't see where it had any real negatives to it," Braun noted. "But it was part of our budget that went up 10%."

Lawmakers and advocates are looking for new funding sources. Some hope private donations can fill the gap. Others push for legislative changes to restore funding. For now, the future of the program remains uncertain but supporters are determined to keep books in the hands of young Hoosiers.


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For the second year in a row, every nursing graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University passed the national licensing exam required to become a registered nurse. This 100% pass rate comes at a critical time for Florida, which is grappling with a growing demand for healthcare professionals amid an expanding population.

Brenda Hage, director of FGCU School of Nursing, credits dedicated investments for the program's success. Increased state funding helps universities like FGCU enhance their programs by offering scholarships, hiring faculty, and upgrading simulation labs.

"It's certainly a team effort. I have a wonderful team of faculty, a great BSN director Dr. Kelly Goebel, and we have really motivated and energized students that are dedicated to their studies and I think all of these things comes together with our great curriculum and wonderful men ed preparation that they get here at FGCU," she said.

FGCU's success is part of a statewide effort to tackle Florida's nursing shortage. Since 2022, the governor and legislature have invested $138 million to expand nursing programs through initiatives like PIPELINE and LINE grants.

The State University System achieved a 94% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination, or N-CLEX, surpassing the national average of 92%, and produced a record 1,900 nursing graduates last year.

Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of FGCU, says the investments are paying off as he touts the program's success in the Sunshine State.

"So, if you want to get a quality education, pay as little as possible for that education, and have the greatest chance of passing your licensure exam, the State University System of Florida is the path that will get you there," he said.

Rodrigues added that although the university had a successful pass rate on the N-CLEX nursing exam the state's overall rate is lower due to unaccredited private institutions. Recent reports show these programs have dragged down pass rates, with Florida ranking last nationally in 2024. He predicts public institutions will soon achieve near-perfect pass rates as struggling private programs close.

The fate of the U.S. Department of Education could have big effects for North Carolina schools.

While the Trump administration has discussed eliminating the agency, Congress has the final say. Still, spending reductions are on the table, including a $900 million cut by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Robert Taylor, superintendent of the Wake County Public School System, said grant funding from the federal government in particular is important, as states would have to step up if the Education Department is eliminated. Reductions to agencies like Health and Human Services are also a concern.

"State governments and local governments get funding from those programs," Taylor pointed out. "They would have to look holistically at all the things they no longer get from the federal government and do they have the capacity to fill all those holes that have now been created?"

Much of public schools' funding comes from states and localities but federal grants pay for things like underfunded schools and education for children with special needs. North Carolina has its own education funding issues stemming from the 1994 Leandro case, requiring the state to fund public education it has yet to fulfill. President Donald Trump and Republicans have been critical of the Education Department's policies in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion.

Rep. Rodney Pierce, D-Roanoke Rapids, represents Halifax, Northampton and Warren counties, three of the most economically distressed in the state. Federal per pupil expenditure in Halifax County, for instance, is about $6,500, well above the state average of about $2,200. Pierce said cuts to federal funding would lead to poorer outcomes for students in the district he represents.

"Education is such a foundation for so many other things," Pierce noted. "All professions start in the classroom, whether you're home-school, private school, public charter, traditional public school, magnet school. So you're talking about producing more dismal outlooks and a more uneducated populace."

Taylor added finding places to cut waste in the federal budget is a worthy goal but the government should ensure vital services for schools do not end.

"What I would encourage them to do is to take time to study the impact of what a closure would look like and look for cost savings in other areas," Taylor emphasized. "We know that education is one of the most important things that we do."


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