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Inside North Carolina's iconic hot sauce: Texas Pete

Nearly a century after its debut, Texas Pete has become one of North Carolina's most enduring brands.

Business

The Texas Pete factory in Winston-Salem is an assault on the senses.<ul><li>Workers and robots move in sync as conveyor belts churn out bottles of hot sauce and salsa. The air is thick with the sinus-clearing aroma of freshly cut peppers, shipped by train from New Mexico.</li></ul>Why it matters: For nearly a century, TW Garner Foods has made one of America&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most popular" data-vars-click-url="https://www.newsweek.com/map-usa-states-hot-sauce-preference-food-spicy-franks-redhot-2022585" data-vars-content-id="d28d3cf0-fcf1-4085-98cd-9ab2301e7d4b" data-vars-headline="Inside North Carolina&#x27;s iconic hot sauce: Texas Pete" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.newsweek.com/map-usa-states-hot-sauce-preference-food-spicy-franks-redhot-2022585" target="_blank">most popular</a> hot sauces in Winston-Salem. Now it&#x27;s trying to ensure <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas Pete" data-vars-click-url="https://texaspete.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor49HMp9ee0O7m7YJTtZXm1WtGo6UKoizRLEnKhFDXQdJMiG1bb" data-vars-content-id="d28d3cf0-fcf1-4085-98cd-9ab2301e7d4b" data-vars-headline="Inside North Carolina&#x27;s iconic hot sauce: Texas Pete" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://texaspete.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor49HMp9ee0O7m7YJTtZXm1WtGo6UKoizRLEnKhFDXQdJMiG1bb" target="_blank">Texas Pete</a> thrives for another century.

Yellow-legged hornets have NC beekeepers on alert

The invasive predators haven't reached North Carolina yet, but experts say it's only a matter of time.

Yellow-legged hornets are spreading across the South, leaving North Carolina beekeepers bracing for their arrival.Why it matters: North Carolina&#x27;s agriculture industry depends on pollinators, and yellow-legged hornets can collapse honeybee colonies essential to food production while preying on native insects.

Raleigh's economy keeps on ticking

A wide range of industries are posting growth in the Raleigh area.

Raleigh&#x27;s economy continues to show strength heading into the second half of 2026, even as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hiring growth slows nationally" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/02/jobs-june-trump-federal-reserve" data-vars-content-id="8b078753-86bf-4ac4-a7ed-82bf22d8fc78" data-vars-headline="Raleigh&#x27;s economy keeps on ticking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/02/jobs-june-trump-federal-reserve" target="_self">hiring growth slows nationally</a>, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pnc.com/content/dam/pnc-com/pdf/aboutpnc/EconomicReports/Regional%20Economic%20Reports/2026/PNC_Regional_Economics_Analysis_Raleigh_July_2026.pdf" data-vars-content-id="8b078753-86bf-4ac4-a7ed-82bf22d8fc78" data-vars-headline="Raleigh&#x27;s economy keeps on ticking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pnc.com/content/dam/pnc-com/pdf/aboutpnc/EconomicReports/Regional%20Economic%20Reports/2026/PNC_Regional_Economics_Analysis_Raleigh_July_2026.pdf" target="_blank">new report</a> by PNC Bank&#x27;s regional researchers. Why it matters: Hiring in the Raleigh-Cary metro area grew at the 6th-highest rate among all metro areas to start the year, according to PNC, despite it being only the 50th-largest metro area in the country.

Best concerts coming to the Triangle this summer

From hometown heroes to country legends, there is something for everyone this sumer.

Things to Do

If you&#x27;re looking to get outside and experience live music, there&#x27;s something for everyone this summer across the Triangle. Why it matters: From country music legends to throwback &#x27;90s shows, the Triangle&#x27;s outdoor music venues all have big names braving the heat and humidity over the next few weeks.

GE Aerospace will invest more than $160M across North Carolina

The aircraft engine maker plans to hire another 5,000 workers across the U.S. this year.

For the second time in as many years, the aircraft engine maker GE Aerospace plans to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="invest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/03/13/ge-aerospace-invests-100m-in-north-carolina-facilities" data-vars-content-id="fca0fe52-e0d9-4a54-bce4-0d3457483ee6" data-vars-headline="GE Aerospace will invest more than $160M across North Carolina" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/03/13/ge-aerospace-invests-100m-in-north-carolina-facilities" target="_self">invest</a> $1 billion into its U.S. plants and create another 5,000 jobs. Why it matters: The investment will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="exceed $160 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.geaerospace.com/company/investing-in-manufacturing" data-vars-content-id="fca0fe52-e0d9-4a54-bce4-0d3457483ee6" data-vars-headline="GE Aerospace will invest more than $160M across North Carolina" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.geaerospace.com/company/investing-in-manufacturing" target="_blank">exceed $160 million</a> across North Carolina, where GE Aerospace has plants in Durham, Asheville, West Jefferson, and Wilmington.

North Carolina astronaut will see Earth like no human has before

Christina Koch grew up in North Carolina and went to college at N.C. State.

Aerospace

Christina Koch, an astronaut <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="raised in North Carolina" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/04/03/north-carolina-astronaut-christina-koch-lands-moon-mission" data-vars-content-id="bca5e5e2-1f51-440d-a98f-7be4e7837597" data-vars-headline="North Carolina astronaut will see Earth like no human has before" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/04/03/north-carolina-astronaut-christina-koch-lands-moon-mission" target="_self">raised in North Carolina</a> and educated in the state&#x27;s public schools, is set to fly around the Moon as soon as next month. Why it matters: NASA&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Artemis II mission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/01/22/huntsville-artemis-ii-nasa-marshall-sls-hls-lunar-mission" data-vars-content-id="bca5e5e2-1f51-440d-a98f-7be4e7837597" data-vars-headline="North Carolina astronaut will see Earth like no human has before" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/01/22/huntsville-artemis-ii-nasa-marshall-sls-hls-lunar-mission" target="_self">Artemis II mission</a> marks a new era of space exploration, one that envisions a long-term presence on the Moon and trips to Mars.<ul><li>The spaceflight will provide Koch, a noted photographer, and the rest of the crew with a perspective no human has ever seen.</li></ul>