Raleigh is the country's best-performing big city, according to an annual report ranking metros across a range of economic factors.

Why it matters: The Milken Institute's influential annual rankings highlight U.S. cities with job growth, affordable housing, economic equality and other big draws.

The big picture: Cities have largely emerged from the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic and "remain at the center of economic activity," as the report puts it.

Driving the news: Raleigh moved up to the top spot this year after coming second in 2024 and third in 2023.

• "It's been a long time coming for Raleigh, which has performed extremely well in our rankings for several years, without ever quite landing on top before this year," reads the report, which credits the city's job and wage growth and "thriving high-tech sector."

What they're saying: Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said she was proud of all the work the city has put in to get to the No. 1 spot and noted that the ranking takes into account housing affordability and inequality as measurements rather than just job growth.

• While Raleigh's housing prices have risen significantly since the pandemic, the Milken report stated Raleigh "has preserved its overall housing affordability relative to many of its Tier 1 peers."

Still, the city's housing affordability will determine how well it performs in the future, Cowell said, adding she is committed to boosting housing options and increasing the number of homes built in the area.

• "It definitely puts pressure on us to be laser-focused on housing and on affordability," she told Axios.
• "I heard a lot during the campaign about how property tax increases were significant and not sustainable," Cowell added. "We need to grow smart so we aren't over-taxing infrastructure and leverage the infrastructure that we have already put in place."

How it works: The annual rankings from Milken — a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank — are based on its Best Performing Cities index, which considers cities' labor markets, tech industry growth and economic access.

• Raleigh wasn't alone in its high performance. The Durham-Chapel Hill metro came in at No. 16 in Milken's analysis of Tier 2 metro areas, up 20 spots from last year.

Go deeper into the Milken report

Two-time James Beard-nominated Triangle chef Preeti Waas will open a "boutique bodega" in Research Triangle Park's HUB RTP development.

Why it matters: The neighborhood market, called Nanny Goat, will be Waas' second business in the Horseshoe at HUB RTP project, and the fourth tenant to sign a lease there so far.

Driving the news: Nanny Goat will offer both local and imported fresh produce, grab-and-go bites and artisan gifts, fresh flowers, bread and baked goods in the Horseshoe lobby, located at 3151 Elion Dr.

The intrigue: Nanny Goat is named for the female goat who watches over her herd, and the Nanny Goat Market in Philadelphia, which was a refuge for Irish immigrants in the 1800s before it was destroyed.

• Nanny Goat at RTP will offer baked goods from chef Tie Whittaker of Buttermilk Boutique, Breadwaala and Waas' own Sugar & Spice Kitchen.

Read more about Nanny Goat

Nathalie Dupree, "the grand dame of Southern cooking" and a Raleigh resident since 2020, died Monday at 85. (Charleston City Paper)

• Dupree was a four-time James Beard Award winner and 15-time cookbook author.

🚔 The Durham County Board of Commissioners gave the green light for an $18 million law enforcement training to be built. (News & Observer 🔒)

🥟 Brewery Bhavana aims to open its second location in Cary's Fenton development in April, owner Patrick Woodson said in a statement Tuesday.

• See our list of most anticipated restaurants coming this year

🛣️ The U.S. Department of Transportation is puttting an additional $353 million in Hurricane Helene relief funding toward rebuilding infrastructure in North Carolina and Tennessee. (WUNC)

📚 The Drakeford Library Complex — the $42 million new Carrboro library that'll house the Orange County Southern Branch Library — will host a grand opening on Feb. 21 at 203 S. Greensboro St. (Town of Carrboro)

Days before the Biden administration's term ends, the U.S. Commerce Department approved a $70 million CHIPS and Science Act grant that will benefit the Triangle region.

Why it matters: The grant will go to the Massachusetts-based semiconductor firm MACOM, which plans to expand its facility in Durham and hire across its locations here and in Lowell, Mass.

Driving the news: The U.S. Commerce Department said the investment would create 350 jobs across Durham and Lowell.

• The components MACOM makes for radio frequency products are important to the U.S. because of their use in defense and radar systems as well as telecommunications equipment, per the Commerce Department.

Context: The funding is the third investment the Triangle has landed from the federal CHIPS Act, a signature policy of the Biden administration to boost domestic manufacturing of semiconductors and computer chips.

• Wolfspeed's manufacturing facility under construction in Chatham County, which could eventually employ 1,800 workers, is in line for $750 million from the CHIPS Act.
• It also awarded the Durham nonprofit Semiconductor Research Corporation a $285 million grant to establish and operate a new manufacturing institute in Durham that will study domestic semiconductor production.

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Americans have consistently viewed medical workers, K-12 teachers and military officers as the most ethical professions — but even their ratings have dropped considerably, new Gallup polling shows.

Why it matters: Americans' opinion of the ethics of various professions has stalled at its lowest point — reflecting declining confidence in U.S. institutions overall.

State of play: U.S. trust in mass media hit a historic low last year, and Monday's report echoes low ratings of TV and newspaper reporters.

Go deeper: Media trust hits another historic low