Biogen, one of the world's largest biotechnology companies, plans to invest $2 billion and build a new manufacturing facility in Research Triangle Park.

Why it matters: Biogen is one of RTP's largest employers with more than 1,500 workers in Durham County. The latest investment will help it expand its manufacturing capabilities in North Carolina.

Between the lines: Investment into pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing remains on fire in the Triangle, with Biogen representing just the latest in a string of jobs announcements.

• The biotechnology company Genentech said earlier this year it plans to add 400 jobs in Holly Springs, and Amgen and Fujifilm Diosynth recently completed manufacturing facilities there as well.
• Last year, Novo Nordisk, the Danish maker of drugs like Ozempic, announced a planned $4 billion investment in facilities in Johnston County.

Zoom in: The investment will help Biogen build its eighth manufacturing facility in North Carolina, the drug maker said in a statement. The company makes a variety of treatments, including for multiple sclerosis, and has a pipeline of products being tested for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other diseases.

• Biogen declined to share details about the kind of hiring it'll do as a result of its latest investment. A spokesperson said it will support "key programs," including multiple potential investigational candidates, including felzartamab, salanersen, litifilimab and zorevunersen and BIIB080.

What's next: Reuters noted that Biogen is one of several drug makers that have announced investments amid the threat of a 200% tariff on imported drugs from the Trump administration, though Biogen's announcement made no mention of tariffs.

• Eric Forshee, executive vice president for life sciences at JLL's Raleigh office, said there has been an uptick in the number of corporate tours being taken in the region this year because of the tariff announcements.
• "It's still yet to be seen if that will lead to transactions over this year, as people are still navigating what's really going to be the final decisions by this administration," he said.

Go deeper

While no federal or statewide elections take place this year, your vote could be highly influential in several local elections happening across the Triangle this fall.

Why it matters: Local elections tend to have low turnout, but their outcomes can shape your day-to-day lives, helping determine tax rates, spending priorities and, increasingly, guiding the growth that is defining the region.

• Durham is the biggest city with an election this fall, with the mayor and three council seats all seeing challengers. But nearly every Wake County town will also hold elections.

What's next: Early voting in Wake County starts Oct. 16.

• In Durham, primary early voting starts Sept. 18 and early voting for the general starts Oct. 16.

Go deeper: Who is running for election across the Triangle

🍺 Cornerstone Tavern, a fixture of Raleigh's Glenwood South nightlife district, is closing after 13 years. (News & Observer 🔒)

🌊 More than 40% of North Carolina buildings that flooded between 1996 and 2020 were outside of FEMA's floodplain, according to researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill. (WRAL)

👾 GalaxyCon returns to the Raleigh Convention Center Thursday. (CBS17)

Nanny Goat, a new food-and-gifts market from the James Beard Award-nominated chef Preeti Waas, is now open in Research Triangle Park.

Why it matters: The new market, which is self-described as a "boutique bodega," is part of the Hub RTP development, which aims to bring a mixed-use center to Research Triangle Park.

• It will be one of two businesses Waas will have in Hub RTP, as she also plans to open a second location for her Indian restaurant Cheeni there.

Zoom in: The market offers a mix of local food, fresh produce, snacks, gifts and drinks.

Location: 3151 Elion Dr.

Lucille might need to rethink her ice cream habit: Prices for America's go-to frozen treat are hitting new highs, according to federal data.

The big picture: The average price of a half gallon of ice cream was $6.49 in June, up nearly 6% from June 2024, per the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED released Wednesday.

• The price of a half gallon is up nearly 33% since June 2021, when it was $4.89.

Zoom in: Soaring ingredient costs, extreme weather and hot demand are fueling the higher prices.

• Chocolate-based flavors are impacted by a surge in global cocoa prices, which have increased 150% in the last 12 months.

By the numbers: Americans spent $289 on ice cream in 2024 and $170 in the first five months of 2025, according to data from Empower.

• Americans spent $31 on ice cream in May 2025, a 26.5% jump over April 2025, Empower found. Gen Z spent nearly double any other group, forking over an average of $63.20 in May.
• Millennials purchased $33, Boomers, $32.60, and Gen X, $25.10, in May, per Empower.
• The average American eats roughly 19 pounds of ice cream each year, or about 4 gallons, per the International Dairy Foods Association.

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