Gadsden thinks Motus plant is a ‘sign we can win’ in global economy
Wednesday was groundbreaking for Gadsden’s new $15 million Motus Integrated Technologies manufacturing plant. But instead of a humid tent in the middle of newly turned earth, local and state officials gathered in air-conditioned comfort at The Venue, an event hosting facility on the banks of the Coosa River. It was also a celebration for local officials after landing a Tier I auto supplier in the state’s smallest county, and as they said, hopefully a harbinger of more to come. Gov. Kay Ivey said the new plant “positions Motus to capitalize on the rapidly growing auto industry in the Southeast.” – AL.com
Study: The food delivery guy may well be eating your lunch
The smell of a mouthwatering meal is hard to ignore — especially when it belongs to someone else. At least that’s the suggestion of a recent study which found that nearly 30% of drivers are snacking from the food they’re responsible for delivering. The survey conducted by US Foods, which supplies food to restaurants, gathered information from about 500 food delivery drivers and more than 1,500 customers in America who order through apps such as DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub and UberEats. – APR
Trump reportedly bashes Delta for buying Alabama-made Airbus jets
President Donald Trump reportedly has criticized Delta for buying Airbus jetliners — many of which have been assembled in Alabama in recent years. Since Airbus began assembling A320-family jets at a new plant in Mobile in 2016, Delta has been a prime customer. In fact, just a few days before the meeting at which Trump made his remarks, Airbus announced it was delivering Delta’s 50th made-in-Alabama jetliner. That was out of 130 the plant had delivered overall. – AL.com
Two former bank employees plead guilty in $375K embezzlement
Two women have pleaded guilty after allegedly stealing more than $375,000 in an embezzlement scheme at Auburn Bank in Notasulga. Randi Lynn Carleton, 39, of Dadeville, and 34-year-old Leslie Fountain, of Notasulga, have both pleaded guilty to embezzling bank funds. According to The Department of Justice, both worked at the Notasulga branch of Auburn Bank where Carleton was the branch manager and Fountain was the assistant branch manager. – WTVM
Most expensive Navy carrier ever built has elevator problems
Only two of 11 elevators needed to lift munitions to the deck of the U.S. Navy’s new $13 billion aircraft carrier have been installed, according to a Navy veteran who serves on a key House committee. “I don’t see an end in sight right now” to getting all the elevators working on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the costliest warship ever, Democratic Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia said in an interview. The ship was supposed to be delivered with the Advanced Weapons Elevators, which are moved by magnets rather than cables, working in May 2017. – Bloomberg
J.D. Power to be acquired by owner of Autodata Solutions Group
A U.S. private equity firm that recently acquired Autodata Solutions Group has now reached an agreement to buy J.D. Power and Associates, the data analytics and consumer intelligence firm that also has close ties to the auto industry. Equity firm Thoma Bravo, with offices in San Francisco and Chicago, said late Tuesday that it expects the transaction to acquire J.D. Power to close by year end, subject to customary closing conditions. – Europe AutoNews
