AROUND TOWN

JUUL Labs, Inc. plans to build a $125 million assembly facility in Lexington County. The e-cigarette maker says the plant will create 500 new jobs. The deal was announced by the company and the South Carolina Department of Commerce Monday morning, WLTX reported. JUUL markets its product as an alternative to smoking. Operations are expected to come online this summer. Those interested in job opportunities should visit https://interview.harqen.com/interviewnow/59478/6394 .

Need a vacation?

Columbia Metropolitan Airport will now offer a new route for anyone interested in heading to the Sunshine State. Starting in December, you can fly from Columbia to Miami nonstop with American Airlines. The new flight will leave Columbia at 7:30 am and arrive in Miami a little after 9 am. The return flight will leave Miami at 9:50 pm and is expected to arrive in Columbia just before 11:30 pm. Columbia Metropolitan Airport’s new route to Miami now provides passengers with 10 major cities to choose as travel options. You can begin booking flights to Miami from Columbia on May 13.

SCDNR moves headquarters

The SC Department of Natural Resources has moved from its downtown Columbia office. The move comes as an effort to provide better customer service, ample parking and easier accessibility. All customer service needs will be handled at SCDNR at the State Farmer’s Market, 326 Little Brooke Lane, West Columbia, SC 29172.

National Right To Work Act

Congressman Joe Wilson of Springdale introduced the National Right to Work Act for the 116th Congress: “No American should be forced to pay union dues or ‘fees’ just to get or keep a job,” he said. “80% of people in our country support putting an end to dues as a condition of employment.”

B-L businessman recognized

The SC Poultry Festival Steering Committee named Brent Shealy as this year’s Distinguished Citizen. Shealy is a Batesburg-Leesville native who graduated from B-L High, reported The Twin-City News. Shealy is the manager of Economy Furniture Company, founded in 1939. Shealy serves as co-chairman and financial director for the Poultry Festival Steering Committee.

Who’s new

Dr. William M. Yarbrough has joined Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery, a Lexington Medical Center hospital physician practice. Yarbrough is a Columbia native. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and graduated with his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.