North Carolina is part of Apple’s $500 billion U.S. expansion plans. Apple will expand facilities in nine states over the next four years and create 20,000 jobs, the tech giant said in a news release Monday. With the company’s largest ever financial commitment, it is focusing on artificial intelligence, silicon engineering and skills development.

Apple plans to expand operations in Maiden, North Carolina — roughly 45 minutes from Charlotte — as part of its $500 billion, four-year U.S. expansion, the company announced Monday morning. Why it matters: This is Apple's largest financial commitment to date,

Texas moved up to No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball poll for the first time in 21 years after Notre Dame lost in overtime to N.C. State.

The Longhorns moved atop the poll Monday after previous No. 1 Notre Dame lost in double overtime to North Carolina State. UCLA had been No. 1 the 12

The Texas Longhorns quietly slid into the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll after the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell to the No. 13 NC State Wolfpack in a double-overtime thriller, becoming the first Texas team to top the poll since February 2004.