Davidson and Mecklenburg County public‑health officials confirmed a fox near Mayes Road tested positive for rabies; two people and one pet were exposed and officials urge updated vaccinations.

A Raleigh News & Observer review finds few North Carolina tattooists hold formal blood‑borne pathogen training. Practical, expert‑based tips show how to check a shop before your appointment.

The 2026 budget added the Student Lifeline Act, so schools and colleges must put 988 and Crisis Text Line contacts on new student IDs, websites and registration materials statewide.

A goat found near trails in Clover tested positive for rabies; four people were referred for medical follow-up. Officials urge vaccinations and reporting.

New county data show HIV diagnoses climbed to 285 in 2024 and Black residents made up about 60% of new cases, while advocates say outreach and funding remain uneven.

Rowan County officials say suspected opioid ER visits jumped 120% from April to May and warn medetomidine — a veterinary sedative — has been found in the local drug supply.

A new review maps lymphatic networks along the spine and connects spinal tissues to brain clearance and inflammation. Simple five‑minute moves may help support flow.

Charlotte recycling crews are finding used GLP‑1 injection pens and needles in bins, prompting warnings from county officials and sharps‑disposal guidance from federal agencies.

Mecklenburg’s 2025 community health assessment finds 40% of Latino residents lack a regular primary care doctor and nearly 70,000 are uninsured.

Mecklenburg County issued a rabies alert after a Huntersville coyote exposed a person and a pet on June 6; both are receiving treatment and officials urge caution.

Researchers detected Orientia bacteria in chiggers across North Carolina, though no human cases have been confirmed. Simple precautions can cut your risk.

From pill production in the Triangle to a brief Medicaid U‑turn, North Carolina is now the center of debates over access, cost and safety for GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs.

Wake Forest researchers analyzed the U.S. POINTER trial and found coach‑led diet and exercise programs produced measurable reductions in frailty over 24 months.