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.

CarolinaEast struck a short-term pact with UnitedHealthcare to remain in-network through Dec. 31; Blue Cross Medicare Advantage members face out-of-network hospital coverage starting Wednesday.

A Youngsville woman says a copperhead bit her while taking out the trash; after antivenom at two hospitals she faces weeks of recovery and an estimated $800K–$900K medical bill.

A new review in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology challenges the idea that yo‑yo dieting permanently ruins metabolism. The finding is timely amid widespread GLP‑1 use.

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

Triangle families face rising senior‑care bills and long waitlists; this concise guide breaks down costs, contract types and where to check inspection records.

A low‑cost AI ultrasound from UNC can estimate gestational age, spot twins and assess fluid — now being piloted in rural North Carolina clinics. Early trials and a JAMA study suggest accuracy comparable to expert scans for key measures.

Knightdale homeowners received a second notice about uranium in tap water; the utility says recent tests are lower, but residents say mixed messages keep them uneasy.

Durham County handed out 175 free gun locks Monday as part of NC S.A.F.E., with officials and a pediatrician warning that unsecured firearms put children at risk. The event included tips and year‑round availability through county offices.

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.

Livingood Daily agreed to a $50,000 Prop 65 settlement after tests found lead and PFOA in several supplements; the deal imposes warnings, testing and sales limits for California customers.