Rural Health Access: Gov. Josh Stein and state health leaders launched a $20 million Rural Health Innovation Fund to help rural providers modernize infrastructure and use digital tools to connect patients to care closer to home. Public Health & Harm Reduction: In Jackson County, advocates pushed back against limits on syringe service programs, citing higher overdose impact locally and arguing clean needle access and safe disposal reduce needlesticks and harm. Food Safety: FDA assigned the highest risk recall level (Class I) to Salata Salad Kitchen Jalapeño Avocado Dressing in Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas due to possible Salmonella contamination. Data Privacy: A multistate settlement with Labcorp resolves claims tied to the 2019 AMCA data breach that may have exposed sensitive patient information for millions nationwide. Community Health & Safety: Greensboro city leaders are fighting tighter 1,4-dioxane wastewater restrictions tied to downstream drinking-water contamination, with long-term exposure linked to serious health risks. Patient Advocacy: Patients for Patient Safety US added NC Central University social work professor Dr. Charity S. Watkins and Vonda Vaden Bates to its board to expand work on diagnostic accuracy and patient engagement. Local Tech in Health Research: Creedmoor Centre Endocrinology became FOMAT’s first North Carolina and endocrinology-focused clinical trial site. Health System Security: North Carolina’s jury-duty website leak exposed Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and medical records, with officials still not notifying the AG.