State Grant for Burn Tech: Greenville’s Perfusio Corp. won a $75,000 NC grant to develop a handheld burn-imaging device and software for faster, more objective burn assessment at the point of care, building on a prior $349,000 NIH SBIR award. Measles Preparedness on Campus: Colleges are urging faculty and staff to gather proof of measles vaccination or immunity early, aiming to prevent a single case from triggering long campus disruptions and quarantines. Alzheimer’s Communication Shift: A UNC School of Medicine physician argues in a new essay that how clinicians talk about Alzheimer’s can either trap families in hopelessness or support recovery and hope after diagnosis. Rabies Exposure Alert: A Durham-area family says a mobile petting zoo event led to a confirmed rabies investigation involving baby goats, prompting families and guests to seek rabies shots. Public Health & Safety: Fayetteville police report two deaths and one hospitalization after suspected synthetic opioid ingestion, urging 911 calls if an overdose is suspected. Food Safety Recall: Walmart frozen berries are again under recall for possible E. coli contamination, with affected products sold in 16 states including North Carolina. Prison Peer Support: NC prisons are expanding “field minister” roles—incarcerated men trained in pastoral ministry and counseling—working alongside chaplains to support grief, addiction, mental health, and end-of-life care. Rural Hospital Fix: Rep. Jill Tokuda introduced “REH 2.0” to reduce barriers that have limited Rural Emergency Hospital conversions, aiming to help struggling rural facilities keep key services like obstetrics and lab support. Microplastics Monitoring Push: NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson urged the EPA to add microplastics to drinking-water monitoring rules to better protect public health.