AGP Executive Report

Neurology & Drug Development: Skyhawk Therapeutics says its investigational oral RNA-splicing modifier SKY-0515 cut mutant huntingtin (mHTT) by up to 69% in an interim Huntington disease trial, with favorable 12-month clinical changes reported ahead of peer review. Diabetes & Weight-Loss Pipeline: Pfizer presented Phase 2b results for berobenatide (PF’3944), a potential monthly GLP-1 option, reporting about 16% weight loss at 32 weeks (2.4 mg weekly) and low GI side effects, setting up Phase 3 plans. Public Health & Access: North Carolina’s Medicaid spending data show sharp local increases in several categories, including Taylorsville’s $587,925 for “National Codes Established for State Medicaid Agencies” in 2024 and Creedmoor’s $580,075 for “Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)”—a reminder that where dollars go can vary by community. Air Quality & Heat Safety: A Code Orange ozone alert hit the Piedmont Triad, with guidance to limit time outside for sensitive groups and stay hydrated. Community Health: DEQ launched its annual recreational water monitoring season around Asheville, testing for E. coli so families can check river conditions before swimming or paddling. Mental Health: A Charlotte story highlights how social connection and counseling can help people manage suicidal thoughts, underscoring loneliness as a major risk factor.

Skilled Nursing Ratings Watch: CMS data spotlighted big swings across North Carolina nursing homes in Q1 2026—Wilson Rehabilitation and Nursing Center hit 5 stars, while River Bend Health and Rehabilitation in Buncombe fell to 1 star and racked up fines; The Laurels of Hendersonville earned 3 stars; Pine Acres Center in Davidson scored 1 star; and Brookdale Carriage Club Providence in Mecklenburg posted 4 stars. Aging & Affordability: The N.C. State Health Plan board approved Medicare Advantage benefit changes for about 175,000 retirees, raising out-of-pocket maximums and copays, with critics warning fixed-income seniors will feel the pinch. Heat & Air Quality: Forecasters warn of hot 90s plus a Code Orange Air Quality Alert, with major heat-illness concerns expected Sunday across parts of the Piedmont. Nutrition Policy: A new public-health push targets ultra-processed foods, citing broad public support for tougher rules like additive testing, dye bans, and warning labels. Health Care Oversight: A New York Times investigation zooms in on NC autism therapy clinics and Medicaid spending, renewing questions about hours, billing, and whether care matches need. Community Health & Safety: Local officials and partners are offering resources after Deputy Logan Utt’s death following a wellness check, emphasizing mental health support for families and coworkers. Food Security: Second Harvest launched summer meal programs to help feed children while school is out.

Medicare & costs: The NC State Health Plan Board voted to raise Medicare Advantage rates for older workers and retirees and adjust provider tiers to close a projected gap, with higher out-of-pocket maximums and co-pays. Air quality: Nearly 2 million NC residents were urged to avoid fast-food drive-thrus and limit idling during a Code Orange ozone alert in the Piedmont Triad. Autism care scrutiny: A New York Times investigation spotlights Medicaid-funded autism therapy oversight concerns in NC, including rapid spending growth and questions about ABA clinic practices. Pulmonary embolism milestone: UNC earned the state’s first Pulmonary Embolism Center of Excellence accreditation from the PERT Consortium, recognizing multidisciplinary PE care. Food security: Second Harvest launched a summer meal program across multiple western NC counties, including hot meal sites, parent pickup boxes, and a home-delivery pilot. Public comment on pollution permit: DEQ is accepting comments on a draft major-source air permit for ATI Specialty Materials in Union County, with a July 6 deadline. Health policy fight: A new NC House bill would require pregnancy centers receiving state funding to publicize confidential financial and staffing details, drawing criticism that it targets local providers.

MS Drug Update: Phase 3 FENhance trials report fenebrutinib shows strong efficacy and favorable safety in relapsing multiple sclerosis, aiming to better shut down inflammation and target progression. Mental Health Reform: North Carolina’s involuntary commitment reform package (HB 1104) cleared the House, with lawmakers saying it will improve court decisions and expand outpatient treatment to prevent crises. CPR Push: The American Heart Association and NWSL launched the 2026 “Nation of Lifesavers” ambassador class to expand CPR and AED education statewide. Air Quality Alert: A Code Orange ozone alert is in effect for the Triad, and Guilford County triggers a burn ban; sensitive groups are urged to limit time outside. Child Welfare Accountability: Lawmakers grilled Mecklenburg County leaders over the Dominique Moody case, including reports that multiple abuse/neglect calls were screened out before her death. Nursing Home Watch: CMS Q1 2026 ratings spotlight big gaps across NC facilities, from 1-star homes to 4- and 5-star centers, with several reporting fines and penalties. Professional Foster Parenting: North Carolina continues expanding “professional foster parents” through programs like Crossnore’s Bridging Families to keep siblings together and speed reunification.

Food Access: The Carolina Hurricanes Foundation is funding 150,000 meals for Central and Eastern North Carolina families through the Food Bank’s Stop Summer Hunger effort, aiming to protect kids’ nutrition during summer break. Public Health & Water Safety: Western N.C. DEQ kicked off its summer recreational water quality sampling, testing 71 sites weekly for E. coli so families can choose safer spots to swim, raft, and paddle. Healthcare Expansion: Ignite Medical Resorts is entering North Carolina by acquiring four Charlotte-area skilled nursing facilities, with plans for renovations and technology upgrades. Medicaid & Care Quality: A new webinar highlights fraud, waste, and abuse concerns in Medicaid home- and community-based services for people with disabilities, focusing on how oversight can protect vulnerable patients. Community Wellness: Reclaim Healthcare WNC and National Nurses United are hosting an event honoring Mission Health employees past and present, with live music and food. Nutrition Spotlight: A dietitian in Cary points to chickpeas as a “superfood” for fiber, protein, and metabolic health benefits. Health Policy Watch: North Carolina’s school choice opt-in moves forward, with federal education tax credits tied to the program.

Hurricane Readiness: Cellphone carriers are stepping up hurricane season prep with AI and drones to keep service running when wind and rain knock out towers. AI & Youth Policy: An NC bill is moving fast by bundling AI literacy in schools with stricter rules for minors’ social media access. Nursing Home Watch (CMS): New CMS rankings spotlight big gaps across the state—some facilities post top 5-star scores (like Carol Woods and Grace Heights), while others land at 1–2 stars and report fines/penalties (including several “second largest” homes in multiple counties). Public Health & Environment: FDA is investigating new listeria and cyclospora outbreaks, and UNC researchers report antidepressant drugs showing up at potentially harmful levels in NC waterways near wastewater plants. Aging & Brain Health: A UNC-led study links genetic risk for higher pulse pressure with higher dementia-related mortality. Housing & Recovery: HUD’s homelessness funding shift favors programs that pair housing with addiction treatment and mental health support.

NC Public Safety & Justice: Virginia charged Michael Timothy Puckett, 55, with aggravated murder of Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy Logan Utt after a wellness-check call in Cana escalated into a shooting; Puckett was arrested in Mount Airy, NC, after a multiagency search. Health Access & Costs: UNC’s Cecil G. Sheps Center reports North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot cut Medicaid healthcare costs by about $164 per month per enrollee, even though the program was later discontinued. Caregiving & Medicaid Rules: CMS’s Medicaid work requirements rule could disqualify many people with disabilities, but includes flexibility for low-income family caregivers who reduce work hours to care for loved ones. Heart Health Research: The American Heart Association launched a national heart transplant research network to tackle gaps in innovation, equity, and outcomes, including for Black patients and children. Everyday Wellness for Families: North Carolina’s SUN Bucks summer program begins June 1, sending $120 per child to help families buy food during school breaks. Undiagnosed Condition Spotlight: A North Carolina report highlights POTS as underdiagnosed and potentially debilitating, with guidance on living and managing the condition. Online Safety: A survey finds many teens report unwanted or dangerous content on Snapchat, including bullying and sexually suggestive messages. Policy & Trauma-Informed Care: Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina updated participation rules to reduce children’s public testimonies tied to personal experiences, citing trauma-informed care.

COVID Surveillance Funding: A proposed cut to the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System could slash annual funding from about $125M to $25M, raising alarms that the U.S. may lose an early-warning tool as a new COVID “cicada” variant spreads to at least 25 states. Pet Health: Vets warn North Carolina cat owners to protect against “bobcat fever” (cytauxzoonosis), a life-threatening tick-borne parasite spread by Lone Star ticks, with prevention and indoor safety urged during peak season. Nursing Home Watch (CMS Q1 2026): Several facilities earned top marks, including The Lodge at Mills River (5 stars), Hillside Nursing Center of Wake Forest (5), Abernathy Laurels (5), and multiple 4-star leaders like Murphy Rehabilitation & Nursing (Cherokee) and Swannanoa Valley Health & Rehabilitation (Buncombe). Others flagged lower scores, such as Oxford Health & Rehabilitation Center (1 star, Granville) and Siler City Center (1 star, Chatham). Local Health & Care: Valley Health was named a national Top 15 health system for 2026, while CMS ownership/rating updates highlighted ongoing staffing and inspection-driven performance differences across counties.

Workplace Safety: North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley marked Workers’ Memorial Day, honoring 67 worker deaths in the state over the past year and urging safer workplaces. Homelessness & Housing: Raleigh’s Outlanders self-governed homeless community continues to draw attention for how residents manage daily life, rules, and services in a wooded encampment. Cancer Watch: A new American Cancer Society analysis says a Southeastern Virginia/Northeastern North Carolina colorectal cancer “hotspot” is no longer showing persistent elevated death rates. Behavioral Health Access: Cape Fear Valley Health is opening an adolescent inpatient psychiatric care center in Lillington for ages 12–17, expanding local options for families. Medicaid & Whole-Person Care: UNC research finds North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilots cut Medicaid health care costs by about $164 per month, mainly by reducing ER visits and hospital stays. EMS Upgrade: Guilford County EMS began carrying whole blood for critical trauma patients, aiming to improve survival before hospital arrival. Public Health & Food Security: SUN Bucks summer food benefits are set to reach 1 million children statewide with $120 per eligible child via preloaded EBT cards. Equity in Health: A Shelby police officer fired after doorbell-camera footage of repeated punching of a Black woman faces an assault charge.

Reentry Support Tech: A new free “Next Steps” app uses AI to generate personalized housing, health care, and other reentry plans for people leaving incarceration, pulling from a verified resource database. Toxic Cleanup in Higher Ed: N.C. State received federal clearance to demolish Poe Hall after studies found carcinogenic PCBs and reported elevated melanoma rates among women employees. HIV Prevention Outreach: ViiV Healthcare launched the “PrEP Wisdom” campaign to encourage informed conversations about long-acting injectable PrEP options. Heat Safety for Farmworkers: Advocates warn that migrant farmworkers face deadly heat stress risks, pointing to recent NC enforcement after a worker death. Medicaid Eye Care Access: A Duke University Medical Center study reports Medicaid-insured children in North Carolina face barriers to pediatric eye care, including limited provider participation and long waits. Gun Safety in Durham: Durham County distributed free gun locks as part of efforts to prevent child unintentional shootings. Local Health Equity: Mecklenburg County food pantries say demand is at a record high as prices rise and donations fall. Public Safety & Accountability: A former Shelby officer turned himself in and faces assault charges after doorbell video showed repeated punching during an arrest. Firearm Storage Charge: In Reidsville, an 8-year-old died after an unsecured firearm was accessible to children; his older brother was charged with misdemeanor storage. Healthcare Fraud Crackdown: DOJ announced settlements tied to illegal lab referral kickbacks involving a Pinehurst-area executive.

Police Accountability: A former Shelby officer, Karson Hyder, was charged with assault inflicting serious injury after doorbell video showed him repeatedly punching a woman during an arrest; the SBI said it investigated an allegation of excessive force, and the officer was fired after the incident. Public Health & Safety: North Carolina is watching summer health risks as reports highlight deadly flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus cases tied to warm coastal waters and open wounds; prevention advice centers on avoiding seawater contact with cuts and steering clear of raw shellfish. Access to Care: UNC Health Southeastern is partnering with a Robeson County church and community center to improve care planning and coordination for patients facing poverty and food insecurity. Food Security: NC’s SUN Bucks program kicked off summer 2026 with $121 million for more than 1 million children, helping families buy nutritious food at retailers and farmers markets using EBT. Rural Hospital Coverage: Rep. Don Davis is urging federal funding to reopen bankrupt Martin General Hospital in eastern NC, arguing closures are worsening emergency care access. Health Coverage Appeals: A North Carolina couple’s fight over denied psychiatric care underscores how “external review” can force insurers to reconsider certain denials.

Community Health & Support: Camp Victory is bringing a vitiligo-focused summer camp to Concord, with a June 28–July 1 session for kids—aimed at building confidence and connections for families dealing with the immune-related skin condition. Child Nutrition Access: Craven County Schools will run a free Summer Meals Program from June 1 to Aug. 14, offering breakfast and lunch (and Thursday to-go meals) for kids 18 and younger with no registration. Mental Health Navigation: NAMI Charlotte’s Navigator Helpline is expanding support, including Spanish-language versions of its website and hotline, helping people find local mental health resources. Public Safety & Health: A Shelby police officer was fired after a viral video showed him repeatedly punching a woman during an arrest; the woman’s family says she was off her medication and asked for mental health care. Healthcare & Policy: North Carolina’s maternal health faces ongoing challenges, while Medicaid and rural care staffing pressures are raising concerns about access. Health Education & Equity: Chapel Hill High School is addressing a yearbook error that left 12 students with disabilities out, with updated copies and insert pages planned.

Maternal Health Focus: A Durham fundraiser for MAAME highlights how pregnancy-related deaths hit Black mothers harder in North Carolina, with nearly 80% of such deaths in the state deemed preventable and doula care described as calming and advocacy-focused. Behavioral Health Policy: North Carolina approved the consolidation of Vaya Health and Partners Health Management into Vaya Partners, effective Oct. 1, 2026, aiming to serve 222,000 members across 47 counties with integrated whole-person care. Medicaid Pressure: Reporting warns that federal Medicaid changes could kick as many as a quarter-million North Carolinians off coverage, with rural clinics and hospitals bracing for layoffs and closures. Cancer Screening News: GRAIL presented PATHFINDER 2 results at ASCO, saying the Galleri test added to standard screenings increased cancer detection and showed favorable safety in a large North America cohort. Community & Childcare: Boone’s chamber foundation launched a retention bonus drive for Watauga County childcare workers, seeking $60,000–$75,000, while the Watauga County Community Foundation awarded $42,270 across 19 local organizations. Local Health & Safety: Officials are investigating a deadly I-95 bus crash in Virginia that killed five people, including a North Carolina-based travel bus driver charged after NTSB said speed was a factor. Environmental Health: Salemburg will get free PFAS “forever chemical” testing in its wells through the NC Department of Environmental Quality. School Inclusion: Chapel Hill High School reportedly left 12 students with disabilities out of this year’s yearbook, with updated copies expected.

Public Safety & Health Care Access: U.S. Congressman Don Davis highlighted $10.4M in federal funding for six community health centers across eastern North Carolina, including $3.36M for Rural Health Group in Roanoke Rapids—aimed at boosting care where provider shortages and barriers to access persist. Health Policy & Environment: NC State received EPA approval to move forward with tearing down Poe Hall after toxic PCBs were found; the building has been closed since 2023, and fencing and abatement are set to begin soon. Medical Research: New data presented in Charlotte links GLP-1 drugs to higher physical activity and symptom improvements in multiple sclerosis, while separate trial updates include progress toward earlier cancer detection with the NHS-Galleri study. Community Health & Workforce: A grant-funded K-12 medical assistant pathway program is graduating students with real hospital experience and certification, building a pipeline into local health jobs. Accountability & Public Trust: The NC SBI opened an investigation into allegations of excessive force by a Shelby police officer in a viral arrest video; the officer was fired. Major Injury Update: After a deadly I-95 bus crash in Virginia, 14 people were discharged and five remain hospitalized, with the NTSB joining the investigation.

Public Health Research: UNC Chapel Hill researchers say a single blood test that measures proteins can outperform small-molecule “default” methods for predicting 17 major diseases, using UK Biobank data from nearly 24,000 people. Medical Access & Costs: A new look at Medicare payment rules finds independent primary care practices can be paid far less than hospital-owned practices for the same visits, raising pressure on local clinics. MS Care Updates: At the CMSC annual meeting in Charlotte, clinicians highlighted high-efficacy early treatment strategies for aggressive relapsing multiple sclerosis. Food Security: Davie County Schools and other districts are gearing up for summer SUN Meals, aiming to reach kids who rely on school lunches when classes end. Community Health & Safety: N.C. S.A.F.E. Week of Action in Greenville will focus on safe firearm storage with input from ECU Health and public safety leaders. Major Crash (Regional Safety): A bus crash on Virginia’s I-95 killed five and injured dozens; the bus was operated by an NC-based company. Local Accountability: Shelby police placed an officer on leave after viral video appeared to show force during an arrest, while an internal investigation is underway.

Public Safety: High Point police are investigating a domestic-related murder-suicide after a welfare check found Julissa Duarte and Kevin Sanchez dead from gunshot wounds inside an apartment. Health Access: A new report finds Affordable Care Act enrollment is dropping across North Carolina counties, with the steepest declines tied to the end of COVID-era premium subsidies. Mental Health: After the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline rollout, youth suicide deaths nationwide fell nearly 11%, and one North Carolina mother is turning her loss into advocacy. Workforce & Care Delivery: UNC Pembroke’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program earned full seven-year accreditation, clearing the way for graduates to take the NBCOT exam. Opioid Response: A national analysis highlights how layperson-administered naloxone is rising while EMS naloxone use is shifting, pointing to new policy needs. Community Health & Wellness: Kind Behavioral Health expanded access to evidence-based autism care during Mental Health Awareness Month, emphasizing early intervention. Emergency Medicine Reminder: Coverage of Kyle Busch’s death certificate underscores how bacterial pneumonia can progress to sepsis, a medical emergency.