Good morning, Leland.

Henry’s House will open in Pender County to give caregivers temporary respite and short-term care for ages 6 to 21 with developmental disabilities, offering six single occupancy rooms and tailored activities; an Open House will be held Nov.

5 from noon to 3 p.m. for tours (314 Progress Drive, Burgaw).

Wednesday night a massive fire at Ike Williamson Sand Pit off Old Georgetown Road in Shallotte left burned structures, trucks, and debris while multiple departments used water-shuttle operations from a nearby Dollar General because there are no hydrants; the cause remains unknown and smoke was still visible Thursday.

Coastal Credit Union broke ground Oct.

27 on a 3,300-sqft branch at 1184 East Cutlar Crossing, and construction is expected to finish by mid-2027; the site will include three drive-up video tellers offering service 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher said parents Milli and Binx welcomed five Asian small-clawed otter pups on Oct.

19, joining three older siblings to make a 10-member otter family, and staff report the pups are healthy + gaining weight as part of a conservation breeding program.

The NC Coastal Composting Chapter will collect unwanted pumpkins Nov.

2-Nov. 9 and Nov. 27-Dec. 11 at six tri-county drop-off sites, including New Hanover County Arboretum, Wilmington Compost Company in Rocky Point, UNCW's Wagoner Dining Hall, NHC Landfill, NHC HazWagon, and Leland Brewing Company (new Brunswick County location). Remove candles, googly eyes, and plastic; only bio-based paints are accepted.

A federal judge on Oct.

29 struck down a CMS rule that would have cut Medicaid coverage for an estimated (64,000) seriously ill North Carolinians and permanently barred the agency from enforcing the restriction after Attorney General Jeff Jackson sued.

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lacked authority to add an extra workability test, striking the restriction that threatened Medicaid coverage for about 64,000 seriously ill North Carolinians.

The broader Medicaid work requirements remain scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Former firefighter Bill Blenk, 85, survived a stroke 21 years ago and now attends and helps lead Novant Health’s Stroke Recovery Support Group in Wilmington to keep rebuilding skills and mentor new survivors.

Medical experts say recognize BE FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time) and call 911 immediately.

Alyssa Brito, a three-time national champion at Oklahoma, has joined UNCW as the Seahawks' hitting coach (she will continue playing with the Carolina Blaze and Team USA).