05/26/2026
Top Community News Recap Presented by Carolina Arthritis Center
🦟 Fight the Bite This Summer
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services officials are warning residents to be extra careful as mosquito and tick populations continue to rise with warmer weather. The state says more than 1,000 cases of tick- and mosquito-related illnesses have already been reported this year, including Lyme disease, spotted fever illnesses, and West Nile virus. Health experts are encouraging people to use bug spray, wear protective clothing outdoors, check for ticks after spending time outside, and remove standing water around homes to help reduce mosquito breeding. Officials say early treatment is important because some illnesses can become serious if ignored.
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📚 Pitt Schools Crack Down on Absences
Pitt County Schools is considering new attendance policy changes as chronic student absences remain high after the pandemic. School leaders say many students now see attendance as optional after the state stopped allowing schools to fail students based only on absences. More than 21% of students in the district were considered chronically absent last school year. The district is now proposing a policy where high school students with too many unexcused absences would receive an “incomplete” grade and go through a learning recovery process before earning final credit. School officials say regular attendance is critical because chronic absences are closely tied to lower grades, course failures, and higher dropout risks.
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🏠 Greenville Residents Raise Airbnb Concerns
City of Greenville, NC - Government leaders are looking for ways to address growing complaints about short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo. Residents say some rental properties have caused loud parties, crowded streets, parking problems, and disruptions in neighborhoods. City officials estimate there are around 250 short-term rentals within Greenville city limits, but state laws limit how much local governments can regulate them. Leaders are now discussing possible solutions such as stronger code enforcement, monitoring repeat problem properties, and reporting disruptive rentals directly to Airbnb and Vrbo platforms.
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🏥 Pitt County Moves to Combine Health and Social Services
Pitt County, NC commissioners have voted to move forward with combining the county’s Public Health Department and Department of Social Services into one Human Services Agency beginning October 1. County officials say the goal is to improve coordination and make services easier for families who already work with both departments. Leaders say the move is focused on improving service delivery rather than saving money, and they believe the combined agency could help staff work together more effectively. However, some members of the current Board of Health have asked county leaders to slow the process down and study the long-term impact before fully moving forward.
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