Wake Delays Hospital Merger Vote; Raleigh Lands USDA Hub

Wake County commissioners have delayed a vote on the proposed Atrium–WakeMed merger, as state officials raise concerns about potential impacts on competition and patient care. In economic development news, Raleigh has been selected as the home for a new USDA research hub, boosting the region’s role in agriculture and innovation. At the legislature, a Democratic proposal would redirect funding from Opportunity Scholarships to child care programs, setting up a debate over education priorities. Meanwhile, election officials report that a statewide voter registration repair project has corrected more than 36,000 records, improving data accuracy ahead of upcoming elections.