North Carolina has confirmed 22 cases of measles in the state since December amid a national resurgence in cases and a hot spot in neighboring South Carolina.

Why it matters: Health care providers are urging people to check their vaccine status and see if they received one dose, two doses or no doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as a child.

What they're saying: "Two shots for adults is the best protection you can have, and if you look at the data from the last year in the United States, the vast majority of people were unvaccinated or unknown [status]," David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at UNC Health, told Axios.

• Generally, he added, if you have had two doses of the vaccine, health care providers will not be worried about your risk, even if you got those two doses decades ago.

Zoom in: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one dose of the measles vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses is 97% effective.

• In 1989, two doses of the vaccine began to be recommended, due to an influx of breakthrough cases.
• Those born before 1957 are considered to have lifelong immunity because they likely already had the disease.
• North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services has launched a tool to help people check their immunity status.

Between the lines: In North Carolina, measles is primarily being spread among children. Of the 22 confirmed cases in the state, 17 were in people under the age of 18.

• Wohl said that if cases accelerate and begin to look like South Carolina's case load (more than 900 cases since last fall), then public health officials should begin to think about recommending earlier measles vaccines.
• Typically, a first dose of the MMR is given at 12 months.

The bottom line: You can accelerate the cadence of the vaccines if measles is spreading in your area, Wohl said.

• "I think if we start to see what we saw in South Carolina ... pediatricians, and public health professionals have to start thinking about whether or not to make those recommendations."

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Boatman Spirits Co., a new restaurant and distillery that opened in downtown Raleigh last year, is now releasing its first spirits made in the City of Oaks.

Why it matters: The debut of the company's first spirits comes at a time when Americans are drinking far less than they used to. But Boatman's owners are betting that there is still room for products with a strong local story.

Driving the news: Boatman opened in Seaboard Station last year, operating a Mediterranean-focused restaurant alongside a distillery.

• The restaurant is run by Aaron Lambert, formerly of Whiskey Kitchen; Geremy Prichard, the group's distiller; and George Ghneim, a local veterinarian and restaurateur.

Zoom in: After getting through the permitting phase and initial production, Boatman is now selling vodka, gin and Navy-strength gin at its restaurant and distillery.

• The gin has a unique flavor profile, with 13 botanicals including jasmine flower, sumac and Palestinian thyme, in honor of Ghneim's heritage.
• Boatman will host a launch party on Feb. 22 for the new spirits. Thanks to changes in state laws, distilleries can now sell bottles directly to customers.

Between the lines: Like many new distilleries, Boatman is starting with gin and vodka because the neutral spirits are quicker to produce.

• But the goal is to add a rye whiskey, a single-malt whiskey, amaros and different fruit brandies to its offerings in the coming months and years, once they have aged in barrels.

What they're saying: Prichard said Boatman's restaurant allows the distillery to have more time to age products and be creative, since it is not just reliant on sales from the distillery to operate.

• "We want to put something we're proud of in front of people," Prichard said, "and I think people are searching for [quality] more and more on the local scale than ever before."

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💰 Raleigh's Hillsborough Street collected a record $58.5 million in prepared food and beverage taxes during 2025, and eyes another record year as Raising Cane's and new apartments open. (Triangle Business Journal 🔒)

🏭 A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought against Duke Energy by the town of Carrboro that accused the company of worsening climate change. (WUNC)

🏥 North Carolina hopes to use new federal money to create eight to 12 rural residency and fellowship programs to address a shortage of doctors in rural parts of the state. (The Assembly)

JD Sports, a British sportswear retailer, will open its fourth North Carolina store this spring at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh.

Why it matters: Crabtree Valley Mall, under new ownership after being sold last year for nearly $300 million, continues to attract new retailers in an increasingly competitive shopping landscape in the Triangle.

• In addition to JD Sports, the mall is also adding an escape room, a Dick's House of Sport, and a renovated Belk, featuring a wine and coffee bar.
• Its new owners, Macerich, are also investing $60 million in upgrades to the building and its parking lots.

Zoom in: Founded in Manchester in the 1980s, JD Sports sells shoes and apparel from brands such as Nike, Adidas and New Balance.

Will Wade promised a "red reckoning" in his first season as coach of the N.C. State Wolfpack, and he backed that up with an 82-58 win against rival North Carolina.

Why it matters: The Triangle's three ACC schools use each other as measuring sticks, making each inter-Triangle matchup an existential bout on the hardwood.

• It was the biggest win by the Wolfpack over the Tar Heels since 1962, according to ESPN.

Between the lines: The N.C. State win came with the Tar Heels' two top scorers, Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, sidelined with injuries.

• Because of changes to the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, there will be no rematch in Chapel Hill this season.