Good morning, Hickory.

Womenade is offering one-time micro-grants of up to $500 to support local women facing temporary financial setbacks in Hickory; eligible applicants are encouraged to apply through the center.

More than 50 local residents attended a session in Conover where Microsoft discussed plans for new data centers in Catawba County.

Attendees questioned details circulating on Facebook and sought clarity on project expectations.

North Carolina public schools may ease staffing challenges after teacher licensure law changes included in the state budget aim to make recruiting and retaining educators simpler—officials say the new measures could stabilize local classrooms.

Foothills Conservancy of NC hired a new operations manager—a role identified as a priority during its strategic planning—to strengthen its team for future growth.

The downtown streetscape project will cause road closures from Monday, Jul.

20 until Friday, Jul. 24, though access remains available at the Armory and Bella Age and sidewalks stay open for local businesses.

Gov. Stein visited Broughton Hospital today to discuss a new apprenticeship program aimed at easing the staffing shortage (he explained that hiring more qualified professionals would help more patients recover).

Blakgraz Live Concert

7-10 p.m. — City Walk Brewery & Distillery — Cost Info not listed — Enjoy an evening of live music with 112+ original songs from Blakgraz.