The hearing scheduled for Friday August 16th at 10:00 a.m. has now been put off until Thursday August 22nd at 1:00 p.m.

Hope's only hospital, Wadley Regional Medical Center, faced the danger of closing after its parent company Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy May 6, 2024.  Since then, the city of Hope's board of directors and Hempstead County's quorum court voted unanimously to purchase the real estate used by the hospital from its prior owner MPT of Hope for a combined $500,000, each government sharing half the cost.

Pafford Health Systems was recently deemed the qualifying bid and approved as purchaser by Steward Health Care for the purchase of the license to operate the Wadley Regional facility. Both Pafford's and the two government's purchasing deals must be approved by Judge Lopez before the real estate and the license can officially change hands.