News Roundup

Published for NC Criminal Law on July 11, 2025.

Floods have gripped the nation. From Texas, to New Mexico, to here in central North Carolina, severe floods have taken lives and devastated communities. In Texas, floods have killed over 120 people statewide, with over 160 still missing. Due to substantial damage, recovery efforts have slowed, signaling a long road ahead for those with missing loved ones. In New Mexico, flash flooding on Tuesday killed three people and severely damaged the mountain community of Ruidoso—which just spent a year recovering from devastating wildfires and flooding in 2024. Locally, tropical storm Chantal brought heavy flooding across five counties on Sunday evening, taking six lives. Thunderstorms and flooding have continued through the week, striking Durham on Wednesday and multiple counties last night. For those affected, click here for shelter options, water notices, and other flood relief resources. Local businesses and charities are also leading the way in collecting and distributing donations. Read on for the latest in criminal law news.   Driver’s license renewal grace period extended. Drivers with licenses expiring July 1, 2025 or later may continue driving past their expiration dates until December 31, 2027. Governor Josh Stein signed the temporary moratorium into law earlier this month. After experiencing a rush of customers due to the TSA’s requirement for the use of a “Real ID” for air travel going into effect in May, the DMV has focused on improving its processes and customer experience. These improvements include revising its website and adding weekend walk-in hours through August 23. Notably, this grace period [...]