Newswatch

Bill Would Extend Driver’s License Expiration

A North Carolina House bill would temporarily extend the validity of certain Class C driver’s licenses by up to two years past their expiration, aiming to ease a backlog at the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles.

The House Transportation Committee has already approved HB 821, which would take effect immediately if passed and remain in place through Dec. 31, 2027. The extension would not apply to licenses that are canceled, revoked, suspended, or to Real ID-compliant licenses that have been valid for eight years or more.

Some House members want to study the cause of the backlog first, with Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan) suggesting the bill would facilitate “the incompetency of the DMV by alleviating them of the responsibility of their job.”

Catholic High School Coming to Cary

Cardinal Gibbons High School (CGHS) and the Diocese of Raleigh announced Friday that a new Catholic high school will open in Cary in fall 2028.

The school, which will remain “distinct in name, Catholic identity, and charism” from CGHS, will serve approximately 400 students and be located at 801 Buck Jones Road on the lower school campus of GRACE Christian School.

CGHS, which enrolls roughly 1,600 students each year, is operating at full capacity. The new high school comes in response to increasing demand for Catholic education in the Triangle.

GRACE Christian School is in the process of expanding and relocating to Apex, and will lease the property from CGHS while constructing its new campus.

Sunset Road Fire Expands to 1,500 Acres

A Brunswick County wildfire dubbed “The Sunset Road Fire” had expanded to 1,500 acres and was just 10% contained as of Sunday morning, according to the North Carolina Forest Service, which is now in command of the fire.

Crews blamed “erratic winds and regionally dry conditions” for preventing containment, but said a half-inch of rain that fell overnight into Sunday helped diminish flames in the “tree canopy” area.

All roads are open, and mandatory evacuations that had been expanded Saturday were lifted.

Several outbuildings—but no homes—were destroyed, and several firefighters received treatment for smoke- and heat-related illness over the weekend.