WFAE staff and wire reports

A chief architect of Project 2025 is launching a Republican primary challenge to Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina.

Just days before school starts, the Fort Mill School District is warning parents to prepare for significant traffic safety changes due to a lack of traffic guards. The Rock Hill Herald reports Fort Mill won’t get traffic guards from its usual third-party vendor this year, according to a message emailed to parents Wednesday. The district used traffic guards from Charlotte-based Cross Safe for several years. Crossing guards will be stationed at all marked crosswalks to aid pedestrians in crossing roads, according to the message. But there won’t be guards to direct vehicle traffic.Last year, crossing guard Stanley Brucker was killed after being hit by a vehicle while working in front of Fort Mill Elementary and Fort Mill Middle schools.

The North Carolina House passed a bill Wednesday that aims to address long lines at the Division of Motor Vehicles. The bill would allow online driver's license renewals for people who recently visited the DMV to get a REAL ID. It would also allow teen drivers to get their full provisional license online without submitting a driving log. House Speaker Destin Hall says the changes should mean fewer people will need to stand in line at the DMV."It's just not acceptable for somebody to have to spend their entire day off going to a DMV, I can't think of much worse. And you know, it's something we've got to get a hold on and figure out some comprehensive reforms and solve the issue," he said. Gov. Josh Stein is also expected to take action soon on a budget bill that funds more D-M-V staff and four new driver's license offices.

The Charlotte 49ers football team opened practice Tuesday as they prepare for the upcoming season with new coach Tim Albin. He said the hot weather was a factor, but he wants a different kind of heat from his team.

With former Gov. Roy Cooper officially running for U.S. Senate, the only other Democrat who had been in the race is dropping out. Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel said Tuesday that he's leaving the race and endorsing Cooper.

The Carolina Panthers are back on the field this week for training camp with a noticeable change as players started practicing with full pads — and had more contact. That led to a brief scuffle between running back Chuba Hubbard and linebacker Trevin Wallace after a hard hit. Coach Dave Canales said afterward, that’s what training camp is about

Authorities have released the names of the people killed in a weekend traffic crash on I-485. The Charlotte Observer reports that three children, a teenager and two adults died in a wreck on the I-485 Outer Loop in Charlotte on Saturday morning, according to a State Highway Patrol trooper. A Honda CR-V driver switching lanes collided with a Chrysler van at 11:07 a.m. between Wilkinson Boulevard and West Boulevard in Mecklenburg County. The collision sent both vehicles off the right side of the highway and into a parked tractor-trailer.Killed were the CR-V driver, 16-year-old Logan Paul Sauer of Mooresville; the 27-year-old van driver, Samuel Jacob Holmes; and van occupants 23-year-old Taylor Willis; 1-year-old Brynlon Holmes; 3-year-old Addyson Holmes; and 8-year-old Kamron Wood. All six were pronounced dead at the scene.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control says it reached what it calls critical capacity for cats and kittens this week. They’re asking the community for help with adopting or fostering cats, and providing food and formula. More details are available at the CMPD Animal care and control website.

Queens University of Charlotte has named Jesse Cureton as acting President and CEO. He’s served as board chair for the university and takes the new position following the departure of President Daniel Lugo, who stepped down last month. Cureton, previously an executive at Novant, will serve as acting president while Queens prepares for the next phase of identifying its permanent president.

Former Governor Roy Cooper has decided to run for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat and plans to announce his campaign before the end of the month. That’s according to multiple news outlets citing people familiar with the plans.