MORNING HEADLINES | You still have two days left to upgrade your South Carolina driver’s license to a REAL ID to be able to board domestic flights Wednesday and access some federal facilities. Expect S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles offices to be packed.
There are, however, several other identification methods, such as a passport, that can be used to get through security starting Wednesday. See here for a list.
As of May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. Airports are warning there could be delays in security lines.
There’s been a fair bit of warning about the change, which was approved 20 years ago by Congress. The enabling legislation set “minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibit[ed]federal agencies from accepting for certain official purposes non-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.”
- American launches more flights from Charleston to NY
- Boeing 787 crests 1 billion passengers worldwide
- Charleston airport has wish list of destinations
In other headlines:
CP OPINION, Brack: What a British geopolitical analyst says about S.C., China and tariffs. “South Carolina will find it harder to attract investment – and harder to trade and export – because other countries will see the U.S. turning inwards and against trade, and decide to take their investment and trade elsewhere,” [analyst James] Crabtree said.
CP WEEK IN REVIEW: Bills to watch in last week of session. South Carolina lawmakers are scrambling to put points on the board before the General Assembly’s clock for doing business hits triple zeroes on May 8. Headlining that effort is a mad dash in the S.C. House to pass a revamped bill cutting the state’s top income tax rate from 6.2% to 5.39%, despite the fact that the Senate is unlikely to take up the bill before next January.
- New energy bill could keep public in dark about pipelines
- S.C. House advances bill giving credit to teachers for prior experience
- Recent S.C. legislative highlights; Family Caucus in hot water
CP FOOD: It’s Cinco de Derby weekend. Where to eat, drink and party over the weekend in the Lowcountry.
Charleston, Berkeley, Georgetown counties under moderate drought. Officials say the three Lowcountry counties are in the second level of drought severity.
West Ashley redevelopment project to kick off May 7. The 35-acre project includes demolition of part of Ashley Landing and redevelopment on Sumar Street of the old Piggly Wiggly area. Planned is green space, an apartment complex, town homes, and retail and restaurant space.
Limestone University holds final graduation. Financially destitute Limestone University in Cherokee County held its final two graduation ceremonies Saturday for 250 students as it now prepares to close.
State Treasurer’s office under investigation. The state Inspector General’s office and State Law Enforcement Division are investigating the office of state Treasurer Curtis Loftis after a $1.8 billion accounting error that has been in the news for more than two years.
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