Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced he will not seek reelection after delivering a passionate Senate speech criticizing President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” for its harmful effects on Medicaid recipients. Tillis condemned the bill for breaking promises to protect healthcare for low-income Americans and warned it would harm millions. Though typically aligned with Trump, Tillis spoke out strongly only after deciding to retire, citing frustration with political gridlock and partisanship. Unlike Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, who supported the bill despite reservations, Tillis opposed it, joined by Rand Paul and Susan Collins. The article highlights Trump’s control over Republicans, discouraging dissent.
It was an interesting question from a good friend: “So, Mr. Boyle, are you proud of Senator Tillis now?”
This was right after Tillis, a Republican U.S. senator who’s represented North Carolina since 2014, announced he wouldn’t seek reelection next year. That came after Tillis delivered an impassioned speech June 29 on the Senate floor in which he lambasted President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” for the devastating effect it will have on Medicaid recipients.
The speech was a barn burner, unusual for any senator these days, but especially Republicans who don’t want to cross the very vindictive orange leader who now heads their party, and for Tillis, who’s usually pretty restrained.
“What do I tell 663,000 people in two years or three years when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid because the funding is not there anymore?” Tillis said, noting that Trump’s White House advisers “are not telling him that the effect of this bill is to break a promise.”
Tillis was not done.
“Republicans are about to make a mistake on health care and betraying a promise,” he said. “It is inescapable that this bill, in its current form, will betray the very promise that Donald J. Trump made in the Oval Office or in the Cabinet Room when I was there with (the Senate Finance Committee), where he said we can go after waste, fraud and abuse on any programs.”
Trump promised to protect the program and its mission of providing health care for low-income Americans. But Tillis said the “amateurs” who are advising Trump have persuaded the president to eliminate what’s called the “provider tax,” which funds Medicaid, Tillis said. That’s not exactly removing “waste, fraud and abuse,” the senator said.
The bill passed the Senate, 51-50, on Tuesday with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The House passed a final version July 3. The Congressional Budget Office estimates of devastation to Medicaid remain.
Considering how Tillis was dressed that night when he delivered his fiery oration, we should’ve known he was done with public service, as well as kissing Trump’s derriere. He sported a dark blazer, gray golf shirt and a strangely large bolo tie, which is not exactly standard dress for the Senate, or North Carolina for that matter. Or really, most of the United States.
‘Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics’
Clearly, this was a man saying loudly, in so many words, “Screw it, I’m done with this bovine excrement!”
His formal retirement statement, like his speech, was also well-crafted.
Sen. Thom Tillis contended that President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” will leave tens of thousands of North Carolinians without medical care and many without nutrition. He also publicly warned his Republican colleagues that the bill’s unpopularity will cause the GOP to lose tenuous majorities in the Senate and the House. // Photo credit: U.S. Congress
“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis said, noting the Senate recently lost two leaders “who were dedicated to making the Senate more of a functional and productive legislative body.”
“They got things done,” Tillis wrote, apparently referring to former Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. “But they were shunned after they courageously refused to cave to their party bosses to nuke the filibuster for the sake of political expediency. They ultimately retired and their presence in the Senate chamber has been sorely missed every day since.”
Obviously, the same scenario plays out when anyone steps out of line on the right, especially with Trump.
“It underscores the greatest form of hypocrisy in American politics,” Tillis said in the statement. “When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer. But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize, and even censure them.”
I wouldn’t normally cite so much of a retirement statement, but these next paragraphs really hit the mark. And again, you don’t hear politicians speaking this way until they’re quitting, which is a shame.
“Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don’t give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail,” Tillis said. “After they get elected, they don’t bother to do the hard work to research the policies they seek to implement and understand the consequences those policies could have on that young adult living in a trailer park, struggling to make ends meet.”
“Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don’t give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail. After they get elected, they don’t bother to do the hard work to research the policies they seek to implement and understand the consequences those policies could have on that young adult living in a trailer park, struggling to make ends meet.”
North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis
Tillis had noted earlier that his own journey started with him “living in a trailer park and making minimum wage as a young man” before evolving into him “having the honor of serving as U.S. Senator for North Carolina.”
It’s important to note that Tillis has voted with Trump just about all of the time.
So yes, I was proud of Tillis for standing up for his convictions, for fighting the insidious and destructive policies of Trump, a serial liar and con man whose “Big Beautiful Bill” will provide tax cuts for the wealthy, explode the national deficit and boot 11 million people (probably more) off of Medicaid. As National Public Radio reported, “The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the Senate bill would add more than $3 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years. Extending the 2017 tax cuts made up the bulk of the cost but other changes have added to the bottom line.”
Tillis was joined by fellow Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine in voting against this atrocity of a bill.
But as I told my buddy, what would’ve made me super proud of Tillis — and maybe got me wearing bolo ties in his honor — is if he had decided to stay and fight Trump, perhaps even forming a coalition of somewhat moderate Republicans (or at least those who recognize legislative harm when they see it) to block the president’s worst instincts.
But Tillis, as others before him, including former Republican Senators Jeff Flake and Mitt Romney, have opted to speak truth to power only after announcing their resignations. Sure, it gives them a measure of freedom they wouldn’t have otherwise, but they also cede the future fight to a replacement, who’s likely to be a Trump-endorsed sycophant.
Hey, at least we don’t have Murkowski representing us
I also told my friend that I was infinitely more proud of Tillis than of Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who delivered perhaps the most mealy-mouthed defense of her deciding yes vote that the planet has ever heard. Cornered by ABC News, Murkowski was told that Paul said she negotiated a “bailout” for her state because she insisted on provisions to protect Alaskans from the worst cuts of the bill.
Murkowski paused for several seconds, looking angry and angst-ridden, then said, “Do I like this bill? No, because I tried to take care of Alaska’s interests, but I know, I know that in many parts of the country, there are Americans that are not going to be advantaged by this bill. I don’t like that.”
When Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski was told that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, said she negotiated a “bailout” for her state because she insisted on provisions to protect Alaskans from the worst cuts of the bill, she responded, “Do I like this bill? No, because I tried to take care of Alaska’s interests, but I know, I know that in many parts of the country, there are Americans that are not going to be advantaged by this bill. I don’t like that.” // Photo credit: United States Senate
Well then, don’t vote for it, Senator!
If you know a bill is harmful for millions of Americans, why would you give it your approval? How about you actually stand up for what’s right for the country? What a novelty that would be!
Also, what a line of feigned phoniness to back into your statement with they’re “not going to be advantaged by this bill.” They’re not only going to be disadvantaged by the bill, some of them are likely to be greatly harmed by it, even possibly by dying once they lose their health care and cannot get treatment. That’s more than “not going to be advantaged.”
Maybe if Murkowski had located her spine, she would have joined Tillis, Paul and Collins to fight the good fight. What’s so astounding is that she knows the bill is wrong for America, yet she still chose wrong over right, after selfishly securing favors for her state.
That’s a sad state of affairs when a powerful elected official looks at an issue, identifies what is right and what is wrong, and chooses wrong because it’s politically expedient.
Why won’t Republicans fight back against Trump?
But getting back to forming a coalition to fight Trump, we all know that’s not going to happen for one reason: All the politicians truly care about is getting reelected, and if you cross Trump you’re going to get primaried.
Tillis clearly does not care anymore about getting reelected.
“As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” he said in his statement. “That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking reelection.”
I really can’t blame him. As I said, you can’t cross Trump and get reelected.
“We’re of course used to presidents exerting power,” Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper said. “We’re used to presidents being the leader of their party, but we’re not used to presidents threatening members of their own party who deviate even the slightest bit from their message and their preferred legislation.” // Photo credit: Western Carolina University
“It’s Trump’s party, and they’re just living in it,” Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper told me. “We’re of course used to presidents exerting power. We’re used to presidents being the leader of their party, but we’re not used to presidents threatening members of their own party who deviate even the slightest bit from their message and their preferred legislation.”
Trump has power over the legislators but also over the voters, many of whom follow his direction without asking any substantial questions, or even peeling themselves away from Fox News or Newsmax for a few minutes.
The Washington Center for Equitable Growth had a fascinating recent report on the Big Beautiful Bill that found Americans do not support the bill, especially once they find out its specifics. The center bills itself as “a nonprofit research and grantmaking organization dedicated to advancing evidence-backed ideas and policies that promote strong, stable, and broad-based economic growth.”
Lots of folks have heard about Trump’s provisions for not taxing overtime or boosting border security spending, and maybe that makes them happy, but they’re not so aware of the tax breaks for the uber-wealthy or the gutting of Medicaid and food stamps programs. The center notes that the bill is “the most regressive policy package in living memory,” with a “distinctive mix of tax cuts that help the rich and spending cuts that hurt middle- and low-income Americans.”
“The public is already against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the report states. “Yet our survey results show that when its historic regressivity becomes clearer and more concrete, Americans across the political spectrum become overwhelmingly opposed.”
It seems most Americans aren’t in favor of exploding the deficit and booting poor people off their insurance so mega-wealthy folks can get more tax breaks. The problem is that so many Americans are blissfully unaware of what’s actually in the bill.
“The word ‘blissfully,’ I think, is actually not just a colloquialism,” Cooper said. “I think that it is actually the key word in that sentence — just blissfully unaware, right? It’s easier to go along with the leader. It’s a lot harder psychologically and cognitively to say, ‘I supported this person and he is supporting something that’s going to hurt millions of people.’ It’s like the day you find out Santa Claus ain’t real, or that your parents aren’t perfect.”
Cooper said Tillis probably would have been OK in a future primary, “just because we don’t tend to vote out U.S. senators in the primary.” But the party could punish Tillis with less funding, Cooper said.
I’ll note that outside groups would probably run ads saying all sorts of ridiculous rubbish about Tillis, ranging from he’s actually a Democratic socialist to he’s destroying the country by abandoning the real Republican Party — “I mean, just look at that fancy bolo tie!”
Maybe that’s the biggest lesson here: the real Republican Party now is Trump’s party. There’s no room for moderates, or those who tend to think for themselves — or consider the ramifications of legislation on their constituents. Or who care about working class stiffs or the poor.
I guarantee you Trump will find ways to punish Collins and Paul, and their states, in the near future. He truly is the king of the party.
And that’s why Republicans won’t stand up to him, now or in the future.
Asheville Watchdog welcomes thoughtful reader comments about this story, which has been republished on our Facebook page. Please submit your comments there.
Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. John Boyle has been covering Asheville and surrounding communities since the 20th century. You can reach him at (828) 337-0941, or via email at jboyle@avlwatchdog.org. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Left-Leaning
The content critically examines the policies supported by former President Donald Trump and certain Republicans, particularly focusing on Senator Thom Tillis’s opposition to a Republican bill that is portrayed as harmful to Medicaid recipients and middle- and low-income Americans. While it acknowledges Tillis’s Republican background and voting record, the piece praises his publicly rare dissent against Trump’s agenda, framing Trump and his close allies as prioritizing the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable populations. The language used—such as calling Trump a “serial liar and con man” and describing the bill as “atrocity” and “regressive”—conveys a skeptical and critical stance towards the Republican Party’s current direction. Overall, the article aligns more with progressive or left-leaning scrutiny of Republican policies and Trump’s influence while advocating for an independent and people-centered approach to governance.
Tropical Depression Chantal caused record-breaking flooding across central North Carolina, leading to property damage, road closures, and multiple water rescues. At least two deaths were reported, including an 83-year-old woman in Chatham County, while two boaters remain missing. Key affected areas include Alamance, Orange, Chatham, and Moore counties, where flooding damaged homes, businesses, farms, and infrastructure. Over 120 roads were closed with ongoing recovery and power outages affecting 18,000 customers. Emergency shelters were opened, and schools closed or shifted operations. Officials emphasized the need for improved prevention and climate change action amid increasing storm impacts. Search and cleanup efforts continue.
by Staff Reports, Carolina Public Press July 7, 2025
Record-breaking flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal in North Carolina’s central counties led to multiple water rescues, road closures and damage to property Sunday and Monday.
At least two storm-related deaths were reported. One was in the Alamance County town of Mebane. In the Chatham County town of Pittsboro, the State Highway Patrol confirmed that an 83-year-old woman died in floodwaters Sunday night around 11:30 p.m., when her car became submerged on Farrington Point Road near Hinton Road.
“My thoughts are with Sandra’s family after these floods devastated our community yesterday,” State Sen. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, tweeted. “Please be careful on the roads and listen to local authorities who are providing updates on safe travel in Chatham County and the broader region.”
An active search also remained underway for two boaters last seen Sunday afternoon after taking a canoe out on Jordan Lake, according to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
Their unoccupied canoe was recovered later in the evening, but the boaters remained missing.
Lee County Emergency Management, the North Chatham Fire Department and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission were assisting in the search efforts.
“We are doing everything we can to bring these individuals home,” said Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson. “Our hearts are with their loved ones during this difficult time, and we are grateful for the assistance from our neighboring agencies.”
While there were no confirmed fatalities in Orange County, Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders said in a call with the press Monday afternoon that the department received more than 60 requests for rescues Sunday evening into the morning.
To the south in Chatham County, the 9-1-1 Center had processed 32 water rescues and 21 traffic collisions related to the storm as of Monday morning.
Even as flash-flooding in many places Sunday subsided, many rivers and creeks were still rising Monday. While rivers crested in some places, those waters will be headed further downstream where they could cause flooding in additional areas.
Among the most severely impacted areas from Chantal portions of Alamance, Orange, Chatham, Moore, Durham, Person, Caswell, Lee and Hoke counties. Significant flooding events occurred on portions of the Haw River, Eno River, Deep River, Little River, Rocky River, Booker Creek and Morgan Creek, among many other bodies of water.
A fallen tree leans against the bridge on Eno Mountain Road as the swollen Eno River flows just below the bridge in Hillsborough on July 7, 2025, after Tropical Depression Chantal. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
Chantal came ashore from the Atlantic Ocean as a Tropical Storm in South Carolina, before weakening to a tropical depression and moving northward through North Carolina Sunday and early Monday.
The center of Chantal continued into Virginia. Unfortunately, the slower winds of the storm did little to reduce the rainfall from the system and its slower forward speed resulted in lingering rainfall over waterlogged areas.
While rain stopped by midday in most of North Carolina, forecasts called for thunderstorms almost daily this week throughout the region.
Damage and disruption from Chantal
More than 100 roads remained closed across Central North Carolina as of 3 p.m. Monday, down from about 120 at noon. The majority of storm-related closures were in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Moore, Orange and Person counties, according to the DriveNC road tracker maintained by the state. The site also reported additional closures in Lee and Scotland counties.
Several of those counties have declared states of emergencies, which in most cases authorizes those local governments to seek assistance from the state.
Both eastbound and westbound lanes of I-40/85 in Alamance County closed early Monday morning because of flooding on the Haw River, but both lanes have since reopened, a communications officer with the NC Department of Transportation said.
Once the water dropped sufficiently, NCDOT bridge maintenance teams inspected the area and confirmed it was safe to reopen the interstate.
State crews are assessing conditions across the region and will continue to reopen roads as soon as safety permits, communications officials said.
Tropical Storm Chantal caused 400 outages impacting 18,000 customers in Central North Carolina as of 10 a.m. Monday, according to Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks.
“It is going to be a busy day,” Brooks told Carolina Public Press.
Flooding will complicate powerline repairs, Brooks said. Crews will have to wait until water levels recede in order to safely access some lines. In many cases, crews will have to move fallen trees off the line before they can begin repairing the infrastructure.
A fallen tree blocks the southern end of Exchange Park Lane in Hillsborough on July 7, 2025. The area had severe flash-flooding on July 6 as Tropical Depression Chantal moved through with heavy and sustained rains. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
With wind events like Chantal, Duke sees many smaller outages rather than a few large ones, making repairs more time-consuming. Some of the smaller outages are in hard-to-reach neighborhoods, Brooks said.
“Wind does not discriminate between a main road and a small neighborhood road,” Brooks said.
Several communities including Graham and Burlington in Alamance County and Hillsborough in Orange County reported that their water treatment plants weren’t operational and issued boil water warnings for drinking, cooking or handwashing.
Flash-flooding Sunday devastated several areas of Chapel Hill, leaving residents and businesses owners trying to clean up and salvage what they could on Monday.
Sen. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, said he is frustrated. Storms keep coming, North Carolina continues to have to do recovery work, but there’s not enough emphasis on prevention, Meyer said.
Mud and debris cover many buildings and roads at the Camelot Village Apartments in Chapel Hill on Monday, July 7, 2025, after severe flash-flooding Sunday from Tropical Depression Chantal. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
Camelot Village Apartments were coated in mud and dirty water Monday morning, in addition to limbs and other debris. Some vehicles there sustained serious damage Sunday night when the flooding was at its worst there.
Multiple residents were trapped in Camelot Village, in a known flood-prone part of Chapel Hill, Meyer observed, but opposition from property owners has killed attempted FEMA buyouts of the apartments in recent years.
Across Estes Road from the apartments, a cinema, shops and restaurants were closed to clean up water and mud at University Place on Monday.
A short distance away at Eastgate Commons, the scene was similar. At Trader Joe’s there, crews worked to dispose of damaged produce and other food items caught in the flooding.
State Rep. Allen Buansi, D-Orange, spent the morning assessing damage. Some businesses in Eastgate got four to six inches of flooding, he said.
Seeing inventory strewn across the ground and cars flooded out was a “pretty devastating sight,” he said.
“I’m really thankful that here in Chapel Hill, thankfully, we did not have any loss of life,” Buansi said.
“But still, the devastation of losing a home, the devastation of losing a business or losing business inventory, I mean, that can’t be measured.”
Crews work to clean up water and mud at Trader Joe’s in Chapel Hill on Monday, July 7, 2025, following Tropical Depression Chantal. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
Orange County opened an emergency shelter at Smith Middle School on Seawell School Road. Displaced residents can request transportation to the shelter by calling Orange County Public Transportation at (919) 245-2004.
“It is too early to accurately assess the negative impacts in terms of job loss, property loss and then the ripple effects,” Orange County commissioner Jamezetta Bedford told CPP.
In Alamance County, traffic from I-40 was diverted through downtown Mebane for several hours, causing intense traffic this morning, according to Mebane Mayor James Hooks. The Amtrak line through Mebane is also not running.
An influx of untreated water flooded into the Mebane water treatment plant. The town is asking its residents not to use water unless absolutely necessary, Hooks said.
There was a voluntary evacuation for homes near Lake Michael due to concerns that a temporary dam might break. However, it held.
State Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, is still in analysis mode, she said. She’s concerned about damage to some schools, but isn’t sure whether the legislature will be able to help. Getting some of the more isolated public roads back open will be another challenge, she said.
Galey thinks Alamance County’s investment into emergency services, including a partially publicly funded rescue unit, helped prepare them for a storm like Chantal. Years of experience responding to people getting caught in the Haw River also helped.
“That’s sort of a training ground that bears fruit in situations like this, where you have more motorists getting stranded,” Galey said.
While some communities saw more damage in commercial areas, others saw more neighborhoods flooded. The worst flooding in the Alamance County town of Elon took place in residential areas rather than downtown areas, according to mayor Emily Sharpe.
Other places saw more widespread damage including to industrial, agricultural and government property.
Some areas were less affected, even as areas around them suffered.
Damage is limited in Carrboro compared to Chapel Hill, Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee told CPP. “This is just the power of Mother Nature,” Foushee said. “This wasn’t even a hurricane, and still, our community just can be inundated with flood water in a matter of hours.”
Several towns with parks along their rivers reported closures with time needed to assess the damage and make repairs.
Rides at the amusement park in Burlington, Burlington City Park, experienced flooding and damage, according to town spokesperson Morgan Lasater. Many rides will require repairs.
In Hillsborough, Gold Park and the Riverwalk were closed due to severe flooding from the Eno River.
Gold Park is closed due to severe flooding from the nearby Eno River in Hillsborough on July 7, 2025, following Tropical Depression Chantal.
In Chatham County, the county seat of Pittsboro didn’t suffer severe damage to public infrastructure, Town Commissioner John Bonitz told CPP, but major roads were inundated with water through Sunday night.
“This storm is a wake up call for municipalities statewide about the urgency of our changing climate,” Bonitz said.
“It is a wake-up call about the constraints that keep us from protecting the public and the public property with more stringent stormwater protections and better infrastructure.”
On the western side of Chatham County, much of the flooding in Siler City had receded by Monday afternoon, but in several places small road repairs will be required, according to Town Manager Jack Meadows.
One of the hardest hit areas was Moore County. While no loss of life has been reported there, it felt the impacts of the storm since early Sunday. Late Sunday night, County Board of Commissioners Chair Kurt Cook issued a state of emergency to extend through Wednesday evening.
Thousands of Moore County residents lost power temporarily. A pair of highways and many smaller roads closed down due to the flooding, and several people were rescued from trapped vehicles, said State Rep. Neal Jackson, R-Moore.
In Southern Pines, Long Leaf Lake Dam failed, forcing some apartment evacuations. Several water mains washed out in Pinehurst, leading to low water pressure and a boil water advisory. A retaining wall also failed, flooding a shopping center on Brucewood Road.
“It was tough, but we’re just grateful that we are so much better off than Texas,” Jackson said. “All that stuff is stuff we can work through, and the great thing about living in Moore County is neighbors help out neighbors, and neighbors look after neighbors, and so that’s what’s been happening all over the county.”
Jackson applauded emergency services for going “above and beyond” in clearing roads. He’s not thinking about pursuing any legislative action until getting an initial assessment of the damage and needs across Moore County.
In recent years, no part of North Carolina has been spared from storms. Jackson said they’ve learned how to handle catastrophe from their neighbors.
“Tough times make you tough,” he said. “North Carolina has been hit now numerous times, and while they have been difficult, they’ve also made us stronger and more prepared for the next one when it comes.”
State Sen. Sophia Chitlik, D-Durham, was on the phone all Monday morning talking to constituents, she said. They recounted stories of rescuing their elderly neighbors at 3 a.m., and having firefighters knock on their doors to warn them of the incoming weather in the absence of emergency alert texts.
It’s going to be a long haul for about 100 to 200 families in northern Durham County, which includes several historically Black middle class neighborhoods, Chitlik said.
One of her first orders of business is finding out why emergency alerts didn’t go out, she said. Chitlik imagines federal cuts to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices may have contributed on some level to inadequate forecasting. The recently passed national budget reconciliation bill will further cut local resources that could be used to prepare for future situations like this, she added.
Another priority is reforming the flood insurance system. For people outside federally recognized floodplains, getting flood insurance is often prohibitively expensive.
“But more and more people need flood insurance, and it’s often hard to predict who those people are,” Chitlik said. “We also need to get really clear that moving forward, we need to be extremely rigorous on a local level, about where it is safe to build, not just now, but in the future.”
Faribault Road in Hillsborough is underwater near the Eno River on July 7, 2025, following the passage of Tropical Depression Chantal. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
In Orange County, Meyer expressed concern about state legislation related to climate change. At this point, it’s clear more storms will come, Meyer said. But instead of adopting policies to mitigate climate change, North Carolina Republicans chose to renege on 2030 climate goals this session.
The Power Bill Reduction Act would remove an interim carbon reduction goal on the way to carbon neutrality by 2050. While it was recently vetoed by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, Meyer isn’t sure that Democrats will be able to sustain that veto.
“We don’t have the loss of life that they have in Texas or that Western North Carolina had in Hurricane Helene,” Meyer said. “But this is just the beginning of hurricane season, and we see the impact of climate-related weather disasters again and again and again. I wish we would do more to try and turn the tide.”
US Rep. Valerie Foushee, a Democrat who represents much of the affected area, issued a statement Monday: “My heart is heavy seeing the widespread damage across Chatham, Durham, and Orange Counties caused by the severe flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal.
“I am incredibly thankful for the swift actions of our first responders who have been conducting water rescues and are working tirelessly on recovery efforts. I urge everyone in the impacted areas to prioritize safety by heeding official notices and avoiding travel on flooded and damaged roads. In the coming days and weeks, I will work closely with local officials and emergency management teams to ensure every resident and business affected receives the support they need to recover from this devastating storm.”
Farming impact of Chantal
Wind and water took out fencing on many farms near Saxapahaw in Alamance County.
So far, it seems nearly all farms in Alamance County were able to move livestock to higher ground before flooding began.
Farms in Snow Camp received 11 inches of rain and experienced flash flooding, power loss, fallen trees and down fences. Farms are waiting to see how quickly the floodwater will recede. If water remains in the fields, crops will see more severe damage.
So far, damage to farms seems limited, according to Orange County extension agents, though they have seen damage to fencing.
Tobacco fields near Southern Pines have seen some damage, according to Moore County extension agent Deborah McGiffin.
Multiple farmers in Person County have reported that more than 40% of their tobacco, soybean and corn crops are destroyed, according to extension agent Mikayla Berryhill.
A 50-acre soybean field is completely underwater in the area, she said. Acres and acres of corn blew over and are now unable to be harvested. It will take days to determine how much of the tobacco crop drowned.
Any Person County farmer that had not yet harvested their wheat will not be able to salvage what was left in the field, Berryhill told CPP.
Additional damage is expected in other areas that CPP has so far been unable to reach.
“We’re right in the middle of blueberry season, and farms in Central North Carolina are very busy,” regional extension agent Chip Simmons told CPP.
“This storm could not have come at a worse time.”
Health care
Roof leaks sprung at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, according to UNC Health spokesperson Alan Wolf, but patient care was not interrupted.
The UNC Health hospital in Hillsborough is relying on bottled water for drinking, cooking, and handwashing due to the boil water advisory in town.
Some staff members at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington were not able to reach the hospital due to flooded, impassable roadways, leading to staffing shortages at the facility, according to Cone Health spokesperson Tyler Hickman.
Those staffing issues have now been resolved, he said.
UNC Health Chatham in Siler City was unscathed, according to hospital president Jeffery Strickler. The hospital had no significant emergency department arrivals on account of the storm, despite significant flooding and road closures in Chatham County.
Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst reported minor leaks and flooding, both in the hospital and outpatient clinics and buildings, including the Child Development Center.
Schools and colleges
Orange County Schools were closed to the public Monday and asked only essential staff to report to work in-person. A message on the OCS website said New Hope Elementary, Grady A. Brown Elementary, A.L. Stanback Middle and Cedar Ridge High are without power.
Chatham County Schools posted an update in advance of the storm canceling summer school programs and normal school operations Monday.
Moore County Schools suspended summer programs including Read to Achieve and sports camps Monday to allow maintenance staff to assess storm damage. MCS Director for Communications Charlie Batchelor told CPP just a few of its campuses are experiencing minor leaks and flooding, and the district will operate as normal Tuesday.
Despite significant flooding at Hyco Lake near Person County, Public Information Officer Tracy Scruggs said the district’s only current summer offering is a daycare program that was not impacted, and the district saw no damage to school buildings.
UNC-Chapel Hill media relations told CPP its campus is operating under normal conditions and experienced only minor damages leading it to temporarily close the Student Recreation Center until July 15.
“There was minor flooding in some campus buildings and residence halls, but this hasn’t impacted academic operations,” a spokeperson said. The Student Recreation Center (SRC) and the Finley Track and Field Complex are currently closed due to flooding and water damage.”
Elon University in Alamance County was able to continue operations Monday morning after addressing minor damages, said Avery Craine Powell from University Communications.
“We quickly addressed about a dozen small building leaks across our main campus,” Powell wrote. “One road that flooded near a construction site didn’t damage nearby buildings because of sandbagging (and the water immediately subsided once the rain stopped). A small tree that fell was able to be moved away from a building egress by one person.”
Classes at Alamance Community College were conducted virtually and employees operated remotely Monday.
Sandhills Community College in Moore County said operations were continuing as normal Monday, but encouraged students to exercise caution when traveling to campus.
A spokesperson said Durham Technical Community College’s Hillsborough campus is also operating as normal.
Central Carolina Community College reported that its Pittsboro campus did not have any damage to facilities or infrastructure related to Chantal and was operating on its normal summer schedule.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated. Kate Denning, Sarah Michels, Jane Winik Sartwell, Frank Taylor and Lucas Thomae contributed to this report.
Crews work to clean up the Frame and Print Shop at the University Place shopping center in Chapel Hill on July 7, 2025, following Tropical Depression Chantal. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public PressThe rampaging Eno River in Hillsborough rushes under the Exchange Park Lane bridge in Hillsborough on July 7, 2025, following Tropical Depression Chantal. A footbridge from the Hillsborough Riverwalk is partially submerged in the distance. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article primarily delivers factual reporting on the impact of Tropical Depression Chantal, including detailed descriptions of flooding, rescue efforts, and local government responses. The inclusion of a Democratic state senator’s critique of Republican legislators’ climate policies introduces a mild policy critique, emphasizing concern over environmental and climate-related issues. This perspective aligns with center-left priorities that favor climate action and government intervention. However, the article maintains a largely neutral tone overall by balancing local official statements from both parties and focusing extensively on disaster reporting without partisan framing, supporting an overall center-left rating.
SUMMARY: A flooding emergency is unfolding across Orange and Durham counties after Tropical Storm Chantal’s remnants. In Durham’s Ripley Stream community near the Eno River, floodwaters have risen significantly, submerging cars and entering homes, forcing multiple evacuations. Residents face ankle-deep water inside homes, and emergency services have been active since early morning. Meanwhile, Chapel Hill’s Camelot Village apartments were inundated, with water reaching chest-high on first floors, displacing 60 people and prompting 50 water rescues. Debris and erosion blocked roads, and cars were swept away in parking lots. Recovery and cleanup are expected to take months as the community begins to assess damage.
Crews saved a total of 80 people by boat near homes close to flooded Eno River.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-07 07:52:00
On Independence Day, Elon Musk proposed creating the America Party as an alternative to the traditional two-party system, supported by a social media poll showing 2-1 favorability. For recognition in North Carolina, the party must meet criteria such as achieving 2% of votes in the last general election, collecting signatures from 0.25% of registered voters by May 16, or fielding candidates in 70% of states during presidential elections. The America Party could qualify for the 2025 municipal elections. Musk’s platform emphasizes debt reduction, tech advancement, free speech, and centrist policies. Currently, four parties are recognized in North Carolina, with a large unaffiliated voting bloc.
(The Center Square) – After an Independence Day question on his social media platform, the world’s richest man offered Americans an alternative political party independent of Democrats and Republicans.
For North Carolinians, that means one of three criteria will have to be met before the America Party – or any other creations – can be officially recognized for purposes of being on the ballots.
Musk, a 53-year-old space and automotive industry phenom, served Republican second-term President Donald Trump in the Department of Government Efficiency. Reviews were mixed. On Friday, the 249th celebration of the Fourth of July, Musk asked on social media, “Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system! Should we create the America Party?”
For recognition by the North Carolina State Board of Elections, as outlined in the General Statutes, the three ways involve the options of a party’s voters getting at least 2% of the entire vote cast in the most recent general election; signature petition of at least 0.25% of all registered voters who voted in the most recent gubernatorial election; or a group of voters showing documentation the group had their candidate on the general election ballot in 70% of the states (35) in the most recent presidential election.
The first and third of those are moot at this point; the America Party was not in existence for the 2024 cycle. In fact, Musk was a significant campaign piece for Trump.
For petitions, they must be filed with the state board before noon on June 1 of the year of the election the party wishes to participate in. There’s also a stipulation that, so that counties can verify, the signatures must go to them 15 days before being due to the state. That’s May 16.
The 2025 cycle is known as municipal elections in the state, and 2026 is the midterms – second-longest ballot of the four cycles for the state. The America Party could get into place for next year.
Last year’s governor’s race drew 5,591,547 votes among Democrat Josh Stein, Republican Mark Robinson, Libertarian Mike Ross, Vinny Smith (Constitution Party) and Wayne Turner (Green Party). A quarter of 1% would be 13,979 (rounded up).
More than once, Musk reposted a question on party platform that listed reduce debt, responsible spending only; modernize military with artificial intelligence/robotics; pro tech, accelerate to win in artificial intelligence; less regulation across the board but especially in energy; free speech; “pro natalist,” a form of pronatalism or belief in human reproduction and a high birth rate; and centrist policies everywhere else.
Three political parties lost recognition through the last cycle and North Carolina has four recognized today. Alphabetically, they are the Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Republican Party.
By registrations through Saturday, those unaffiliated (more than 2.8 million, or 38.3%) have the largest bloc, followed by Democrats (2.3 million, or 30.6%), Republicans (nearly 2.3 million, or 30.4%), Libertarians (only 45,986, or 0.6%) and Green (just 4,024, or 0.05%).
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article predominantly reports factual information about Elon Musk’s recent social media initiative to form a new political party called the America Party, outlining the legal requirements for new party recognition in North Carolina, voter registration statistics, and Musk’s political background. The tone is neutral, presenting Musk’s statements and related voting data without emotive or persuasive language. While it includes references to Musk’s own political history and platform ideas, it does so descriptively rather than endorsing or criticizing them. The article balances coverage of multiple parties and election rules, adhering to straightforward reporting rather than promoting an ideological stance, thus maintaining a centrist, neutral perspective.
