North Carolina
Weekend reads: Homeowners fight a major rate hike, water woes, and hope for Black mothers, babies | NC Newsline
Homeowners push back against proposed 42% insurance rate increase
By Greg Childress
Dozens of North Carolinians attended a public comment session Monday to speak against a North Carolina Rate Bureau request to increase homeowner insurance rates by an average of 42%.
The Rate Bureau, which represents companies that write insurance policies, made the request to the North Carolina Department of Insurance earlier this month, citing a higher cost of doing business due to climate change, which produces more powerful hurricanes and more severe flooding.[Read more...]
Associate dean, department head resigns in protest of program eliminations at UNCG
By Joe Killian
An associate dean and department head at UNC Greensboro resigned Wednesday in protest of the process used to identify programs that may be cut on the campus, pointing to a lack of transparency and “egregious behavior from senior administration,” according to a resignation letter obtained by Newsline.
Charles Bolton, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and interim head of the university’s anthropology department, tendered his resignation in a scathing letter to the college’s dean, John Kiss. Programs in Bolton’s own department were on a list of 19 potential eliminations the university released last week. That list, and the process university administrators used to create it, has been hotly debated since.[ Read more…]
Burlington finds high levels of 1,4-Dioxane in wastewater, which is headed downstream; Apollo Chemical again named as source
By Lisa Sorg
Wastewater leaving a City of Burlington treatment plant contained 545 parts per billion of a likely carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane, a level is more than 1,500 times the target value set by the state for surface water. The slug of the compound is headed downstream in the Haw River to Pittsboro and other communities. [Read more...]
North Carolina faces a child care cliff. Will state lawmakers step up as federal support ends?
By Clayton Henkel
It may feel like a lifetime ago, but Ariel Ford remembers fondly when she worked as a preschool teacher with a room full of rambunctious and creative two-year-olds.
“It is my favorite job I have ever had by far.”
Ford, who now serves as the Director of the Division of Child Development and Early Education for the NC Department of Health and Human Services, said there was only one problem with the best job ever — she couldn’t make ends meet even working full-time. [ Read more…]
A Raleigh-based health center works to reduce rates of Black maternal and infant deaths
By Lynn Bonner
A Raleigh-based community health center that low-income and uninsured people have relied on for decades is opening an OBGYN clinic with the intention of addressing, head-on, the factors that have Black mothers and babies dying at higher rates than white mothers and infants.
Services for expectant parents at Advance Community Health will feature a type of group prenatal care that’s been credited with reducing rates of preterm births. The center is also starting a parenting program for fathers. [ Read more…]
Proposed homeowners’ insurance hike could send 75-year-old Swansboro man back to work
By Greg Childress
Seventy-five year-old Swansboro resident Boyd Pate is reluctantly thinking about returning to work to help make ends meet.
The retired Durham firefighter who moved to the coast decades ago to enjoy his twin passions — boating and fishing — said expenses are beginning to outpace the modest increases in his state pension and Social Security checks. [ Read more…]
Grasping at straws: Anti-Trump GOP’ers are failing to acknowledge the choice that confronts them (commentary)
By Rob Schofield
Some county boards of election violated “the text and spirit” of the voter ID law when they baselessly questioned the reasons voters didn’t have photo identification last November, three voting rights groups told the State Board of Election in a letter.
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Common Cause North Carolina, and Democracy North Carolina want the State Board of Elections to make it clear what local boards can and cannot do when they’re considering accepting ballots from people who vote without photo ID. [Read more.…]
UNC System, community colleges offer scholarships to families making less than $80,000
By Joe Killian
North Carolina students whose families make $80,000 or less are eligible for a minimum $5,000 scholarship at any of the UNC System’s 16 universities, the system office announced this week. Families with greater financial need could see more aid.
The Next NC Scholarship, a combination of federal Pell grants and state funded financial aid, is open to qualifying families who fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 1.
Students and their families who need help with the application can get it through dozens of institutions, public and private, on FASFA Day, January 27. [Read more...]
NC utilities to receive $47 million to keep toxic lead out of drinking water
By Lisa Sorg
Under EPA’s proposed rule, all lead-contaminated service lines would be replaced within 10 years
Beneath the yards of an untold number of homes in North Carolina lay water lines installed 100 years ago, when Calvin Coolidge was president. Some of these service lines, which send drinking water from the main pipes to the houses, contain lead, a neurotoxin.
When the drinking water passes through the contaminated line, it could carry the lead into the home. From there, the contaminated water flows through the tap into the glass of sweet tea, bottle of baby formula, and kettle of homemade soup. [Read more…]
Federal judge blocks part of Republicans’ new election law
By Kelan Lyons
A federal judge issued a ruling over the weekend blocking part of an elections law passed by Republicans last year that required the ballots of voters who register and vote during early voting to be thrown out if mail meant to verify their addresses could not be delivered.
That policy change was part of a wide-ranging elections bill Republicans passed last year over Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. This is one of several lawsuits dealing with that new law that are wending through the courts; voting rights advocates also contend it discriminates against young people, and others claim it makes it harder for other state residents to register to vote or have their ballot count. [ Read more…]
MOYOCK, N.C. (WAVY) — In North Carolina, Dominion Energy has filed for a rate hike with the North Carolina Utilities Commission that could result in an average $17 increase a month for residential customers.
“I think it’s horrible — it’s high enough,” said North Carolina resident Gina Connor. “Our Dominion Energy bills are high enough. And raising it right now, when the economy is already going through more increases. I just think they need to keep it safe. How about lowering it?”
Dominion Energy said the proposal reflects the rising cost of critical grid equipment such as utility poles, transformers, wires and cables, and that inflation has increased the cost of generating and delivering electricity.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Bill Morse, who lives in North Carolina. “They already overcharge for electricity with all the fees and the extras that they put on the bills. It’s like a never-ending grab.”
Dominion said it did not make the proposal lightly, “and we understand household budgets are feeling the impact of inflation.” It said it was trying to keep costs as low as possible while expanding programs to help customers manage their bills.
“Everything is going up, so your energy costs are going up, your food costs, your fuel costs, everything,” one woman said. “You know, it just snowballs. So yeah, it’s tough. And I don’t see any end in sight. I don’t see it getting better.”
The Commission will review the proposal and host public hearings for the community to voice their opinions.
Connor says lower the bills.
“Leave the prices alone,” Connor said. “Do what you can to decrease the prices and not increase the prices.”
Morse hopes prices will come down.
“It’s continuously increasing,” Morse said. “So there’s never going to be a pullback. They’re never going to reduce it. Once they get it you know they’re going to find a way to keep it.”
Dominion Energy points out that their current residential rate is 25% below the national average. The new rate would go into effect Dec. 1.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A groundhog has tested positive for rabies in Western North Carolina.
Rutherford County Animal Control Services posted on social media on May 1 that the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health sent Animal Control Services the notification on April 29.
According to the post, the groundhog was in the vicinity of Oak Springs Baptist Church to the Rutherford County Airport of the Gilkey Township area.
There was no reported human exposure with the groundhog, the post said.
REOPENING DATE SET FOR HELENE-DAMAGED POPLAR BOAT LAUNCH
Animal Control Services said it was the first positive test for rabies in Rutherford County for 2026. The last positive rabies test confirmed by the N.C. State Lab of Public Health was July 3, 2025 That animal was also a groundhog from the city limits of Rutherfordton near the intersection of Alt U.S. 74 and U.S. 64 area.
The Rutherford County Health Director and Rutherford County Animal Control Services is advising residents to be sure that their animals are under their direct control. Animals that are allowed to wander or run loose are at a greater risk of coming into contact with rabid animals, the post said.
Residents’ pets with rabies vaccinations not up to date and that are exposed to a rabid animal will have to be euthanized or placed in a strict supervised quarantine at the owner’s expense for up to four months, Animal Control Services said in the post.
If residents’ pets have up-to-date vaccinations, the pets will need a booster vaccine if exposed to rabies.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS DEMAND CHANGE AMID RISING ANIMAL CRUELTY CLAIMS
During the next six months anyone living in the Gilkey Township area should watch for animals with unusual behavior and be sure all pets have current rabies vaccinations. North Carolina State law requires that all cats and dogs have rabies vaccines at four months of age, a booster 12 months after the initial rabies vaccine and then a booster vaccine every three years.
All local veterinarians offer rabies vaccines. Rutherford County Animal Control Services also offers rabies vaccines., including low cost rabies vaccine clinics, which are available on the first Tuesday every month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (no appointment needed) for $5 per vaccine.
Anyone seeing an animal displaying abnormal behaviors should call Animal Control Services at 828-980-0016.
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, April 30, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 30 drawing
Day: 0-5-5, Fireball: 5
Evening: 3-2-5, Fireball: 9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 30 drawing
Day: 9-5-1-5, Fireball: 1
Evening: 2-0-4-8, Fireball: 1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 30 drawing
21-30-31-35-40
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 30 drawing
11-15-23-32-43
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 30 drawing
05-19-21-42-55, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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