South-Carolina
Hurricane Helene update: outage map shows millions left without power
Millions of Americans have been left without power following Hurricane Helene’s deadly assault on the Eastern U.S.
South Carolina was the worst-affected state, with 1,089,535 outages recorded as of early Saturday, according to PowerOutage.us, a service that tracks disruptions. In South Carolina’s Greenville County alone, 258,688 outages were recorded.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday as a powerful category 4 storm. Forecasters warned of “a catastrophic and deadly storm surge.” It was the strongest hurricane on record to landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, The Weather Channel reported.
More From Newsweek Vault: 5 Steps to Build an Emergency Fund Today
Some 787,428 outages were recorded in Georgia, 728,427 in North Carolina, 527,945 in Florida, 224,841 in Ohio, and 141,407 in Kentucky. There were an additional 72,962 in Indiana, 70,991 in West Virginia, and 62,091 in Tennessee, for a combined total of 3,705,627.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said on X, formerly Twitter, that work was underway to clear roads and restore power, but he added that this would “take some time, many days in some places.”
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned power outages could be long-lasting and recommended anyone using generators to place them at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and garages to avoid deadly carbon-monoxide poisoning.
More From Newsweek Vault: What Is an Emergency Fund?
“Helene has rapidly intensified today while nearing landfall in the Florida Big Bend,” the NHC said in a forecast discussion earlier on Thursday. “It should be emphasized that Helene is at the upper bound of hurricanes in terms of storm size, and impacts are and will occur well away from the center.”
Helene became a tropical storm on Tuesday, becoming the season’s most powerful hurricane by the time it reached land.
More From Newsweek Vault: Learn More About the Different Types of Savings Accounts
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urged those in Helene’s path “to take immediate action to protect themselves as the storm approaches,” highlighting a “risk for dangerous flash and flooding in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.”
An update from the NHC late Friday warned of “record-breaking” flooding across the southern Appalachians, but said that conditions would begin to improve Friday night and on Saturday “following the catastrophic flooding over the past two days.”
The agency said deadly hazards could remain after the system had passed, including downed power lines and flooded areas.
Tennessee House candidate Brad Batt shared an image to X (formerly Twitter), which appeared to show around three-dozen people taking refuge from high floodwaters on a hospital roof.
A tally by The Associated Press and U.K. newspaper The Guardian showed that Helene—now rated a post-tropical cyclone by the NHC—has killed more than 40 people.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about Hurricane Helene or extreme weather events? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Researchers and history buffs will soon have to plan around a temporary closure at the Charleston County Public Library’s Main Library as renovations approach.
The library’s South Carolina Room, located at the Main Library at 68 Calhoun St., will temporarily close to the public beginning May 1, as the building prepares for renovation later this year.
The South Carolina Room is expected to be unavailable for about eight to 10 weeks during the transition. During that time, services, collections and in-person research assistance will not be accessible.
READ MORE | “Charleston County Public Library introduces new Youth Library Card options.”
The department will reopen to the public in a temporary location at 1248 Camp Road, though an official reopening date has not yet been announced.
The South Carolina Room is CCPL’s primary local history and genealogy research department. It preserves and provides access to materials documenting the history and people of Charleston County and South Carolina, including historical documents, maps, photographs, manuscripts, newspapers and other archival resources used for scholarly research, family history and community exploration.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
CCPL said the temporary relocation will allow continued preservation of materials while renovations at the Main Library are underway. Updates on reopening timelines and services will be shared at ccpl.org and through the library’s official communication channels.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Feb. 25, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 25 drawing
50-52-54-56-64, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Feb. 25 drawing
Midday: 1-3-3, FB: 3
Evening: 1-6-4, FB: 6
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Feb. 25 drawing
Midday: 4-6-9-8, FB: 3
Evening: 2-6-1-8, FB: 6
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Feb. 25 drawing
Midday: 10
Evening: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Feb. 25 drawing
26-30-36-38-39
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Feb. 25 drawing
11-24-47-59-63, Powerball: 05
Check Powerball Double Play 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
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
COLUMBIA — South Carolina is hosting a Darius Rucker concert and block party in lieu of the 2026 spring football game.
The university announced on Feb. 25 that “Gamecock Athletics, in partnership with Rock Block, has announced that country music superstar and longtime Gamecock supporter Darius Rucker, along with country singer, songwriter and actress, Lauren Alaina, will headline the Garnet & Black Spring Fest.”
Williams-Brice Stadium has been under construction since the end of the 2025 football season and will not be operational in April, when coach Shane Beamer typically hosts the Garnet and Black spring game.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 11, at Colonial Life Arena with a free pre-conference block party at the corner of Lincoln and Greene Streets, outside of CLA.
Rucker is a Charleston native and a South Carolina graduate. His band Hootie and the Blowfish was formed at the university.
Tickets will first go to Gamecock Club members, Letterman Association members, University of South Carolina students and Colonial Life Arena Cyber Club members. It’s open to all ages.
The block party will begin at 1 p.m. ET and will feature a meet and greet with Gamecock football players, food and drinks, inflatables, live music and more. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.
“Due to the ongoing stadium construction, our ability to host a spring game this year was going to be challenging as our top priority is ensuring Williams-Brice Stadium is ready for Sept. 5 home opener,” athletics director Jeremiah Donati said in the release. “As a result, the Garnet & Black Spring Fest was created to not only provide fans with the opportunity to meet and greet our football student-athletes but to come together as Gamecocks.”
Rucker is often involved in things on campus, ranging from attending games to supporting Beamer and women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, or things more formal like events like these.
At a concert in Columbia in December 2024, Beamer joined Rucker on stage to sing “Wagon Wheel.”
Alaina is from Rossville, Georgia.
South Carolina has not announced dates for spring football practice.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
North Texas middle school closes after a norovirus outbreak
Utah man dies of injuries sustained in avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Here are five places to ice skate in Vermont this winter
Patchwork 250: Share your community’s unique history for Virginia’s 250th anniversary
Wisconsin DNR opens 2026 elk season applications March 1, with more Central Zone tags
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Where Iran’s ballistic missiles can reach — and how close they are to the US
Has India’s influence in Afghanistan grown under the Taliban?
Bill Clinton to testify before House committee investigating Epstein links
Read Judge Schiltz’s Order
Vulnerable House Dem lashes out at Trump’s ‘racist’ SOTU challenge: ‘That was uncomfortable’
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Louisiana4 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making