North Carolina
Businesses worry of potential impacts as Marion tightens water restrictions amid drought
MARION, N.C. (WLOS) — The City of Marion is tightening water restrictions as drought conditions persist across western North Carolina, prompting local businesses to prepare for possible impacts on daily operations.
The drought monitor released on Thursday, May 14, shows that extreme drought now covers 90% of western North Carolina.
ASHEVILLE IS MORE THAN 7 INCHES BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL THIS YEAR, DATA SHOWS
As the region continues moving into a hotter and drier pattern, the City of Marion officials announced Stage Two water shortage restrictions less than a month after issuing a Stage One Water Advisory.
Businesses in Marion said the quick escalation is raising concerns about what could come next if drought conditions persist.
“They put us in stage one at the end of April and already it’s not through, it’s not the end of May and they’re already putting us in stage two,” said Barbara Brown, owner of Bruce’s.
Under the Stage Two restrictions, watering lawns, gardens and golf courses will be prohibited. Washing cars, filling residential swimming pools and serving water in restaurants except upon request will not be allowed.
Brown said her restaurant is already taking steps to conserve water.
“We check the bathrooms often to make sure people have turned the water off because we have found from time to time, people leave them running,” she added.
She said she worries stronger restrictions could eventually force businesses to make bigger operational changes.
“I’m concerned that eventually we might have to go to paper plates, paper cups, silverware,” Brown said.
Other businesses are also considering adjustments.
Kat Garner, a tattoo artist at Blue Ridge Tattoo, said water shortages could affect how the shop operates day to day.
LEADERS URGE WATER CONSERVATION AS DROUGHT DEEPENS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
“We would definitely be reduced to using distilled water for everything, which would become harder if everyone’s buying it out, so that would definitely make things a little bit more difficult,” Garner said.
The Stage Two water restrictions are set to begin Friday, May 15, at 8 a.m. and will last until further notice.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Two outs away, and then the ultimate pain.
USC baseball’s 25-year College World Series drought continued Sunday with an agonizing 4-3 loss to No. 5-seed North Carolina in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional after the Tar Heels scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
USC (48-18) nearly forced extra innings when Owen Hull hit a 2-0 pitch into the left-field corner in foul territory, but the ball fell between three Trojans. Hull then lined the next pitch into the gap in left-center field for a walk-off double to send the Tar Heels to Omaha in a heartbreaking, season-ending loss for USC.
The Trojans took a 3-2 lead to the bottom of the ninth and even got the first out. USC reliever Adam Troy then walked North Carolina third baseman Cooper Nicholson before falling behind 3-0 to nine-hole hitter Carter French, leading USC coach Andy Stankiewicz to make a pitching change mid at-bat.
He went to Chase Herrell, and French lined a 3-2 single through the right side. Jake Schaffner tied the score on a sacrifice fly.
USC coach Andy Stankiewicz talks to his players after their season-ending loss to North Carolina.
(Laura Wolff / For The Times)
USC failed to capitalize on a heroic start from pitcher Andrew Johnson, who gave up seven hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking two over 7⅔ innings.
Kevin Takeuchi and Andrew Lamb hit solo home runs for the Trojans in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Trojans squandered scoring opportunities with runners in scoring position in the seventh and ninth innings.
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Saturday, June 6, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 6 drawing
16-32-55-59-64, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 6 drawing
Day: 4-7-2, Fireball: 4
Evening: 6-1-1, Fireball: 3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 6 drawing
Day: 8-1-5-5, Fireball: 8
Evening: 9-2-3-1, Fireball: 0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from June 6 drawing
03-07-12-22-29
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from June 6 drawing
03-11-14-20-30
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 6 drawing
03-13-18-35-48, Bonus: 04
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.
The USC Trojans baseball team received an extended stay in Chapel Hill.
But for the wrong reason, as they took the Game 2 loss to North Carolina 4-0, which now forces a third game to decide who moves on to Omaha.
Head coach Andy Stankiewicz raved about the grit of USC during Game 1 between the two teams, especially after erasing the 5-1 deficit to defeat the Tar Heels. But he dropped a much different tone following this loss to UNC.
Andy Stankiewicz Vows USC Will Be Ready for Game 3
Stankiewicz revealed a good thing about the loss, saying “we have tomorrow” and stating how Sundays are “always important.”
All which led to this big statement from Stankiewicz after taking the disappointing loss:
“We’ll be ready. We will bounce back, and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow,” Stankiewicz told reporters after the loss.
This four-run defeat becomes only the second loss for Stankiewicz and USC during these NCAA Baseball Playoffs.
Andy Stankiewicz Praised USC Grit Despite Loss
The coach watched Colin Hynek set the tone for North Carolina in ripping a solo home run against his No. 2 ace pitcher, Grant Govel. Then, later watched Erik Paulsen blast a three-run homer to help swing the game in favor of North Carolina.
Yet Stankiewicz acknowledged this USC versus UNC contest could’ve gotten out of hand quick.
“I thought we did a really good job of minimizing what could have been some big innings,” Stankiewicz said. “I think that’s what we talk about a lot. The fact that we had some traffic (runners on base), but we made some good pitches. We made a good ground ball double play to Kevin [Takeuchi] at third base to first. We pitched well enough to keep ourselves close.”
Still, Stankiewicz saw two of his own mound options surrender a home run. Reliever Sax Matson allowed the three-run Paulsen blast during the sixth inning. He acknowledged the better pitcher was UNC’s Jason DeCaro.
“Again, at the end of the day, it was just al about DeCaro,” Stankiewicz said. “Just couldn’t get to him.”
USC Provides Update on Game 3 Mound Option
Stankiewicz already turned to No. 1 pitcher Mason Edwards to start the Chapel Hill Regional. His No. 2 ace Govel accepted the loss on the hill after allowing five hits, one run and the early homer. Andrew Johnson also saw extensive action, but in Game 1, which USC won.
The latter could rise as the potential starter in the winner-take-all matchup. Stankiewicz addressed that possibility.
“We’re not sure,” the coach began. “But it’ll be everybody. We can’t go too long with too many. But tomorrow is going to be one of those where we get everybody ready to roll.”
That could mean Diego Valzaquez could see time on the hill too, as he’s yet to throw against the Tar Heels. Stankiewicz rolled with six different pitchers in the Game 2 loss, including Sax Matson, Rohan Kasanagottu and Henry Chabot. But sounds like Stankiewicz needs all of his bullpen ready to save USC’s season.
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