North Carolina
NC Uber driver rejects more trips as gas tops $4 per gallon
Gas prices have surpassed the $4 mark across North Carolina due to
global oil supply disruptions tied to the war in Iran, and local
rideshare drivers struggling to make up for the increased costs are
changing how they operate.
Joel Bender, an Uber driver from
Buncombe County, said he has been turning down more trips than he
accepts to offset heightened fuel costs.
“Right now, I’m at a 10% acceptance rate, and I’m at about a 20% cancel rate,” Bender said.
AAA
reports prices across the state are averaging out around $4.17 for a
gallon of regular as of May 13, 2026. Meanwhile, the national average is
spilling above $4.50 — about $1.50 more since the war started.
>>Economist says higher gas prices likely to continue into summer travel despite U.S. oil production
Bender
said he is questioning whether or not he is getting back how much he
spends to pump gas into his tank. Bender, a nearly decade-long rideshare
driver, said he is not alone in this.
“There’s still some drivers who just say, ‘Listen, I’m going to make sure that I’m not screwed on this ride,’” Bender said.
Bender created a Facebook group with almost 700 members — a place where rideshare drivers can connect and support one another.
He
said drivers part of this group have opened up to him about how they
are dealing with these rising costs. Bender said the gas hike is
especially burdensome on people whose primary income comes from
rideshare driving.
“There are a number of drivers who do this to put food on the table and to make their monthly obligations,” Bender said.
He
said more drivers — even ones who’ve been driving for years — are
choosing to steer clear from the business altogether, no longer helping
some pay their bills.
AAA said gas prices are averaging out to be
the highest they have been since 2022 with other states, like
California, exceeding $6 for a gallon.
While Uber said it is
expanding its fuel discount program for drivers and couriers through May
26, Bender said this is still not enough to help him make up for
losses.
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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The North Carolina Tar Heels have had no downtime this offseason, with developments and updates constantly revolving through the doors in Chapel Hill.
Last week, we learned of the Tar Heels’ home and away ACC schedule, and earlier in the offseason, a portion of their non-conference schedule was released. Late Thursday, North Carolina was informed of another non-conference game, and it’s safe to say this will be another test for the program that resides in Chapel Hill.
Opponent Reveal
North Carolina will host Arkansas at the Dean E. Smith Center on Dec. 1 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks are one of two SEC teams the Tar Heels will face this season, as they will take on Kentucky on Dec. 19 at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic.
Significance of Matchup
Stacking up as many formidable opponents during the non-conference slate is monumental for the Tar Heels, who need to solidify their rotation and chemistry before ACC play begins. Arkansas has reached the Sweet 16 in each of John Calipari’s first two seasons as head coach, and it could orchestrate a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament next season, with one of the best rosters in college basketball.
With Michael Malone entering his first year as North Carolina’s head coach, it is crucial that the team develops cohesion on both ends of the floor. While the Razorbacks have been a Sweet 16 program in each of the last two campaigns, the Tar Heels have failed to advance past the first weekend.
This is an obvious test for North Carolina, as Arkansas’ roster and Calipari’s coaching pedigree should be a matchup Malone and this team should be excited for. The Tar Heels could prove a lot with an impressive outing against one of the elite teams in the SEC.
Polarizing Storyline
In addition to this matchup featuring two of the most prominent programs in college basketball, it will also be a reunion between Calipari and North Carolina’s associate head coach Chuck Martin, who served as an assistant on Calipari’s staff in Arkansas.
Martin’s familiarity with Calipari’s scheme could become a factor in the matchup and provide the Tar Heels with important intel on the Razorbacks. Since Calipari took over as head coach, Arkansas has tended to take time to gel, which could be another pivotal factor in how the game unfolds.
Overall, this is an opportunity for Malone and his players to prove that North Carolina should be taken seriously as a potential contender heading into conference play.
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