North Carolina
North Carolina lottery winner had family pick numbers: ‘I started hyperventilating’
David Morris and his wife. (Credit: NC Education Lottery)
RALEIGH, N.C. – A North Carolina father came up with an idea that turned out to be a winning strategy for the lottery: asking his family to pick the numbers.
David Morris of Pineville ended up winning a $1 million Mega Millions prize in Tuesday’s drawing after asking one of his sons to pick the numbers.
It was the fourth-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever, but no one took home the grand prize, and now the jackpot stands at $1.55 billion with the next drawing set for Tuesday night.
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Morris said he only played the lottery after seeing the big jackpot. He will try again for Tuesday’s drawing.
He had matched numbers on all five white balls to win $1 million. He bought the ticket from the 7-Eleven on South Park Street in Pineville.
“I started hyperventilating,” he said in a news release. “I called my wife at work and told her to come home right away.”
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After state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $712,501.
“We want to buy some land up in the Smoky Mountains where my wife is from,” he continued.
“It’s great to see a $1 million Mega Millions winner like David here in North Carolina,” Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery, said. “Of course, we would love to see a new billionaire in the state tonight. Check your tickets carefully and good luck to everyone going for the jackpot tonight.”
The $1.55 billion prize would be for a sole winner who chooses the annuity option with payment stretched over 30 years. Most winners opt for a lump-sum payment, which would be an estimated $757.2 million on Tuesday.
A big slice of those winnings would go toward federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery payouts.
The jackpot is so hard to win because of the 1 in 302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – An eight-car crash injured several people and shut down a major interstate on Christmas Eve, the Charlotte Fire Department confirmed.
The crash happened at Interstate 85 North at West W.T. Harris Boulevard. I-85 was shut down by 7:40 p.m. and isn’t expected to reopen before 10:40 p.m.
Of those injured, two were taken to area hospitals, according to Medic.
Crews at the scene said to expect significant delays in the area.
For the latest traffic maps, visit drivenc.gov.
WBTV is working to find out more information. Download the free WBTV News app for the latest updates sent straight to your device.
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Outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) and Gov.-elect Josh Stein (D-NC) filed an expanded lawsuit Monday to challenge a sweeping Republican-backed law that strips significant powers from the state’s incoming Democratic officeholders.
The move by the Democratic leaders escalates an ongoing legal battle over GOP efforts to reshape control of state agencies and boards ahead of next month’s transition.
The new legal action focuses on Senate Bill 382, which transfers the governor’s authority to appoint members of the State Board of Elections to the state auditor, a position set to be held by Republican Dave Boliek. Additionally, the law grants the auditor the power to appoint the leaders of all county election boards, further limiting gubernatorial influence.
“These blatantly partisan efforts to give control over election boards to a newly elected Republican will create distrust in our elections process and serve no legitimate purpose,” Cooper said in a statement.
The lawsuit was originally filed by Democrats over Senate Bill 749, a bill blocked earlier this year that would have overhauled the state election board structure. With SB 382 now law, Cooper and Stein are seeking to amend the lawsuit to reflect the changes, which they argue are unconstitutional and undermine democratic principles.
“In recent years, these legislative leaders have repeatedly tried and failed to seize control of the State Board of Elections for their own partisan gain,” Stein said. “This latest move insults the voters who rejected their power grab and must not stand.”
SB 382’s provisions extend beyond election oversight. It prohibits the incoming attorney general, Democrat Jeff Jackson, from taking legal positions contrary to those of the Republican-led legislature. It also reallocates $227 million to a Hurricane Helene relief fund but does not specify how the money will be used, raising concerns about delayed aid to affected communities.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Republicans overrode Cooper’s veto of SB 382 earlier this month, using their supermajority in the state Senate. However, starting in 2025, they will lose their veto-proof majority in the House, creating a more challenging legislative landscape.
The case now heads to Wake County Superior Court as the political fight over North Carolina’s balance of power intensifies.
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