North Carolina
Weekend reads: A crisis of confidence, heated politics, making a mockery of campaign finance laws | NC Newsline
Across the UNC System, campuses face a crisis of confidence
By Joe Killian
At N.C. State and UNCG, recent faculty votes reflect cultural, philosophical and political tensions
When members of N.C. State University’s College of Education faculty voted to express “no confidence” in the university’s chancellor and provost last weekend, it was a first in the university’s history. But the largely symbolic vote reflects greater tensions on campuses across the UNC System, as faculty say they feel locked out of high level decision-making by administrators and political appointees. [Read more...]
Bonus read: Former UNC System presidents: less politics, more diversity needed in governance
Students remember Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s ‘cruel comments’ on Parkland shooting anniversary
By Greg Childress
On the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., North Carolina students have released a video about what they say are “cruel comments” Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson lodged against its survivors.
Robinson, R-Guilford, is a gubernatorial candidate.
Seventeen students and faculty died during one of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings at the high school, which has since been demolished.[ Read more …]
Crowded GOP Lt. Governor’s race includes NC newcomer who’s never voted in the state
By Lisa Sorg
A prophetic evangelist who said God told her she was Jewish. A long-time Democrat turned Republican. A sheriff. Another Christian minister endorsed by Ted Nugent. Several current and former state lawmakers. A head of the opaque “Election Education Foundation.” And a paramedic from Florida who believes COVID is a hoax, has never voted in North Carolina, and has lodged unfounded accusations about the integrity of the election process.
Eleven Republicans are running in the March 5 primary for lieutenant governor; the winner will face one of three Democrats — state Sen. Rachel Hunt, Ben Clark or Mark H. Robinson — in the General Election this fall. [Read more...]
On rancor and rhetoric: North Carolinians search for civility in an uncivil political season
By Clayton Henkel
When Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02) is in her home district, she loves taking her dog Wiley to the local parks.
“A lot of people see me walking my dog all around Raleigh,” said Ross, who enjoys the chance to make a personal connection with her constituents. “It really breaks down that grassroots feel, knowing your member of Congress.”
But Ross is increasingly aware those interactions can be combative and unpleasant in today’s heated political climate.[ Read more …]
Backsliding, toothless enforcement are making a mockery of North Carolina’s campaign finance laws (commentary)
By Rob Schofield
There was a time in North Carolina, not that many years ago, when the state’s political establishment – elected leaders, judges, regulators, lobbyists, reporters, reform advocates – were hugely and rightfully obsessed with the laws governing campaign finance and political influence peddling.
In the early 2000s, spurred on by the energetic muckraking of a nationally acclaimed government watchdog named Bob Hall and, in particular, his courageous investigations of Democratic state House Speaker Jim Black, campaign finance laws and lobbying laws (and the corruption they were designed to police) frequently dominated lawmaking in the Legislative Building and the state’s political news headlines. [ Read more …]
DHHS putting $5.5 million into behavioral health program for formerly incarcerated people
By Kelan Lyons
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will award $5.5 million to a program that provides psychiatric and physical health care services to people coming home from jail or prison, the agency announced this week.
The money will go to the FIT Wellness Program, a part of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program in the UNC School of Medicine. The initiative helps imprisoned people with serious mental health conditions as they try to navigate life outside the confines of a cell, helping them with their health needs and, once they’re free, connecting them with community supports like housing and transportation. [Read more…]
Bonus read: Prison reentry council sets ambitious goal for helping people released from prison
Federal judges seem split on ordering new Senate districts Black voters are challenging
By Lynn Bonner
Two federal judges on a three-judge panel were wary of immediately ordering new state Senate districts that Black voters in northeastern North Carolina said illegally weakened Black voting strength.
The voters are appealing a federal district court judge’s decision denying their request to order two Senate districts be redrawn in the state’s Black Belt counties in time for this year’s election. A Fourth Circuit Court three-judge panel heard oral arguments in the appeal Thursday morning. [Read more.…]
Chemours asks federal appeals court to negate EPA health goal for GenX
By Lisa Sorg
Chemours, the company responsible for polluting the drinking water of 800,000 people in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin with GenX, is asking a court to negate the EPA’s health advisory for the toxic chemical.
The Third Circuit Court of Appeal s, based in Philadelphia, heard arguments last week. There is not a timetable for a decision.
A ruling for Chemours could save the company hundreds of millions of dollars because it would not have to provide alternate water supplies to households whose private wells contain GenX between10 parts per trillion and 140 ppt. [ Read more...]
NC Board of Elections endorses adjustments to voter ID rules for use after the primary
By Lynn Bonner
The state Board of Elections on Thursday endorsed permanent voter ID rules for use in future elections.
The new proposed rules must be approved by another state commission before they go into effect. Rules for voter ID in use since last year remain in place for the current primary elections. [Read more…]
Bonus read: From IDs, to selfies to guns: what NC voters need to know about early in-person voting
Five recommendations North Carolina lawmakers may consider to tackle HOA disputes
By Clayton Henkel
Members of the House Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations are moving closer to advancing a draft bill designed to level the playing field between homeowners and their HOAs.
Following two public hearings in January, five recommendations were presented Tuesday to the committee by legislative staff.
The first recommendation involves an association’s obligation to provide records for examination by its members. [Read more…]
It has been an up-and-down offseason for the North Carolina Tar Heels, whose roster will look drastically different next season.
During these last two weeks, the Tar Heels have lost Caleb Wilson (draft), Henri Veesaar (draft), Seth Trimble (expiring eligibility), Derek Dixon (transferred to Arizona), Luka Bogavac (transferred to Oklahoma State), Jonathan Powell (transferred to Pittsburgh), and Zayden High (transferred to South Florida).
Simultaneously, North Carolina has acquired Neoklis Avdalas, Terrence Brown, Matt Able, and Maxim Logue in the portal. In the process, head coach Michael Malone retained Jarin Stevenson, Maximo Adams, Jaydon Young, and Isaiah Denis.
With all of that in mind, we will evaluate the Tar Heels’ ceiling in the conference and assess how far they can go in the NCAA tournament.
How UNC Will Fare in ACC
As currently constructed, the Tar Heels are facing an uphill battle in the conference, especially given what top-end rival teams in the ACC have done this offseason. While North Carolina has lost over half of its rotation from last season, two programs in the conference have made convincing cases for themselves as the clear-cut, tier-one teams in the ACC.
Let’s start with Louisville. The Cardinals will lose several players through the combination of the draft and expiring eligibility. However, head coach Pat Kelsey was able to acquire Flory Bidunga, Jackson Shelstad, and Karter Knox. With over $20 million invested in next season’s roster, Louisville is at worst the second-best team in the ACC.
As for Duke, the Blue Devils retained most of their backcourt and center Patrick Ngongba II, while signing Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell. Not to mention, head coach Jon Scheyer, for the third time in four years, assembled the No. 1 recruiting class.
North Carolina will remain active in the transfer portal and must continue pursuing frontcourt players, with Veesaar announcing his decision to enter the upcoming NBA draft. Heading into the final days of April, the Tar Heels’ ceiling in the ACC is the third-best team, and that may be wishful thinking.
Way-Too-Early Prediction on North Carolina’s Ceiling in March Madness
Next year’s NCAA tournament is 11 months away, with several moving parts still in the works. However, with the current state of the roster and Malone taking over as the head coach, North Carolina should be a second-weekend team.
I would not expect the Tar Heels to be eliminated in the first round for a third consecutive season. As stated, so much will happen now until that point, but if you asked me to make an educated guess, based on what has transpired this offseason, I would say North Carolina’s ceiling in March 2027 is probably the Sweet 16.
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The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 26, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 26 drawing
Day: 8-0-7, Fireball: 1
Evening: 5-9-3, Fireball: 1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 26 drawing
Day: 6-6-8-4, Fireball: 2
Evening: 3-0-8-2, Fireball: 7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 26 drawing
02-09-18-26-42
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 26 drawing
16-21-22-31-43
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 26 drawing
02-03-06-17-56, 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.
On Friday, North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar announced his decision to enter the 2026 NBA Draft, with no intention of removing his name from the process.
Hours after the news broke, the 6-foot-11, 224-pound center shared a heartfelt goodbye to Chapel Hill and the Tar Heel faithful.
What Veesaar Said
- “This journey didn’t happen alone,” Veesaar said in a statement. “To my family – thank you for every sacrifice, every late night, every moment you believed in me before anyone else did. To my friends, teammates and coaches – thank you for being part of the grind and helping shape me into who I am today.”
Veesaar transferred to North Carolina last offseason after spending two years at Arizona. In his lone campaign with the Tar Heels, the junior center averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 60.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three-point range. Veesaar spoke on the impact the university has made on him.
- “The University of North Carolina – thank you for the memories, the lessons and the brotherhood. It’s something I’ll carry with me forever. I’m proud to say I’m taking the next step and declaring for the NBA Draft. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the journey.”
North Carolina’s season abruptly ended in the first round of the NCAA against VCU. That did not appear to be the end result, as the Tar Heels held a 19-point lead halfway through the second half. Veesaar, who led the team with 26 points and 10 rebounds, shared his love for North Carolina, which should have been a sign that he was leaning towards entering the upcoming NBA draft.
- “I love the school, I love the people, I love the university, they’ve given me so much,” Veesaar said.
Overall Thoughts
Veesaar declaring for the draft is a monumental loss for head coach Michael Malone and the Tar Heels heading into next season. Now, Malone and his staff must adjust on the fly and plan accordingly. With the transfer portal closing on April 21, the options have dwindled significantly, putting North Carolina’s brass in a serious bind.
While the Tar Heels would love to bring in someone like Arizona State’s Massamba Diop, who was dominant rim protector and effective offensive piece in his freshman season in 2025. The 7-foot-1, 230-pound center does not possess the shooting ability that Veesaar has in his repertoire, but Diop still averaged 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 56.9 percent from the field.
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