South-Carolina
Drought conditions spread across South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – Recent hot and dry conditions have resulted in the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources upgrading all 46 of the states counties to some level of drought.
Charleston, Berkeley and Beaufort Counties are currently classified as incipient, while Dorchester and Colleton Counties are classified as moderate.
Hardest hit are 15 counties in the Pee Dee Region, including Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties, which have been upgraded from no drought to severe drought. State Climatologist Hope Mizzell said such an increase is unprecedented.
“The weather hasn’t exactly followed the rules over the last month,” Mizzell said. “We experienced a wet winter, a relatively wet spring and then June hit. The rain stopped and thermostat soared.”
Water levels in the Black River and the Little Pee Dee River are reaching critically low levels and conditions will continue to worsen without above normal rainfall in the coming weeks. Since early June, many parts of the state have received less than 2.5 inches of rain.
Joe Ghent, who represents the Pee Dee on the South Carolina Drought Response Committee, said most early planted corn in the region has been lost due to drought. The U.S. Farm Agency in South Carolina said many counties are looking at a 50 percent yield reduction in the corn crop.
If drought conditions continue, the 2024 cotton, soybean and peanut crops will also be affected.
High temperatures and low rainfall have also resulted in an increase in wildfire activity. Between June 1 and July 7, the South Carolina Forestry Commission responded to more than 200 wildfires, 77 percent higher than the state’s 10-year average.
The high number of fires is the result of the rapid evaporation of moisture in plants and soil due to elevated temperatures.
To prevent forest fires, the South Carolina Forestry Commission recommends that South Carolinians postpone outdoor burning whenever possible.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
(WPDE) — June 9 marked International Batten Disease Awareness Day, shining a light on a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder.
It primarily affects children and causes harmful waste material to build up inside the cells of the brain and nervous system.
One South Carolina family used the day to raise awareness as their 2-year-old son, Sam Stockton, lives with CLN2 Batten disease.
Sam was diagnosed at 16 weeks old, and his family says they travel every other week for enzyme-replacement therapy while also searching for clinical research opportunities.
Through Hope for Sam, the family is working to spread information about Batten disease and support other families facing rare diseases.
“Just the more you know about rare diseases, I never knew that over 300 million people worldwide live with rare diseases. And that means there’s less access to care because people aren’t researching it and not as many people have it. So the more information that’s out there, we feel is the better,” Jordan Stockton said.
There are 13 known types of Batten disease, and there is no cure. Researchers estimate the disease affects about two to four out of every 100,000 births in the United States.
The Stockton family says they have found support through the Batten Disease Support, Research and Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate the disease while providing resources.
More information and donation details are available at this link.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Contestants in the 2026 Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina’s Teen competitions will showcase their talents on Thursday at the Township Auditorium.
Miss South Carolina’s Teen’s Got Talent is set to begin at 5 p.m., followed by Miss South Carolina’s Got Talent at 7 p.m.
READ MORE | Miss South Carolina kicks off with preliminary rounds
The talent competitions are part of the weeklong Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization competition, which brings delegates from across the state to Columbia to compete for scholarships and the opportunity to represent South Carolina on the national stage.
READ MORE | Miss South Carolina’s Teen preliminary round begins
Contestants competed in fitness, evening wear, and onstage question preliminaries on Wednesday, while Miss South Carolina’s Teen contestants completed their preliminary competition on Tuesday.
Preliminary winners include:
Preliminary Fitness Award winners:
- Jenna Huggins, Miss Clemson
- Lindsay Jones, Miss Charleston
- Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin
Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:
- Mary Kimball Osborn, Miss Palmetto
- Chelby Drafts, Miss Golden Corner
- Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin
Teen Preliminary Fitness Award winners:
- Alissa Claire Rhodes, Miss Fox Creek High School’s Teen
- Kamryn Mathis, Miss Greer High School’s Teen
- Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen
Teen Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:
- Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen
- Cleo Floyd-Johnstone, Miss Ballentine’s Teen
- Kursten Long, Miss Newberry’s Teen
The Miss South Carolina’s Teen finals are set for Friday night, while the Miss South Carolina finals will take place Saturday.
Watch the 2026 Miss South Carolina Competition LIVE at 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 20. Tune in on WACH FOX 57 in Columbia, ABC 4 in Charleston, ABC 15 in Myrtle Beach/Florence, and My40 in the Upstate.
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 June 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 17 drawing
03-26-49-53-61, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 17 drawing
Midday: 9-1-5, FB: 8
Evening: 9-0-2, FB: 2
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 17 drawing
Midday: 5-3-5-2, FB: 8
Evening: 0-4-1-5, FB: 2
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 17 drawing
Midday: 09
Evening: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from June 17 drawing
08-11-12-27-40
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from June 17 drawing
10-17-44-63-67, Powerball: 24
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.
-
Tennessee5 minutes agoInside Tennessee 4×100 relay’s NCAA title, outlasting four botched exchanges
-
Texas8 minutes agoFlu sickens some 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas
-
Utah13 minutes agoSan Juan County assessor resigns after allegations of being ‘unfit’ for office
-
Vermont20 minutes agoNorman Rockwell finally gets his day in new Shelburne Museum exhibit
-
Virginia23 minutes agoMotorcoach failed to slow for traffic in Virginia work zone before crash that killed 5 from Western Mass., NTSB says – The Boston Globe
-
Washington28 minutes agoStorm Team4 Forecast: Much-needed morning rain before sunny afternoon
-
Wisconsin35 minutes agoThese Wisconsin swing voters say Trump’s war in Iran wasn’t worth it
-
West Virginia38 minutes agoDelays expected during traffic shift on US 119 for bridge work
