South-Carolina
South Carolina couple $200,000 richer after lottery ticket plucked from trash
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An anonymous couple from South Carolina is thanking their lucky stars after one of them realized their “losing” lottery ticket was actually a big winner.
The couple, described by the South Carolina Education Lottery in a July 25 news release as being from the “upstate” region of South Carolina, recently purchased a $5 Double Sided Dollars Extra Play lottery scratch-off ticket from a convenience store in Spartanburg.
Spartanburg is a city in northern South Carolina, about 75 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina.
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After scratching it, the wife did not think she’d won — so she threw the ticket away.
But her eagle-eyed husband noticed the ticket in the trash and saw something his wife had missed.
The winning ticket was plucked from the trash can after it was inadvertently thrown away. (South Carolina Education Lottery; iStock / Getty Images)
“You have a 12 on it,” the man recounted to the South Carolina Education Lottery, meaning that the ticket was not a loser after all.
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He plucked the ticket from the trash and his wife kept scratching the card – discovering that she had won $200,000.
The couple told the South Carolina Education Lottery they’re “happy and thankful everything worked out.”
With their winnings, the two plan on buying a new house, they told lottery officials.
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The couple had a 1 in 750,000 chance of winning the $200,000 top prize in the Double Sided Dollars Extra Play, the South Carolina Education Lottery said.
The South Carolina Education Lottery reported on the couple’s stroke of good luck in a July 25 article on its website. (South Carolina Education Lottery / Fox News)
The Double Sided Dollars Extra Play game went on sale on March 19, 2024, the South Carolina Education Lottery’s website said.
Three of the four top prizes of $200,000 have been claimed.
A total of 32 second-place prizes of $1,000 are still available.
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Thousands of other prizes, ranging from $5 to $500, are also available.
The South Carolina Education Lottery was created after a Nov. 7, 2000, referendum that saw residents of the state vote to approve the implementation of a state-run lottery, the lottery’s website said.
One $200,000 prize has yet to be claimed, lottery officials said. (South Carolina Education Lottery)
The South Carolina Education Lottery Act was ratified by the South Carolina General Assembly a little more than six months later, and the bill was signed into law.
The first tickets for the South Carolina Education Lottery’s games were sold in March 2002, its website said.
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A quarter of the South Carolina Education Lottery’s proceeds go toward various educational programs in the state, according to the website.
The rest go to prizes, retailer commissions and operating costs.
This amounts to more than $8 billion since 2002, according to the lottery.
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During the first 20 years of the lottery, more than 2.5 million scholarships have been distributed to South Carolina students, the website said.
The South Carolina Education Lottery declined to provide additional details on the lucky couple’s big win.
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 Dec. 19, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
01-11-27-39-59, Mega Ball: 18
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
Midday: 8-0-3, FB: 2
Evening: 1-0-0, FB: 6
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
Midday: 1-7-3-9, FB: 2
Evening: 7-1-9-3, FB: 6
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
Midday: 01
Evening: 14
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
07-18-20-25-41
Check Palmetto Cash 5 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.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Teacher salaries across South Carolina could rise under a new state education funding plan approved this week, as lawmakers are urged to spend more money on pay raises and rethink how teacher recruitment programs are working.
The S.C. Education Oversight Committee voted to approve its Education Improvement Act (EIA) budget recommendations for fiscal years 2026–27, which direct how money from the state’s one-cent education sales tax should be used.
The plan now goes to the General Assembly for consideration during budget talks.
A major focus of the proposal is increasing teacher pay. The committee recommended a $650,454 raise for teachers at special schools, with remaining new funds directed to the statewide EIA line that helps fund teacher salaries.
The plan also boosts the Teaching Fellows scholarship program, which members said is one of the few recruitment efforts producing results.
The committee approved a $640,000 increase to add 20 new four-year scholarships and another $1.76 million to raise the scholarship amount by $4,000, bringing the total award for juniors and seniors to $10,000.
At the same time, the committee cut $5 million in recurring funding from the National Board program, citing a drop in participation.
EIA-funded programs collectively asked for about $210 million in new funding, but available money is limited. The state has about $98.9 million in new recurring EIA funds and $84.1 million in nonrecurring funds to work with.
The committee recommended spending most recurring funds on classroom support, including $77.5 million for instructional support and $10 million for instructional materials.
Other recurring funding includes $1.4 million for the Teacher Career Ladder, $250,000 for Project Read and $150,000 for the S.C. Council on Economics. Nonrecurring funds include $5 million for school safety.
Members also approved changes to rules tied to the Teacher Loan Program and asked that districts in the state’s 4K waitlist pilot not be required to complete a student survey.
During the meetings, committee members raised concerns about the low number of teachers produced by most EIA-funded recruitment programs.
Teaching Fellows was highlighted as an exception, producing 177 teachers last fiscal year.
Members also questioned continued funding for SC Youth Challenge and incentives tied to the Rural Teacher Recruitment program.
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 Dec. 18, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Midday: 3-8-2, FB: 0
Evening: 1-0-6, FB: 8
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Midday: 9-6-5-7, FB: 0
Evening: 7-9-1-5, FB: 8
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Midday: 13
Evening: 09
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
13-19-23-32-35
Check Palmetto Cash 5 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.
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