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South Carolina fire crews make progress battling wildfire that forced evacuations

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South Carolina fire crews make progress battling wildfire that forced evacuations


Crews on Sunday made progress containing a wildfire in South Carolina’s Carolina Forest, where residents had been ordered to evacuate several neighborhoods, according to Horry county fire rescue.

Video showed some people running down the street as smoke filled the sky. But by late Sunday afternoon, the fire department announced that evacuees of Carolina Forest – which is west of the coastal resort city of Myrtle Beach – could return home.

That wildfire was one of several burning in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee amid dry conditions and gusty winds.

The region had faced an increased fire danger because it was critically dry and there was very low relative humidity, according to the National Weather Service.

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More than 175 fires burned 6.6 sq miles (17sq km) in South Carolina. The state’s governor, Henry McMaster, declared a state of emergency on Sunday to support the wildfire response effort, and a statewide burning ban remained in effect.

The South Carolina forestry commission estimated on Sunday evening that the blaze in the Carolina Forest area had burned 2.5 sq miles (6.5sq km) with 30% of it contained. No structures had succumbed to the blaze, and no injuries had been reported as of Sunday morning, officials said.

In North Carolina, the US Forest Service said fire crews were working to contain multiple wildfires burning in four forests across the state on Sunday. The largest, about 400 acres (162 hectares), was at Uwharrie national forest, roughly 50 miles (80.47km) east of Charlotte. The Forest Service said on Sunday afternoon that it had made progress on the fire, reaching about one-third containment.

The small south-western town of Tryon in Polk county, North Carolina, urged some residents to evacuate on Saturday as a fire spread rapidly there. The evacuations remained in effect on Sunday. A decision on whether to lift them was expected to be made on Monday after intentional burns are set to try to stop the fire from spreading.

That fire has burned about 500 acres (202 hectares) as of late Sunday, with zero percent containment, according to the Polk county emergency management-fire marshal’s office. The North Carolina Forest Service was conducting water drops and back-burning operations on the ground, and area residents should expect a lot of smoke during those operations, officials said.

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Officials have not said what caused any of the fires.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, at least six active fires burned late on Sunday, with nearly 3,700 acres burned over the previous week, a summary from the state forestry commission said.

And four small active wildfires burned on Sunday in Tennessee, the state’s agriculture department said, though all were controlled by early Monday. Those blazes were among 81 wildfires that had burned about 822 acres statewide over the previous week, the Tennessee agriculture department added.



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WATCH: Gov. McMaster signs bill protecting SC police animals

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WATCH: Gov. McMaster signs bill protecting SC police animals


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A ceremonial bill signing was held We Wednesday for a new law that enhances penalties for harming police animals in South Carolina.

H.3034 – also known as Fargo’s, Hyco’s, Rico’s, Coba’s, Wick’s, Mikka’s, and Bumi’s Law – was passed and ratified by state lawmakers in May.

The bill is named after seven police K-9’s lost in recent years acros South Carolina.

Gov. Henry McMaster later signed the bill into law, with it going into effect on May 15.

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The law makes killing or severely injuring a police animal, such as a K-9 or horse, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

It also states that anyone convicted of that crime must pay back the full cost of the animal – including buying a new one, training and any veterinarian bills. The law also makes it a crime to fire at a police vehicle if an animal is inside.

Police are also required by law to keep detailed records when a K-9 bites or causes injury.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.

Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.

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South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for June 2, 2026

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South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for June 2, 2026


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The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

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Here’s a look at June 2, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 2 drawing

15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 2 drawing

Midday: 8-7-6, FB: 6

Evening: 3-8-3, FB: 6

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Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 2 drawing

Midday: 2-8-6-6, FB: 6

Evening: 7-1-4-4, FB: 6

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 2 drawing

Midday: 02

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Evening: 06

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from June 2 drawing

01-04-05-07-34

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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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

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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

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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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South Carolina store owner found not guilty of murder in fatal shooting of Black teen

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South Carolina store owner found not guilty of murder in fatal shooting of Black teen


Chikei Rick Chow has been found not guilty by a South Carolina jury on murder charges in the shooting death of a Black 14-year-old in Columbia.

Chow was charged in the May 28, 2023, shooting death of Cyrus Carmack-Belton outside Chow’s Shell gas station on Parklane Road.

Carmack-Belton ran from the store while being chased by Chow and his son, according to prosecutors.

Authorities said the pair pursued the teen after accusing him of stealing four bottles of water from the store.

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Chow shot Carmack-Belton once in the back after his son claimed the teen had a gun. He was arrested the following day.

In November 2025, a judge denied Rick Chow immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law and also denied bond, ruling the 60-year-old store owner was a danger to the community and a flight risk.

The ruling came after prosecutors presented surveillance video and photos in court showing Carmack-Belton running from the store. Authorities said the allegation of theft was not supported by surveillance video.

Chow has served three years in prison.

The unanimous decision came Monday evening after eight hours of deliberation.

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