COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) — South Carolina is opening an online wait list for families seeking help paying for child care through the state’s Working Families Child Care Scholarship.

The move comes after the South Carolina Department of Social Services limited new applications to the scholarship program last year to only families in federally protected categories. That was done because state and federal funding fell short of demand with COVID relief money exhausted.

The wait list is designed for working parents and caregivers who do not qualify under those federally protected categories but still need help. The department will use existing funds to support these scholarships.

“We are taking deliberate steps to maximize the reach of available funding and re-open opportunities for working families,” said agency Director Tony Catone.

Here are some highlights:

• Children must be 5 or younger and not enrolled in kindergarten to qualify, and funding will be limited to two children per household in that age range.
• Families must be at or below 55% of the state median income when they apply; they can remain in the program until their income exceeds 85% of the state median, as long as they meet all other rules.
• Parents or caregivers must be working, in school, in training, or temporarily or permanently disabled, and they will have to provide verification.
• Most families will pay a monthly co-pay based on income and family size, but those at or below 150% of the federal poverty level will not have a co-pay.
• Approved children will receive 12 months of child care eligibility.

S.C. lawmakers, education officials clash over voucher results

More than $210 million has been allocated to South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund, but state lawmakers and education officials are locked in a growing debate over whether the state has enough reliable data to prove participating students are making academic progress.

When funding becomes available, families selected from the wait list will receive a unique online link to apply.

At that point, they must already have chosen a child care provider. They will have 15 days to complete the application, upload required documents, and confirm enrollment with their provider.

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

Here’s a look at Sept. 22, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Sept. 22 drawing

07-13-26-37-68, Mega Ball: 08

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Sept. 22 drawing

Midday: 1-4-8, FB: 8

Evening: 1-3-0, FB: 5

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Sept. 22 drawing

Midday: 0-0-3-4, FB: 8

Evening: 6-1-1-4, FB: 5

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Sept. 22 drawing

Midday: 06

Evening: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Sept. 22 drawing

02-05-11-14-29

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. (WIS) – South Carolina’s infrastructure earned a C-minus in the latest statewide report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers, marking an improvement from the D-plus the state received in 2021 but highlighting significant challenges tied to aging infrastructure, population growth and long-term funding needs.

Civil engineers evaluated eight major infrastructure categories, including roads, bridges, drinking water systems, dams and transit, using factors such as condition, capacity, funding, public safety, resilience and future needs.

The state’s highest grade went to ports, which received a B-plus, aided by major investments including the completion of the Charleston Harbor deepening project, making it the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet. Aviation and bridges earned a C-minus; dams, roads, and transit earned a D-plus while drinking water and wastewater each received a D.

Engineers credited recent state and federal investments for the overall improvement. The report noted that highway funding programs have grown significantly in recent years and highlighted investments from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided funding for roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other infrastructure projects throughout the state.

Despite those gains, infrastructure leaders say major needs remain.

“Despite the progress, there’s a long way to go,” said Jonathan Ard, co-chair of the 2026 report card effort. Ard noted that 43% of South Carolina’s major roads remain in poor condition, citing previous decades of underinvestment and deterioration.

The report estimates South Carolina faces a $20 billion road funding shortfall over the next 20 years. Engineers say that without sustained investment, much of the state’s road network could continue to deteriorate despite recent improvements.

Road safety remains another concern. While traffic fatalities declined from 1,198 in 2021 to 1,041 in 2024, South Carolina continues to rank among the states with the highest roadway fatality rates in the nation.

State lawmakers pointed to recent reforms as reasons for optimism.

Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, said he believes the recently enacted SCDOT Modernization Act will help accelerate road projects and improve efficiency. However, Kimbrell argued the state’s biggest obstacle isn’t funding.

“The issue we have in South Carolina is not a money problem, it’s a contractor problem,” Kimbrell said, citing competition with neighboring states for qualified construction firms.

Beyond transportation, engineers identified mounting concerns with the state’s drinking water and wastewater systems. The report estimates South Carolina faces approximately $8 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, with much of the need tied to aging distribution pipelines. Drinking water violations also increased significantly, rising to 317 violations in 2024, up from 186 the previous year.

Wastewater systems face similar pressures. Engineers reported sanitary sewer overflows increased by 346% since 2022, driven in part by aging systems, population growth and increasingly severe weather events.

The report also sounded alarms about the state’s aging bridges and dams. South Carolina has nearly 3,000 bridges more than 60 years old, while only 34.5% of bridges are considered in good condition, below the national average of 44%. The state also has more than 2,400 dams, with an average age of 68 years.

Population growth is expected to intensify those challenges. South Carolina’s population currently stands at about 5.6 million people and is projected to exceed 6.2 million by 2035, increasing demands on roads, water systems, utilities and public transit.

Gwenn Sollenberger, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, said infrastructure investments are crucial to the state’s future.

“These systems drive economic growth, create jobs, improve public health and protect us from environmental threats,” Sollenberger said.

While South Carolina’s overall grade improved, it still trails the national infrastructure average of C. Engineers called the state’s C-minus “progress, but a floor, not a ceiling,” arguing that continued investment and long-term planning will determine whether South Carolina can continue improving its infrastructure in the years ahead.

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