RALEIGH, N.C. -- Jeremy Villa-Osornio of Hendersonville took a chance on a $50 scratch-off and won a $100,000 prize. Villa-Osornio bought his lucky $10 Million Spectacular ticket from Citistop on Weaverville Road in Asheville. He arrived at lottery headquarters on April 10 to claim his prize and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $71,514. The $10 Million Spectacular game debuted in December with five top prizes of $10 million, 20 prizes of $1 million and 20 prizes of $100,000. Four $10 million prizes, 15 $1 million prizes and 13 $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed ..read more

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nearly everyone who voted in person in last month's North Carolina primary showed a qualifying photo identification, a top election official told legislators Wednesday. But it's unknown how many didn't bother trying to vote in person or by mail because they lacked an ID, even with options to cast ballots without one. In all, 1.8 million people voted in the March 5 primary, which marked the first statewide election that the photo ID mandate approved in 2018 by the Republican-controlled General Assembly was actually implemented. Legal challenges — one still pending ..read more

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's government should collect higher revenues during this fiscal year and next than what is projected in the current two-year state budget, according to a new forecast released Wednesday. Economists for the General Assembly and Gov. Roy Cooper's state budget office now predict collections will exceed revenue budgeted for the year ending June 30 by $413 million, or a 1.2% increase. And state coffers will bring in $1 billion more in the fiscal year starting July 1 than what was anticipated, or a 3% increase. The budget law enacted by the Republican-controlled Ge ..read more

BOONE, N.C. (WNCT) -- Nationwide is recognizing some of the craziest pet names from its customers across the country. They have an annual "Wacky Pet Names" competition and on the list of the top 30 names was a precious ferret out of North Carolina named Mumbo Jumbo. NC ferret ‘Mumbo Jumbo’ recognized in unusual popularity contest Jumbo lands in the category of "exotic pets." In this category are two ferrets, a snake, two bunnies, a parrot, a turtle, a pig, a guinea pig and a lizard named "Frosted Mini-Wheats." There are three categories altogether, the other two being cats and dogs. Nationwide ..read more

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The future of diversity, equity and inclusion staff jobs in North Carolina's public university system could be at stake after a five-person committee swiftly voted to repeal a key policy Wednesday. The Committee on University Governance, within the University of North Carolina Board of Governors that oversees 17 schools, voted in less than four minutes to reverse and replace a policy related to DEI. The full board of 24 members is to vote on the matter again next month, and if approved, the repeal would take effect immediately. If the policy is fully repealed, th ..read more

PEA ISLAND, N.C. (WAVY) -- A dead whale washed ashore at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Tuesday, according to the U.S. Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in North Carolina ..read more

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The decision by Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s wife Yolanda Hill to end the primary work of her nonprofit Balanced Nutrition came as the state was set to conduct a compliance review of the organization this week, documents obtained by CBS 17 show. The nonprofit, which Hill started in 2015, has been under scrutiny as Robinson campaigns for governor. Balanced Nutrition serves as a sponsoring organization under the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, which the state Dept. of Health and Human Services administers in North Carolina. According to Balanced Nutrition ..read more

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A stop for gas on Saturday led to an emotional scene for Laura Bolch of Maiden when a $30 scratch-off purchase uncovered a $100,000 lottery prize. “I about had a heart attack,” she laughed. Bolch, a restaurant manager, bought her lucky Black Titanium ticket from Hop In on Island Ford Road in Maiden. She called her dad and husband right away to tell them what happened. “I was crying and screaming at the same time,” Bolch recalled. She arrived at lottery headquarters on April 11 to claim her prize and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $71,509. Bolch s ..read more

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) – A Fayetteville firefighter who died from cancer has been ruled as a death in the line of duty, officials said Tuesday. According to a news release from the Fayetteville Fire Department, the North Carolina Industrial Commission ruled Battalion Chief John Bowen's death as a line-of-duty death on Jan. 27. The last time that the fire department suffered a line-of-duty death was Firefighter David Sharp in 2000. Tuesday marked two years since Bowen's passing in April 2022 following a battle with colon and small intestine cancer. "His servant leadership through the years s ..read more

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – How do I keep my children safe online? It's a question a lot of parents are asking. In this age of text messages, messaging apps and social media, experts say that while these outlets can help some connect, they can also lead to a lot of trouble. The troubled side of social platforms, for children especially, has brought a Durham father to speak out, urging parents to take precautions. CBS 17 is not identifying him, because of what he said happened to his 12-year-old daughter over the weekend which ended in her being kidnapped. "It started from a Discord conversation, whi ..read more