North Carolinians participate in both major multi-state lotteries, Powerball and Mega-Millions. Charles W. Jackson Jr. of Hope Mills won the June 1 Powerball jackpot of $344.6 million.

Powerball was established when then-Governor Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act. North Carolina has one of the nation’s youngest lottery systems, enacted in 2005. The act created a nine-member lottery commission, which oversees all aspects of the education lottery.

The law outlines how each dollar produced by the lottery is spent. Fifty percent goes as winnings to players. Seven percent goes to retailers as commission. All lottery net proceeds go directly to benefit public education, with the current figure sitting at more than $5.5 billion since its inception.

By law, lottery funds go to pay for school construction, need-based college financial aid, transportation, salaries for non-instructional support staff, and pre-kindergarten for at-risk 4-year-olds. The lottery has continued to generate controversy among North Carolina constituents upset with teacher layoffs who believe the lottery should have made up the difference.

Voter photo ID election requirement public seminar

Beginning in 2020, North Carolina voters will be required to provide photo identification when they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution, requiring voters to present photo ID at the polls. State law requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before Sept. 1, 2019.

The Cumberland County Board of Elections will hold its seminars about photo identification requirements Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m., at the North Regional Branch Library, 855 McArthur Rd. in Fayetteville and at 6 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Dr., Fayetteville.

The seminars are free and open to the public. Attendees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, early voting and Election Day voting. Information about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided.

For more information, contact the Cumberland County Board of Elections at 910-678-7733 or visit boardofelections@co.cumberland.nc.us. 

Cumberland County human trafficking court

A local jurist has been selected to preside over a new human trafficking court being established in Cumberland County this month. District Court Judge Toni S. King has been chosen to spearhead the first-of-its-kind human trafficking court in North Carolina. It will seek to offer treatment to victims as well as defendants and to help achieve a common understanding of human trafficking.

“The depth and breadth of the problem in Cumberland County and across North Carolina will be exposed,” King said in a news release.

Dr. Sharon Cooper will conduct training for court personnel and justice system stakeholders June 28 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, 1225 Ramsey St., Fayetteville. Cooper is a nationally renowned forensic pediatrician who is an expert on sexual trauma. She lives and practices in Cumberland County.

This all-day opportunity consists of four sessions: 1) the vulnerabilities of victims of sex trafficking; 2) the impact of trauma; 3) the offender dynamics; and 4) internet victimization and homicide. 

Murchison Road farmers market open again for the season

The Murchison Road Community Farmers Market is now open in Bronco Square across from Fayetteville State University. It will be open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 23.

This neighborhood farmers market, financially supported by the Fayetteville State University Chancellor’s Office and the city of Fayetteville, was started as an initiative by four FSU students. They received permission to apply for grants and funding to start a farmers market when neighborhood grocery stores closed. When the stores closed, the Murchison Road community became a food desert since the nearest full-service grocery store is a mile-and-a-half away.

FTCC designated Top Military Spouse Friendly School

Fayetteville Technical Community College has earned the 2019–2020 Top Military Spouse Friendly School designation. The Military Spouse Friendly Schools list is considered a reliable resource for military spouses and sets a standard for higher education institutions to provide the best post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members. “Schools that are selected for the list are at the forefront of supporting the goals of military spouses,” said Brian Hucik, national program manager for Military Friendly.

Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

FTCC was established in 1961 and serves over 35,000 students annually by providing more than 280 occupational, technical, general education, college transfer and continuing education programs to meet students’ needs and desires as well as those of the community. More information about the designation can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.