NC Lottery Sending Fewer Dollars To County Education Coffers In 2025, Audit Shows

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— information courtesy of Office of State Auditor Dave Boliek

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor has released the statutorily required financial statement audit of the North Carolina Education Lottery.

The audit, performed under contract with accounting firm Cherry Bekaert, found the financial statements present fairly the financial position of Education Lottery as of June 30, 2025 and 2024.

In reviewing the financial statements, however, the audit found that while the Education Lottery’s revenues have increased, there was a decrease in the amount of net revenues transferred for education purposes from FY 2024 to FY 2025.

According to information on the nc.lottery.com website, Vance County has received almost $45.5 million since the lottery began in 2005. In 2024, Vance County received $2,836,221.

According to the financial statements, in FY 2024 the Education Lottery reported total annual revenue – acquired through lottery ticket sales – of $5.4 billion, with $1.07 billion of that being net revenues for North Carolina’s Education Lottery Fund. In FY 2025, total annual revenue increased once again, this time, to $6.6 billion, but net revenues decreased to $1.05 billion designated for public schools. The overall percentage contributed to the public schools, for example, has gone from 23% in FY 2023, to 20% FY 2024, to 16% in FY 2025.

State Auditor Dave Boliek spoke with Education Lottery leadership to discuss the financial statement audit prior to public release. OSA also launched a performance audit of the Education Lottery and has been engaged in that exercise for the last three months. This is the first performance audit of the Education Lottery conducted by the State Auditor since 2008 and since a narrowly tailored investigative report issued by OSA in 2012.

“North Carolinians have a reasonable expectation that if the Education Lottery’s ticket sales go up, money going toward our public schools would increase as well. At first glance, these numbers raise a lot of questions. Over the last three years, total revenues have increased by a total of over $3 billion, while contributions to public education have been flat,” Boliek said. “These numbers led to the initiation of a performance audit designed to take a deep dive into all aspects of the Education Lottery’s finances and operations. North Carolinians deserve answers to some tough questions so that we all have a better understanding of the return public schools are getting from the Education Lottery.”

The full financial statement audit can be viewed here. OSA gave Education Lottery management the opportunity to provide additional commentary on the financial statement audit, which can be read here.

Newly Elected Council Members Sworn In; Tami Walker New Mayor Pro Tem

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The Henderson City Council made history Monday when the first Latina was administered the oath of office and took her seat on the eight-member council.

With her husband and mother at her side, Kenia Gómez-Jimenez took the oath of office and became the Ward 1 at-large alderman.

And there’s a brother-sister duo on the council as well, with Catherine “Kitty” Gill joining her sibling Michael Venable as a member on the City Council.

Gómez-Jimenez defeated Sara Coffey in the Ward 1 at-large contest and Gill defeated Ola Thorpe-Cooper to win the Ward 4 seat.

In other action, the Council also voted Tami Walker to be Mayor Pro Tem, replacing Council Member Garry Daeke.

The Council officially approved Paylor Spruill as city manager and the Hartzog Law Group and Dan Hartzog, Jr. as the city attorney.

Dr. Richard Goldstein Retires After 43-Year Career

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Maria Parham Health is honoring the retirement of longtime otolaryngologist Dr. Richard Goldstein, who saw his final patients in the office on Tuesday, December 23, concluding an extraordinary 43-year medical career – including more than 32 years of service in the Henderson community.

Members of the Maria Parham medical staff and operating room team gathered recently to celebrate Goldstein’s career, recognizing his decades of compassionate care, clinical excellence and steady leadership. During his time practicing in Henderson alone, Goldstein cared for nearly 28,000 patients and leaves a lasting impact on the health and well-being of countless individuals and families.

“Dr. Goldstein’s legacy at Maria Parham Health and in our community cannot be overstated,” said Bert Beard, Chief Executive Officer of Maria Parham Health. “For more than three decades, patients trusted him with their care, and colleagues relied on his knowledge, precision, and calm presence. We are deeply grateful for his dedication and wish him the very best as he begins this well-earned next chapter.”

Goldstein plans to remain in Henderson with his family and said he looks forward to pursuing personal interests and hobbies in retirement. While his clinical presence will be greatly missed, his contributions to Maria Parham Health and the surrounding region will continue to be felt for years to come.

Maria Parham Health extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Goldstein for a career marked by service, integrity, and commitment to excellence.

(Information courtesy of Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer Donna Young)

 

The Local Skinny! Second Annual ‘Catfish Drop’ To Usher In New Year At Satterwhite Point

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Looking for something fun to do with the family to say farewell to 2025, usher in the New Year and still be able to be home in your jammies – or decked out in your finest party duds – well before midnight?

Check out the Catfish Drop at Satterwhite Point on Kerr Lake from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

It’s the second annual Catfish Drop – Vance County Tourism’s Pam Hester hailed last year’s event as an unparalleled success.

“It’s going to be an afternoon, early evening of fun family event for everybody,” Hester said in an interview with WIZS earlier this year.

In addition to food trucks, music by DJ Jay, face painting and bouncy houses, Hester said they’ve added The Mike Davis Experience, miniature golf to the list of activities for families to enjoy before the catfish makes its descent to mark the beginning of 2026, albeit a few hours early.

A fireworks display will cap off the day’s activities.

Hester said Mike Davis will perform from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. “He is a one-man show, but he sounds like you’re listening to a full band,” Hester said in an interview earlier this year. “He can sing anything from Merle Haggard to KISS.”

 

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Henderson Public Works Dept. Operating Schedule Over New Year’s Holiday Week

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The city of Henderson’s Public Works Department has announced its operating schedule for the upcoming New Year’s holiday.

Please note the following changes for sanitation services for the week:

Loose leaf collection

There will be no loose-leaf collection on Thursday, Jan. 1.

Leaf collection generally occurs on a two or three-week rotation, but depends on weather conditions and leaf accumulation.

Recycling and yard debris collection

There will be no change for regular Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

customers.

Regular Thursday customers will be collected on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Garbage collection

There will be no change for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday customers.

Regular Thursday customers will be collected on Friday, Jan. 2.

Regular Friday customers will be collected on Saturday, Jan. 3.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call 252.431.6030 between the hours of 8  a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday – Friday.

 

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Sheep & Goats

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Sheep and goats can be raised profitably on small farms.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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37-Year-Old Woman Dead In Christmas Eve Shooting; Suspect In Custody

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— press release from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

At approximately 7:45 p.m. on December 24, 2025, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to a reported shooting at 866 Dabney Dr. The incident occurred inside the residence.

Upon arrival, officers located a deceased adult female, identified as Tiffany Lassiter, age 37, who had suffered a gunshot wound. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The suspect, Mahlon Leroy Hebron, age 52, was taken into custody without incident. Information obtained at the scene indicates the suspect and victim were involved in a domestic relationship.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under active investigation. No additional details are being released at this time.

Hebron has been charged in connection with the homicide and was remanded to the Vance County Detention Centerwithout bond pending future court proceedings.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department.