North Carolina Man Wins $1 Million From Scratch-off Lottery Ticket Bought in Cary

Congratulations to Satyaprasad Kiran of Cary, North Carolina, who recently hit paydirt in the form of $1 million with the North Carolina Education Lottery!

Kiran bought his 50$ ticket from his local Snack Shop, a decision that would later provide a tremendous return on investment. This ticket in particular was for the $10 Million Spectacular, which first went on sale in North Carolina in early December.

Kiran opted to accept the lump sum payout of $600,000. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he ended up with almost $430,000 left, which is still a healthy chunk of change.

This isn't the first time we've seen an NC resident win big money with the Spectacular ticket. Late last month Francene Ray of Fayetteville won $100,000 in the contest.

With the North Carolina State Lottery Commission setting an official date for sports betting to begin in North Carolina, something tells me the big money prizes have only just begun for my fellow Carolinians. The abundance of winners from the Tarheel state gives me hope that one day one of my family members or close friends will hit the jackpot so I can get my mooch on.

Ticket sales from draw games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.8 million a day on average for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.

With many highly entertaining shows set to release new seasons this year, it looks like 2024 is shaping up to be an incredible year for my fellow TV junkies. And there's plenty of time for you to hop on each show's respective bandwagon. Let's take a look at some of the TV shows you should absolutely binge just in time for their new season premieres in 2024!

We're still coming off the heels of another unforgettable year of quality television. The live-action adaptation of the popular video game franchise The Last of Us on HBO was a groundbreaking success, with fans all around the world falling in love with the pairing of Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie. Nevermind how the internet collectively agreed to bequeath Pascal with the endearing title of "daddy."

And right after Pedro's turn as gloomy apocalypse daddy, Jason Sudeikis resumed his role of happy football daddy in the third (and possibly final?) season of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. The witty and unrelentingly wholesome soccer sitcom was a perfect chaser to the emotional devastation and moral ambiguity of The Last of Us.

Netflix subscribers also had a banner 2023, with its original show Beef becoming a sleeper hit that raked in the accolades at this year's Emmy Awards. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong have outrageously good chemistry together and both of them deserved their flowers for this series.

And of course, you can't talk about TV in 2023 without mentioning HBO's Succession. The highly acclaimed series came to a harrowing, yet satisfying end last year with its masterful final season, which tied for the most awards at the Emmys (alongside The Bear). Succession is without a doubt some of the most gripping television I have ever watched in my near-30 years of couch potato-ing.

As amazing as 2023 was for television fanatics, 2024 promises to bring even more excitement and entertainment to your TV screen. Here are the five most binge-worthy shows to dive into before their 2024 season premieres!

Season two of Invincible has technically already started, which compels me to include it as an honorable mention. The season has been divided into two parts, however, with part two set to premiere March 14. This leaves you with plenty of time to tear through season one like a Viltrumite tears through, well, anything really. (when you get caught up with the show you'll understand how solid that reference was).

You can watch Invincible on Prime Video.

Abbott Elementary's creator Quinta Brunson shines as an idealistic second-grade teacher at the beleaguered school. This slice-of-life mockumentary series is as cathartic to educators as it is hilarious (and oftentimes insightful) to all sitcom fans. Season three of Abbott premieres February 7, which gives you ample time to start and get caught up with this hysterical show.

You can watch Abbott Elementary on ABC, as well as many streaming services.

All good things come to an end. And apparently so does Curb Your Enthusiasm (Larry David would definitely appreciate that joke). After over 20 years of providing fans with laughs and cringe-induced winces in equal measure, the long-running and critically-acclaimed comedy powerhouse is preparing to enter its final season.

With eleven seasons worth of episodes, all ranging from 30 minutes to nearly an hour long, it may be a tall task to binge the entire series before its final season premiere on February 4. But it will be SO worth it. The "Shaq" episode alone will have you howling with laughter for a good while.

You can watch Curb Your Enthusiasm on MAX.

I won't lie, I was skeptical going into this show. After the bitter taste that Game of Thrones left in my mouth, I didn't know if I was ready to re-enter the world of Westeros. But after witnessing the pure spectacle and intrigue of House of the Dragon season one, by the old gods and new I am ready to get hurt again!

Set over 200 years before the events of GoT, House of the Dragon offers a whole new slew of palace intrigue that will leave viewers pledging fealty to different houses like they're going to battle. And don't worry, there be dragons. Oh man, do there be dragons.

As of now season two is speculated to premiere sometime in August of this year. That sounds far out but it'll be here before you know it, so get your binge on before it's too late!

You can watch House of the Dragon on MAX.

There's not much I can say about The Boys that I haven't gushed about at length already. Rarely have I ever felt so tense and uneasy watching a show, especially one about superheroes who should ostensibly be "the good guys." Is there even such a thing as a good guy in their world? I don't know, but I'm anxiously ready for more!

There's no official release date for season four, but it's confirmed that it'll definitely premiere sometime in 2024. And when it does, it's sure to be absolutely diabolical. (again, I am KILLING these references. Please watch these shows so you can appreciate them properly).

You can watch The Boys on Prime Video.

I'm embarrassed that it took me so long to finally watch The Bear. I started AND finished both of its first two seasons in a single weekend. The episodes have a strange habit of ending just when you need them to so you can catch your breath, but also leave you hungry for more.

Jeremy Allen White is a revelation as Carmy Berzatto, a brilliant but troubled chef who's constantly at war with past trauma as he fights to bring his brother's restaurant to new heights. Ayo Edebiri brings her A-game as well in her nuanced, endearing performance as Sydney Adamu, a hungry young chef who, though talented in her own right, sometimes bites off more than she can chew.

The way White and Edebiri play off each other leaves you no choice but to root for their success, and the success of the restaurant as a whole. This show offers a painfully accurate portrayal of life in the food service industry, with many food experts and restaurant workers at all levels often praising its authenticity.

Season three of The Bear is coming out sometime in 2024, but no official release date has been set as of right now. There isn't even a trailer for it out yet, which only adds to the agonizing anticipation. But if I can watch both seasons in their entirety in a single weekend, then you can too! Remember cousin, every second counts. (Yes, that's yet ANOTHER show reference. I can't be stopped.)

You can watch The Bear on Hulu.