Before anyone can claim a big prize, state law requires lottery officials to first check on whether the winner owes the government any money.

No one claimed the top prize Carolina Cash 5 ticket purchased in Apex for the Sept. 2 lottery drawing.

Three years after casting the tie-breaking vote for an education lottery, N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue indicates that she may use up to $88 million in lottery money to shore up the state's general coffers -- a move that has some N.C. lawmakers steaming.

Under the Dome:Sometime this week, the state lottery will make its three-billionth dollar. Tickets went on sale in March 2006, and total sales will reach $3 billion this week, lottery director Tom Shaheen said.

Check under your couch cushions and pull out your pants pockets. An unclaimed Carolina Cash 5 ticket purchased in Apex for the Sept. 2, 2008, lottery drawing expires on March 2.

Wake County Briefs: Richard Sarnicola of Cary claimed a top prize of $175,261 after learning his "Carolina Cash 5" ticket matched all five numbers from the game's Feb. 12 drawing, N.C. Education Lottery officials said Monday.

The quintet that would call themselves "The Enforcer Five" started the day with a big breakfast at the Gastonia IHOP.

Jose Guevara of Sanford won the top prize of the "$200,000 Jackpot" lottery game after following a drugstore clerk's suggestion that he try the new contest.

With less than two full business days left before his $200,000 Powerball ticket was set to expire, Ramin Farro of Winterville claimed a prize he hadn't even realized he'd won for the past six months.

Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in July in Greensboro has until 5 p.m. Jan. 5 to claim a $200,000 prize.

Under the Dome:The state lottery encourages giving scratch-off tickets as stocking stuffers -- but not for children.

State lottery officials want to start advertising lottery tickets in Spanish, but first they'll have to maneuver around a law prohibiting them from targeting specific groups.

The long-shot odds of winning the Powerball are about to get much longer. Lottery officials insist that's good news.

A Rocky Mount mother and daughter are splitting $1 million from a winning lottery ticket the mother purchased, according to state lottery officials.

Oversight committee is reviewing benefits.

An Apex man won $800,000 in a Powerball drawing last week.

It's difficult enough to win the lottery, but it's a lot harder to win the prize advertised on the ticket if that prize no longer exists.

Under the Dome:Democrat Barack Obama has devoted substantial resources to North Carolina, while Republican John McCain has pretty much sat the state out.

State Briefs:The N.C. Education Lottery is introducing two new instant scratch-off tickets.

Sometime today or tomorrow, somewhere in North Carolina, someone will be feeling lucky and plunk down a few bucks for a lottery ticket.

Under the Dome:Officials in charge of North Carolina's lottery sure would like to have its tickets available at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco, Rite Aid and other large retailers.

No, that wasn't a typo in Friday's lottery results.