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The simple reasons why lottery jackpots are much bigger than before

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

Every few months, another national lottery jackpot approaches record (or near-record) territory. The jackpot for Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing has soared to $1.55 billion because no one has matched the six winning numbers in 31 straight drawings dating back to April 18.Not counting the current prize, both Powerball and Mega Millions have seen their jackpots land in the Top 10 list five times in the past two years. Billion-dollar payouts used to be extremely rare. Not anymore.So what has changed? In 2015, Powerball increased the number of white balls from 59 to 69 and shrunk the number of red balls from 35 to 26. This improved your odds of winning something, but lowered your odds of winning the jackpot from 1-in-175-million to 1-in-292-million, according to NerdWallet.In 2017, Mega Millions raised its ticket price from $1 to $2 which naturally increased the jackpots. It also added ten numbers to the Mega Ball (now numbered 1-25) while subtracting just five white balls (now numbered...

Long Beach launches community crisis response team to address certain calls for service

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

A pilot program in Long Beach is now using trained mental health professionals to respond to people in crisis in certain areas of the city.The Health and Human Services Department announced the launch of the Community Crisis Response Team during a news conference Monday, but the program began on July 12.The five-person team will respond to calls for service where mental health support, health education and resource navigation are better suited.The team will respond to calls from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends in West Long Beach and along the Anaheim corridor, officials explained.The locations were selected using data from dispatch calls in 2020 and 2021, which revealed an increased need in those areas.The team responds to calls involving a mental health crisis, suicidal callers, public intoxication, an unwelcome person, welfare checks and disturbances, officials said.The team will not respond, however, to any calls involving a person who is showing violent behavior, is armed with a w...

1 Killed, Multiple Injured in Bus Rollover Accident on Grand Canyon West [Hualapai Nation, AZ]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

One Pronounced Dead after Bus Accident in Grand Canyon Resort CircleHUALAPAI NATION, AZ (August 7, 2023) – Tuesday, one victim was killed and multiple were hurt in a rollover accident on Grand Canyon West.Authorities responded to the scene just before 10:00 a.m., in the Grand Canyon Resort Corp Circle on August 1st.For reasons under investigation, a bus with 57 occupants rolled over in the area.Paramedics arrived and airlifted 8 occupants to University Medical Center. Due to the extent of injuries sustained, medics pronounced one victim dead at the scene.Meanwhile, crews took the other occupants with minor injuries to surrounding medical centers.Authorities also advised other occupants to contact the Hualapai Nation Police Department at (928) 769-1024 ext. 1358.No other details were added and further investigation into the rollover accident on Grand Canyon West is still active. Those with further information regarding the collision are encouraged to contact local authorities a...

One Injured in Rollover Accident on Highway 70 [Sutter County, CA]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

One U.S. Marshal Hurt after Rollover Accident on Highway 70 near Striplin RoadSUTTER COUNTY, CA (August 7, 2023) – Thursday morning, one U.S. Marshal suffered injuries after a two-vehicle rollover accident on Highway 70.The incident occurred on July 27th, at around 7:20 a.m., along Highway 70 near Striplin Road.According to reports, a U.S. marshal noticed the initial crash happened near Nicolaus Avenue and tried to render help. The U.S. marshal made a U-turn from the southbound Highway 70 when his SUV was hit from behind causing it to roll over.Responding officials said that all parties involved sustained minor injuries and no one was sent to the hospital.At this time, an active investigation into the rollover accident at Highway 70 remains ongoing. Once available, local authorities will release more information.Driving can be very dangerous and almost anything can happen if you are not prepared. Always check behind your vehicle before backing. Do not depend on mirrors alone a...

Rider Injured in Motorcycle-Vehicle Collision near Nellis Boulevard [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

Motorcyclist Hospitalized after Collision near Philadelphia AvenueLAS VEGAS, NV (August 7, 2023) – Monday evening, a motorcycle-vehicle collision near Nellis Boulevard left one hurt, police said.It occurred at around 9:15 p.m., July 31st, that involved a sedan and a motorcyclist.According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, they arrived at the intersection and transported the motorcyclist to the hospital with an unknown state of injuries.Also, it was unknown if the driver of the sedan suffered any injuries during the incident.Consequently, the officers blocked the southbound lanes of Nellis Boulevard to allow the officers to conduct further investigation.Motorcyclists rarely escape injury when an accident occurs. It is important to never underestimate the bike’s speed when you’re riding a motorcycle. Additionally, strictly follow traffic laws and the conditions of the road. For other drivers, do not tailgate a motorcyclist and maintain a safe following dista...

Trump lawyers say restrictions on case evidence are too broad

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

By Alanna Durkin Richer | Associated PressDonald Trump’s legal team on Monday urged the judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against the former president to reject prosecutors’ proposed protective order concerning evidence in the case, saying it is overly broad and restrictive of his First Amendment rights.Lawyers for the early 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner said the judge should impose a more limited protective order that would prevent the public disclosure of only materials deemed “sensitive” — such as grand jury documents — rather than all evidence handed over by the government in the case accusing Trump of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss.Trump’s lawyers, who have characterized the case as an attack on his right to free speech, told the judge that the need to protect sensitive information about the case “does not require a blanket gag order over all documents produced by the government.”“In ...

SF Giants face a choice: To pitch, or not to pitch, to Shohei Ohtani

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

When it comes to pitching to Shohei Ohtani, the San Francisco Giants have a pretty good idea of what they’re going to do this offseason.The two-way superstar is set to hit free agency in the winter, and the Giants will be one of the many teams making an all-out pursuit to convince him to wear their uniform and cash their checks, which are sure to set records for North American sports.But first, they must deal with him in an opposing uniform this week. That is not so simple.“From my perspective, he’s probably the most dangerous hitter in baseball,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said, also putting San Diego’s Juan Soto in the conversation. “We were looking at his numbers against lefties and righties, and they’re scary good.”Increasingly, that has led teams to raise the question: Why even give him a chance?Last week, Ohtani played a stretch of six games in which he was intentionally walked six times. That kind of treatment is reserved for th...

Outside Lands adds this chart-topping pop star to 2023 festival lineup

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

Outside Lands has just announced that Conan Gray has been added to the festival bill.The chart-topping pop star, known for multiplatinum hit “Heather” and other popular songs, performs Saturday at the three-day festival, which runs Aug. 11-13 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.He’ll take the festival’s big Twin Peaks Stage at 7 p.m., right before Lana Del Rey takes over the space for her highly anticipated set at 8:40 p.m.Find more information at sfoutsidelands.com. Read our music guide to the festival here.Gray will be making a quick return to the Bay Area, having just performed Aug. 4 at Shoreline Amphitheatre as part of the Wild 94.9 radio show, Wazmattaz. The concert, which was headlined by the Jonas Brothers and also featured Kim Petras, drew some 10,000 fans to the Mountain View venue. (Read our review of the show here.)Related ArticlesMusic | Outside Lands: Here’s our complete hour-by-hour guide to 2023 festival Music | Review: J...

Chicago neighbors: Suspect who killed girl, 8, was mad about noise

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

Associated PressCHICAGO — A man was charged with first-degree murder Monday after witnesses said an 8-year-old Chicago girl riding a scooter was fatally shot by someone upset over noise.The charge was filed against Michael Goodman, 43, in the death of Sarabi Medina, Chicago police announced.“It just didn’t make sense. None of it made sense,” neighbor Megan Kelle told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Everybody in the community would just tell him they are just kids having fun playing. Just let them be.”The shooting happened Saturday night in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood. Police were at Goodman’s apartment building Sunday, interviewing people and collecting evidence, hours after the shooting.“Before he shot her, he had said something about them being too loud,” Kelley said.After the shooting, Goodman was tackled by Sarabi’s father and shot during a struggle, according to a police report. He was taken to a hospital.“He ran...

Beyond Meat revenue plummets in the second quarter due to flagging US demand

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:16:35 GMT

Plant-based meat substitute maker Beyond Meat said its revenue plunged 30.5% in the second quarter as consumer demand for its burgers, sausages and other products fell despite price cuts.The El Segundo, California-based company lowered its full-year revenue forecast as a result. Beyond Meat now expects revenue between $360 million and $380 million for the year. That’s down from the $375 million to $415 million it forecast at the end of the first quarter.Beyond Meat’s shares fell 10% in after-hours trading Monday.In a conference call with investors, Beyond Meat President and CEO Ethan Brown said the company faced tough comparisons to the second quarter of 2022, when a new beef jerky product generated sales and restaurants were reopening and placing big orders.But Brown said the company is also struggling to appeal to new customers because of perceptions that its products are unhealthy and overly processed. Brown said an ad campaign launched last week will better explain its “cl...