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$1.55 billion Mega Millions jackpot is the 3rd largest in US history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

Lottery players will have another shot Tuesday night at a massive Mega Millions prize that ranks as the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history.The estimated $1.55 billion prize has been gradually building for months thanks to 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the game’s top prize was April 18.Each drawing without a winner pushes the prize closer to the record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot that someone in California won last year.Mega Millions jackpot winners are so rare thanks to odds of 1 in 302.6 million.The $1.55 billion payout would go to a winner who opts for an annuity, doled out over 30 years. But people usually prefer a lump sum option, which for Tuesday’s jackpot would be an estimated $757.2 million.The money would be subject to federal taxes. Many states also tax lottery winnings.Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Associated Press

Biden to announce historic Grand Canyon monument designation during Arizona visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

TUSAYAN, Ariz. (AP) — President Joe Biden will use his visit to Arizona on Tuesday to formally announce a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, making Native American tribes’ and environmentalists’ decades-long vision to preserve the land a reality. Biden is expected to announce plans for a new national monument to preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just outside Grand Canyon National Park, National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi confirmed a day earlier. It will mark the president’s fifth monument designation.Biden arrived Monday evening at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, where he was greeted by Democratic congressmen Raúl Grijalva and Ruben Gallego. Biden embraced them when he got off Air Force One and the trio chatted for a few minutes. Grijalva, who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, has repeatedly introduced legislation to create the monument. He will be speaking in an area that is between Pinyon Plain ...

Republicans are talking up the possibility of impeaching Biden. Is it what voters want to hear?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) — Bill Mehlem recalls a time when his politics generally aligned with conservatives, enthusiastically backing Republicans such as John McCain during his 2008 presidential campaign.But the stay-at-home dad has grown dismayed with the tempestuous GOP molded by former President Donald Trump, who is now seeking a return to the White House. And the threat of a Republican-led impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden’s family finances and the churning U.S. House probes of his son, Hunter Biden, have left Mehlem indignant, angry and remembering why he’s a political independent.“It’s all about revenge politics to keep Trump’s base” engaged for the 2024 elections, Mehlem said. “It’s all about nothing.”That sentiment reflects the gamble House Republicans are making as they consider moving forward with an impeachment inquiry against Biden. The talk delights some Republicans who are eager for retribution following several indictments of Trump in recent months...

Stock market today: Asia mixed after Wall St rallies ahead of US inflation update

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks were mixed in early trading Tuesday after Wall Street rallied and Japanese wages rose ahead of a United States inflation update that might influence Federal Reserve plans for more possible interest rate hikes.Tokyo advanced while Shanghai and Hong Kong declined. Oil prices gained.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index gained 0.9% on Monday, recovering one-third of last week’s loss.“U.S. stocks started the week in better form than they finished the last one,” said ING analysts in a report. “It is not clear that this is going to last, though.”The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo rose 0.3% after the Japanese government reported labor cash earnings rose 2.3% in June.The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.2% to 3,264.03 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 1.2% to 19,311.32. The Kospi in Seoul lost less than 0.1% to 2,579.01 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 gained 0.2% to 7,322.20. New Zealand retreated while Southeast Asian markets rose.On Wall Street, the S&...

Mississippi Gov. Reeves faces 2 GOP rivals in Tuesday’s primary, while Democrat Presley is unopposed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Gov. Tate Reeves is hoping to breeze past two political newcomers in the state’s primary election Tuesday and secure the Republican nomination as he seeks a second term, setting up a general election contest with Democrat Brandon Presley.Reeves says Mississippi has momentum with a low unemployment rate and steady job growth, while Presley — a cousin of rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Presley — says Reeves is out of touch with people who struggle to make ends meet in one of the poorest states of the U.S.Presley is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.Reeves has largely ignored his Republican primary challengers, who have run low-budget campaigns: John Witcher, a physician who criticizes COVID-19 vaccinations, and David Hardigree, a military veteran.Mississippi is one of three states holding races for governor in an off-year election. Republicans hold all statewide offices in Mississippi and have held the governorship for the past 20 years. But Democrat...

Georgia kids would need parental permission to join social media if Senate Republicans get their way

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia could join other states requiring children to have their parents’ explicit permission to create social media accounts.Two top Republicans in the Georgia state Senate — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas — said in a Monday news conference they will seek to pass such a law in 2024. The proposal could also restrict accounts on other online services.“It’s important that we empower parents,” Anavitarte said. “A lot of parents don’t know how to restrict content.”Anavitarte said Georgia’s rules would be modeled on a law Louisiana passed this year. That measure, which takes effect in 2024, says social media services must verify an account holder’s age and can’t let someone younger than 18 join without parental consent.Arkansas, Texas and Utah also passed laws this year requiring parental consent for children to use social media. Some in Congress are also proposing parental consent for minors.California last year...

Proposed constitutional change before Ohio voters could determine abortion rights in the state

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio concludes a hastily called and highly charged special election Tuesday, a contest that could determine the fate of abortion rights in the state and fuel political playbooks nationally heading into 2024.On the ballot is Issue 1, a proposal to raise the threshold for passing future changes to the state’s constitution from a simple majority to 60%. But more passionately in the sights of the proposal’s backers — including Republican officeholders — is a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that calls for enshrining access to reproductive care in the state’s foundational document.The measure was clearly resonating with voters, who turned out in huge numbers during the early voting period, which ended Sunday. The number of advance ballots cast — a combination of mail and early in-person ballots — hit nearly 700,000, more than double the early vote during the state’s two previous midterm primary elections in 2022 and 20...

A judge called an FBI operative a ‘villain.’ Ruling comes too late for 2 convicted in terror sting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — In a scathing ruling last month, a judge said the FBI had used a ”villain” of an informant to manipulate a group of Muslim men into going along with a fictitious plot to destroy military planes and synagogues in New York City’s suburbs. She ordered three released from prison, saying the “the real lead conspirator was the United States.”Now, a man convicted in another sting carried out by the same FBI operative says he hopes the ruling will prompt U.S. prosecutors to review the fairness of similar counterterrorism operations carried out in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.“Hopefully this will be the first step for the Justice Department to review all those cases of conspiracy and entrapment,” said Yassin Aref, a former imam who spent 14 years in federal custody in a case involving a business loan made to an Albany pizza shop owner and a made-up story about a Stinger missile.Aref and the shop owner were arrested in 2004 in one of several FBI st...

Funeral planned in Philadelphia for O’Shae Sibley, who was killed in confrontation over dancing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A funeral will be held Tuesday in Philadelphia for O’Shae Sibley, who was fatally stabbed after he confronted teenagers who taunted his group of gay, Black friends as they danced at a New York City gas station.Friends of the slain 28-year-old were expected to celebrate his life at a historic opera house in the city where Sibley grew up and performed before moving to New York to pursue his career as a dancer. He had performed with the dance company Philadanco and used dance to celebrate his LGBTQ+ identity.Brooklyn prosecutors have charged a 17-year-old high school student with hate-motivated murder in the death of Sibley, who was Black.The stabbing happened after a group of teenagers got into an argument with Sibley and his friends as they danced shirtless to a Beyoncé song while they gassed up their car.Police said the teens used homophobic slurs and made anti-Black statements.Security camera video showed the argument had broken up and both groups had walked awa...

Fringe review: ‘Pearl and Eugene’ is delightfully heartwarming

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

Must seePearl and Eugene are delightful protagonists in this heartwarming, laugh-out-loud funny comedy. The show’s performance-based plot, snarky characters and original music engage the audience. Eugene bears a striking resemblance to Oliver Putnam, the character played by Martin Short on “Only Murders in the Building,” and Pearl is reminiscent of the sassiest woman in every senior care center and holds her own as the only female on stage. Each cast member was involved in writing the story, which adds a personal and put-together feel to the show. Directed and produced by Donald C. Hart, who with Avi Aharoni wrote the script.Presented by Clucklesworth Productions at Mixed Blood Theater; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11, 1 p.m. Aug. 13Still unsure of what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews here.The Minnesota Fringe Festival turns 30 this year, presenting 101 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 3-13 at theaters throughout Minneapolis. Pioneer Press reporters will post their reviews online daily at T...