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New Minnesota lottery director brings fresh startNews Story
Clint Harris often uses the words trauma year to describe what happened at the Minnesota State Lottery in the months before he took over as executive director.George Andersen, who had run the lottery since its inception, had committed suicide shortly after learning that a state audit would reveal an unflattering picture of his management.Harris, at the time director of South Dakota's lottery, had close professional ties with Andersen and considered him a friend. When I came aboard, the staff h
Jun 20, 2005, 1:30 pm - Lottery News

Maryland Lottery a case study in the science of random numbersNews Story
The Maryland Lottery provides a good example of why true lottery ball machines are much better than a computerized drawing for choosing lottery numbers. This is the super-secret lottery vault. It's 90 minutes before Tuesday's lunchtime picks, and Patrick Morton, the 35-year-old drawing manager for the Maryland State Lottery Agency, is only half joking as he hovers over a small keypad deep inside the studios of WJZ-TV.Beside the keypad is a large metal door - locked, alarmed, monitored by camera.
Jun 11, 2005, 2:29 am - Lottery News

Chinese man jailed for selling newborn to buy lottery ticketsNews Story
A father who sold his newborn son to raise money to buy lottery tickets was sentenced to 10 years in prison in China's latest baby-trafficking case, a newspaper reported Monday.The man, identified only by the family name Zhang, sold his baby boy for 9,000 yuan, the equivalent of about $1,350, because he had dreams of becoming rich overnight, the Beijing Daily Messenger reported. Evil father sold his own son to buy lottery tickets, the headline read.The Fugou County Court in central China's He
May 9, 2005, 10:57 am - Lottery News

Key figure in MN Lottery probe dead; suicide suspectedNews Story
A key figure in an ongoing criminal investigation over past contract practices of the Minnesota State Lottery has been found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, and gambling enforcement agents will attempt to determine whether his death is connected to the probe.Michael Priesnitz, 53, was found dead Thursday afternoon on the floor of a garage at his home in International Falls. He was shot once in the head with a shotgun found near his body, according to International Falls police.
May 2, 2005, 7:50 am - Lottery News

Arizona couple won a lotta lottery griefNews Story
In Snowflake, Ariz., between the White Mountains and the Petrified Forest, 16 hectares of tomatoes grow under massive greenhouses -- the dream and downfall of one of Ontario's largest lottery winners. Parkhill mechanic Bernie Nauss won $22.5 million in 1998. But it only took him and his wife, Krista, a few years to lose one-third of their fortune trying to grow hydroponic tomatoes.The town of Snowflake, 310 kilometers northeast of Phoenix, wasn't named for its climate: In the dead of winter dayt
Feb 22, 2005, 8:57 am - Lottery News

Special lottery for Indiana National Guard troops won't advanceNews Story
An Indiana lawmaker expressed disappointment Thursday that her proposal for a special lottery to support the Indiana National Guard will not get a chance to advance in the state Senate.Republican Sen. Thomas Wyss of Fort Wayne, chairman of the Homeland Security, Utilities and Public Policy Committee, said he had problems with the bill by Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, and would not give it a hearing. Among other things, he said it could set a precedent of the Legislature dictating special lotte
Feb 11, 2005, 2:42 pm - Lottery News

Support eroding for Maine Gov.'s lottery planNews Story
A Democratic state senator from Portland is breaking ranks with Gov. John Baldacci on the governor's plan to help balance the state budget by selling future lottery revenue. But it remains to be seen if that defection is isolated or the first sign that support is crumbling within the governor's party.Sen. Ethan Strimling, one of 19 Democrats in the 35-member Senate, said Wednesday he cannot support borrowing $250 million from an investor and repaying it by selling lottery revenue. Strimling said
Feb 10, 2005, 1:27 pm - Lottery News

Record lottery winner's wealth cost him dearlyNews Story
It was coming up on Christmas, and Brenda-the-biscuit-lady was inexplicably happy as she walked to work in the predawn darkness. Brenda didn't just make biscuits over at the C L Super Serve for $6 an hour. She served up good cheer. How you doin', honey? she'd greet customers, with such enthusiasm that they had no choice but to smile back. Dad-gonnit, you are growing up on me! she'd call to schoolchildren, just to see them grin. What grade you in now? At 39, Brenda Higginbotham didn't have muc
Jan 31, 2005, 9:36 am - Lottery News

New Lottery is Oklahoma's Top Story of the YearNews Story
In November, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry saw a cornerstone for his plan to increase funding for education, a statewide lottery, become a reality.The education lottery won easy passage with about 64 percent of the vote. Supporters said it would raise $150 million a year for common, higher and technical education.A companion measure was also approved, which will create a constitutional ''lockbox'' and prdvent lawmakers from dipping into lottery revenue to replace existing education dollars, something
Jan 3, 2005, 8:14 am - Lottery News

Secret Lottery millionaire leaves fortune to charitiesNews Story
A reclusive elderly woman has left her secret Lottery fortune to charity.Gail German hit the jackpot when she won 1 million (US$1.92 million) playing the UK Lotto, but no one in the tiny hamlet where she lived knew about it.When she died, most of the money was split between her local church, a hospital and hospices.Despite the big win, she continued to live alone in the small rural cottage where she had grown up until her death, aged 53.She left the house and its garden in Catsash, near Newport
Dec 29, 2004, 8:26 am - Lottery News