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Minnesota Lottery moves to boost integrityNews Story
Legislation designed to increase accountability at the Minnesota Lottery moved forward Wednesday, while fallout from the lottery's troubles continued.A Senate committee passed a bill that would have the state lottery director serve at the pleasure of the governor, which means he or she can be removed for no reason. Current law requires the governor to show misconduct before firing the director.Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, introduced the bill this year after reports the lottery director may have
Mar 4, 2004, 4:24 am - Lottery News

Minnesota Lottery Cancels $1.3 Million in Contracts with Media RareNews Story
The Minnesota Lottery says it's canceled promotional contracts worth $1.3 million a year with Media Rare.That's the St. Paul company that auditors said received special treatment under former lottery director George Andersen.A lawyer for the lottery says the contract cancellations will be effective April 27. The contracts were for promotional TV and radio shows.The lottery also is considering canceling an additional promotional agreement with the company involving a special vehicle. Already, the
Mar 3, 2004, 4:05 am - Lottery News

No lottery for WyomingNews Story
A proposal that would allow Wyoming residents to play Powerball without going out of state officially died Monday, but its sponsor is not giving up. The bill will be back next year if I am elected, Rep. Dave Edwards, R-Douglas, said.House Bill 20, which had seven Republican and four Democratic co-sponsors, was killed by Sen. Delaine Roberts, R-Etna, chairman of the Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee. Roberts did not schedule HB20 for debate before Monday's noon
Mar 2, 2004, 6:00 am - Lottery News

Calif. lottery 'winner' didn't buy ticketNews Story
The rags-to-riches story of Jaime Chavez Ramos has a new plot: He has signed over a $10 million SuperLotto jackpot to Benjamin Garcia, whom Ramos identified as his cousin.Four days after telling reporters that he was an instant millionaire, Ramos, who lives in the Fresno area, told lottery officials that Garcia actually paid the $1 for the winning quick-pick ticket at Church Market in Calwa.He then signed documents that legally turned the jackpot over to Garcia, said Norma Minas, a Lottery spoke
Mar 1, 2004, 3:57 am - Lottery News

Minnesota Lottery audit finds high costs, no crimeNews Story
The Minnesota State Lottery spends more money and provides less to the state than comparable lotteries and should revisit its ties to the St. Paul-based marketing company Media Rare Inc., auditors reported Thursday.Legislative Auditor James Nobles released the audit of the lottery about three weeks after former Lottery Director George Andersen died, apparently by suicide. Andersen had met with auditors about the review the day before he was found dead. We found many things to question and critic
Feb 20, 2004, 6:36 am - Lottery News

Extensive Minnesota lottery probe underwayNews Story
Minnesota gambling enforcement agents have begun a sweeping investigation into the Minnesota State Lottery that likely will involve inspecting hundreds of contracts with vendors for any improprieties. It is expected to take months to complete. As far as I'm concerned, there are no boundaries, said Norm Pint, special agent in charge of the gambling enforcement division of the Department of Public Safety, which is conducting the probe.Pint said Wednesday that the investigation was prompted by the
Feb 19, 2004, 6:58 am - Lottery News

Lottery director's friend also tried to commit suicide, report saysNews Story
The state's finance commissioner had been actively reviewing the management of the Minnesota State Lottery when lottery director George Andersen committed suicide.Dan McElroy, who is now Gov. Tim Pawlenty's chief of staff, had found enough lapses to warrant a sharp letter to Andersen but he told reporters Thursday he didn't discover anything that suggested Andersen had done anything criminal. He said he isn't sure whether Andersen would have lost his job over the findings. I'm not aware of any a
Feb 13, 2004, 7:31 am - Lottery News

Need $150 million? Try for Mega Millions jackpotNews Story
Lottery players have another chance at the good life Friday night when the Mega Millions lottery jackpot reaches an estimated $150 million. I have to win before I decide what I'm going to do with the money, said Ju rez resident Salvador Reynoso, who buys five tickets for the drawing every week. I don't have any idea what I would do with that much money. The game has been attracting thousands of Texans and others in surrounding areas since it began in the state in December. People here have bee
Feb 12, 2004, 6:43 am - Lottery News

Minn. lottery director helped steer business to friend's firmNews Story
The late director of the Minnesota State Lottery helped a friend's company keep a lucrative lottery contract, the Star Tribune reported on Saturday.George Andersen was found dead of an apparent suicide on Jan. 27, a day after meeting with auditors who were probing his relationship with the company, Media Rare. The public relations firm was founded by Andersen's friend Michael Priesnitz.Auditors have questioned several lucrative contracts that Andersen approved between the lottery and Media Rare.
Feb 9, 2004, 6:01 am - Lottery News

Arkansas poll shows more support for lottery than higher taxesNews Story
A poll shows that most Arkansans would not support increased income taxes to pay for education reform, and about half oppose a sales tax increase, but many are willing to take a chance on a lottery.The poll was conducted by Opinion Research Associates Incorporated of Little Rock for the Stephens Media Group. The survey showed that 71% were opposed to paying more in income taxes to support public education.The poll also showed that only 47% support a penny increase in the sales tax with proceeds
Feb 6, 2004, 6:48 am - Lottery News