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Georgia to scale back lottery-funded HOPE programNews Story
The nation's most sweeping lottery-funded scholarship program was reined in Wednesday by Georgia lawmakers, who trimmed the popular HOPE scholarships out of fear they will soon cost more than lottery revenues can provide.The scholarships which cover books, fees and tuition for B students at state schools will get new qualification rules in response to warnings the program is growing out of control.The scholarships cost $21 million in 1993, the first year. This school year, the state expects to s
Apr 8, 2004, 6:02 am - Lottery News

Paul, 3 lottery executives paid $300,000 when they quit Georgia jobsNews Story
When Rebecca Paul quit her Georgia job last fall as the nation's highest-paid lottery director to become Tennessee's lottery chief, she left with one final perk a check for $125,139.The three lottery vice presidents she lured to Tennessee also cashed out when they left, collecting a total of $174,059.Paul and her lieutenants were beneficiaries of leave policies at the Georgia Lottery Corp. that are far more generous than those for any other state workers. Analysts say the policies are uncommon e
Apr 5, 2004, 3:59 am - Lottery News

Georgia benefits from huge Mega Millions jackpotNews Story
Extra Income Shoring Up HOPE ScholarshipGeorgia lottery players and residents of 10 other states will compete Friday night to win the Mega Millions jackpot, which stands at $222 million - the largest payday in the game's history.The drawing, which is usually broadcast live from the Midtown Atlanta studios of WSB-TV/Channel 2, will be held at Times Square in New York at 11 p.m.Lottery officials said the huge jackpot is good for the game, its players and the state. A record-breaking Mega Millions
Feb 20, 2004, 7:00 am - Lottery News

Sergeant accused of stealing Georgia lottery ticketsNews Story
A 24-year veteran of the Richmond County Sheriffs Office was suspended without pay after he was charged with stealing lottery tickets while on duty at a grocery store.Sgt. William Billy Hambrick, 52, was charged with a felony count of theft and was released from the Richmond County jail Wednesday night on $5,050 bond, officials said. His suspension was announced Thursday by Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength.Investigators found that the sergeant had been filling out Cash 3 Georgia Lottery t
Feb 13, 2004, 7:43 am - Lottery News

Record lottery sales prompt questions about need to cut HOPENews Story
Record sales figures show the Georgia lottery is hotter than ever, prompting some legislators to question whether they need to cut the HOPE scholarship program this fall.Ticket sales of $1.3 billion from July through December 2003 were $71 million more than the same period the previous year, a 5 percent increase, state lottery officials said Wednesday.And ticket revenue continues to grow. January sales also were up $7 million over last January, despite competition from the new Tennessee lottery,
Feb 5, 2004, 6:21 am - Lottery News

N.Y. Lottery Director To Head Georgia GamesNews Story
The director of New York's lottery, Margaret DeFrancisco, was chosen Thursday to head Georgia's lottery games.Gov. Sonny Perdue, who announced the appointment, called her a can-do person and expressed confidence she will take our lottery to a new level. The Georgia Lottery Corporation has been without a permanent president and chief executive officer since Rebecca Paul, the founding director, jumped ship in September to run Tennessee's startup games.DeFrancisco, 54, has headed the New York ga
Dec 19, 2003, 3:16 am - Lottery News

Georgia man hits the Mega Millions jackpot twiceNews Story
A Georgia man held two of three winning tickets for a $70 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot, good for a cash option prize of $26.6 million before taxes, lottery officials said.Stephen Cooke of Roswell, Georgia, a recently hired bus driver by Fulton County, said Wednesday that he didn't realize until he went to claim the prize that he had double-purchased the winning numbers for Tuesday's drawing.Cooke will share the $70 million jackpot with the owner of another Mega Millions ticket purchased
Nov 13, 2003, 5:31 am - Lottery News

3 Tickets Split $70 Million Mega Millions JackpotNews Story
Updated: Nov. 12, 2003, 9:19 am ESTThree winning tickets were sold for Tuesday night's $70 million Mega Millions drawing.Two of those tickets in the multistate lottery were purchased in Roswell, Georgia and the third ticket was sold in Portage, Michigan, near Kalamazoo. Each ticket's annuity value is worth $23,333,333 before taxes.Georgia and Michigan Lottery officials have not yet said which retailers sold the winning tickets.Eight tickets had all five numbers but not the Mega Ball for a $175,
Nov 12, 2003, 4:39 am - Lottery News

Special projects shrink lottery proceedsNews Story
Almost $1.8 billion worth of Georgia lottery proceeds that could have gone for HOPE scholarships has instead been spent on a long list of other projects, including museums, security fences and metal detectors, and renovations of historic buildings.And millions are still being spent for special scholarship programs that benefit a few private colleges favored by powerful lawmakers.Now, with HOPE facing a shortfall and a state commission looking for ways to rein in expenses, some officials wonder w
Nov 11, 2003, 5:00 am - Lottery News

Paul's lottery past: rocky beginnings, happier endingsNews Story
It's only in hindsight that critics of Rebecca Paul's lottery startups give her creditRebecca Paul's admirers outnumber her critics by a long shot in Georgia's capital city.But the critics were hot when Paul was starting the state's lottery in 1993. Ten years later, Tennessee has hired her to do the same thing for up to $752,500 a year.Georgia's lottery drew close scrutiny from state lawmakers and federal prosecutors after awarding a key startup contract to a vendor whose bid was millions of dol
Oct 20, 2003, 8:04 am - Lottery News