Mega Millions jackpot hits record $1.6 billion
If it seems that lottery jackpots are getting larger and larger, it’s because they are getting larger and larger. Tonight’s Mega Millions estimated grand prize has hit $1.6 billion, continuing a trend of giant jackpots. It will be the largest lottery prize in U.S. history when someone finally hits it and will join five other top 10 drawings in the last three years. Lottery officials lengthened the odds of winning in recent years — Powerball in October 2015 and Mega Millions in October 2017 — to create larger jackpots and, they hoped, more interest. States have generally reported increased Mega Millions and Powerball sales since the change. But the ever-increasing jackpots have left them ever-more dependent on those massive payouts because prizes that once seemed so immense now seem almost puny in comparison. Nearly all winners take the cash option, which was about $904 million as of Monday morning. After federal taxes and state deductions, which vary across the country, winners will generally end up with around half that amount. A shop employee in Atlanta holds tickets for tonight’s Mega Millions lottery drawing, which offers a record $1.6 billion jackpot. Montgomery County Public Schools spokeswoman. The injured students and adults aboard the bus were taken to Holy Cross Hospital as a precaution, she said. Frederick Road was closed in both directions between Middlebrook Road and Scenery Drive Monday morning following the accident. love, support and compassion from not only the surrounding community, but from around the nation and internationally, has been overwhelmingly moving to Amy’s family, friends and coworkers,” the statement said. “Through the compassion that has been shown and memories that have been shared, Amy’s spirit will live on and continue to shine light on the good that can come from a tragedy.” The families thanked the public for sending them cards, flowers, food, art and other gifts to show their support in the months since Caprio died. “What has been apparent from the onset is that Amy touched so many lives (either directly or indirectly) and it has been your love and prayers that have given her family the most precious gifts of all,” the statement continued. “For this, both families humbly thank each of you.” Four Baltimore teenagers — Dawnta Harris, Darrell Ward, Derrick Matthews and Eugene Genius IV — were charged as adults with first-degree murder and other counts in Caprio’s killing. They are being held until their trials next year. Hoffman’s friend and interviews led them to believe he was targeted as a result. The victim survived his injuries. In a statement, the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office said Hoffman recorded the assault at the behest of a passenger in the car. “Hoffman is then heard uttering a derisive comment indicating a lack of concern for the victim’s welfare,” the office wrote. Hoffman was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder on Aug. 23. In a statement released by his office, State’s Attorney Wes Adams called it “one of the most callous displays of violence that I have witnessed in my 22 years as a prosecutor.” “Hoffman laid bare his cruel intent to kill when he deliberately accelerated his vehicle towards a defenseless pedestrian, and memorialized this shocking incident on video,” Adams said in a statement. An attorney disputed that Hoffman showed no remorse, but admitted that the video recording was harmful to his client.