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Mystery Powerball player still holding on to ticket worth $200,000 – and slip was purchased at a gas station

POWERBALL players have been urged to double-check their tickets as a $200,000 prize has not yet been claimed.

Illinois Lottery revealed the winning slip was bought at Dolton Express Citgo, Illinois, 60419.

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A Powerball prize worth $200,000 remains up for grabs[/caption]

The ticket was bought before the November 30 draw.

The lucky gambler will be able to take home a whopping $200,000 ticket – if they claim it in time.

The clock has started to tick as they have until November 30 2025 to come forward and claim their winnings.

POWERBALL POWERS ON

Powerball is hugely popular across the country and is played in 48 US lottery jurisdictions.

How long players have to claim prizes varies by state, from 90 days up to a full year – as is the case in Michigan.

Tickets cost $2 and can be entered into draws held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Players choose five numbers on the white balls between 1 and 69, then one number for the red Powerball, between 1 and 26.

In Powerball, the jackpot increases until it’s won, so some winners win more money than others, depending on how long the prize pot has been growing.

The biggest jackpot to date is $2.04 billion won in California in 2022, according to the Powerball website.

Winners of the top prize can choose to receive their money as a lump sum or as an annuity over 29 years.

Top lottery winners in the US

Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.

  • Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
  • Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
  • Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
  • Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
  • Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
  • Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
  • Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
  • Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
  • Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
  • Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
  • Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.

This latest Illinois lottery winner isn’t alone in not claiming their prize.

Another $1 million is currently unclaimed in Missouri from a Mega Millions draw in November.

While in Florida a Mega Millions winner is set to become $5 million richer when they claim their prize from the December 10 draw.

Responsible gambling 

Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chase their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
  • National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
  • Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 1-800-522-4700 or go to ncpgambling.org/chat

Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?

Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?

The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.

Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.

Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.

Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.

Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.

Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.

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Drivers face increased parking fines under new January 1 rule as fees are hiked for first time since 2011

RESIDENTS in a major city are facing an increase in parking fines in the New Year – for the first time since 2011.

Drivers in Seattle will now need to be extra careful where they leave their vehicle, or face fines that are going to be as high as $73.

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Seattle is set to raise fines for nearly all of its parking violations for the first time since 2011[/caption]
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Currently, the smallest fine is just $29, but now it could be as high as $73[/caption]

According to Komo News, the Seattle Municipal Court is introducing a rise in fines for most parking violations across the city, starting from January 1.

Currently, most parking fines range from $29 to $53, depending on the violation.

But these will be increased to $43 through to $73.

Most violations currently cost drivers an amount of $47, but this will go up to $69 from New Year’s day.

It appears the largest fine currently is $250, which can be given for violations such as illegally parking in a marked disabled bay or with an invalid placard.

Indeed, the $250 fine is the only amount that won’t be increasing in 2025.

Seattle isn’t the only city that’s introducing a hefty change to parking laws.

The police department in Washington, Iowa, are to get more serious on residents breaking local parking laws  – with officers to seek out offenders instead of issuing parking tickets in response to complaints.

Police on patrol routes across the city will spend the next several weeks issuing written warnings to cars that are caught violating commonly broken parking laws.

City Police Chief Jim Lester said: “We just felt that, you know, maybe it’s time we spend a little more time addressing these issues while we’re on patrol.

“Rather than being a little more complaint-based, being a little more proactive in our approach.”

To this end, officers will likely ramp up their efforts by the start of 2025, with $25 fines to be handed out that can rise to $50 during snow emergencies.

Elsewhere, a driver has revealed his shock to find a $92 fine on his car after parking on a regular-looking street.

Jason McLaren thought he’d simply found a great parking spot outside an Italian restaurant in Cherry Creek, a neighborhood in DenverColorado.

As his wife uses a disabled parking placard, McLaren assumed the spot would be free – so he decided against paying the meter.

But when he returned to his vehicle, he found a $92 ticket from LAZ Parking – a private company that manages the area.

Thinking they simply made a mistake, McLaren contacted LAZ but, to his shock, was told he’d parked in a private lot and owed the fine.

McLaren told 9 News: “I reached out to LAZ and said you must be mistaken.

“And they said, no, you parked in one of our lots and you owe us money.”

The meters, located on Clayton Street, where he’d parked, between 1st and 2nd Avenue, are placed on private property.

However, to the untrained eye, they resemble public city meters.

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Most violations currently cost drivers an amount of $47[/caption]

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Shawshank Redemption star William Sadler’s wife dies after cancer battle as he shares pic of wedding day 46 years ago

SHAWSHANK Redemption star William Sadler has announced the death of his wife Marni Joan Bakst after 46 years of marriage.

Sadler, 74, shared the news to his Facebook, alongside a heartwarming photo of him and Bakst on the morning of their wedding in 1978.

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Actor William Sadler and wife Marni Joan Bakst[/caption]
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The Shawshank Redemption star William Sadler is mourning the death of his beloved wife[/caption]

In the image, the couple are pictured in their bathrobes at a breakfast table before getting married later that day.

In the message accompanied with the photo, Sadler said Bakst tragically died on Wednesday after a two year battle with cancer.

Sadler added on Facebook: “Early yesterday morning, my wife, Marni Bakst, finally lost her two year battle with cancer.

“After what has been an amazing forty five years of marriage I don’t think I can fathom or put into words much of this yet.

“Maybe with time and a little distance I’ll find it easier to describe this extraordinary artist, feminist, wife, and mother, but for now I want to thank you all for your patience and kind words.”

Sadler and Bakst welcomed a daughter together during their marriage called Sadler Colley Bakst, 38.

Sadler previously posted the same picture in a heartwarming tribute to his wife on their anniversary last year.

He wrote alongside the photo last May: “This picture was taken the morning of our wedding, exactly forty five years ago today.

“The extraordinary looking young woman with the huge eyes is Ms. Marni Bakst. The lucky young man is me.

“All these years later I still bring her coffee, she still has those beautiful eyes, and I’m still the luckiest man on this, or any other planet. Happy Anniversary Marni!”

Bakst was with Sadler throughout his acting career – before he made his Broadway debut in Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues in 1985.

Sadler’s most famous role is playing the character Heywood in the acclaimed 1994 drama The Shawshank Redemption.

Based on the Stephen King novel, the movie starred Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman and is labelled as one of the best motion pictures ever made.

Sadler is also in movies like the 1990 Die Hard 2 and the 2013 Marvel movie Iron Man 3.

This year he could be seen in the Max horror movie dubbed ‘Salem’s Lot’ – another Stephen King adaptation.

This is to refer back to The Shawshank Redemption.

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The Shawshank Redemption star William Sadler with his late wife Marni Joan Bakst[/caption]

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