Lottery

I'M baffled that philly.com treats the city's homicide outbreak like a "lottery" of who got shot or stabbed - tune in and find out "What lucky soul will be bagged as No. 173 for 2007. " There is NEVER any follow-up story or information on how or maybe why this person was murdered, or a name and face to give context, value and or meaning to the life lost. Michael Inspire, Philadelphia

My father is almost 80 years old now, and he loves to play the lottery - those state-run games that promise at least a million bucks if you're lucky enough to pick the numbers printed on six Ping-Pong balls. In the winter, when he's in Tampa, he plays the Florida lottery. The rest of the year, he makes a weekly contribution to the Pennsylvania lottery games. He also subscribes to several lottery newsletters - those idiotic tip sheets that supposedly indicate past numerical patterns.

The 76ers lost a random draw with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets yesterday, decreasing their already slim chances to win the top pick in the 2006 NBA draft. The Sixers have six chances out of 1,000, or the 13th-best chance, to win the top pick in the draft lottery on May 23. There were six other random draws yesterday between teams that finished with identical records. Charlotte defeated Atlanta; Minnesota topped Boston; Houston topped Golden State; Chicago beat Indiana; Sacramento beat Denver; and New Jersey won over Memphis.

I think it necessary to caution Pennsylvania lottery players about using The Inquirer's new computer analysis. One simply cannot predict the outcome of a future drawing by examining previous results. For example, in flipping a coin 10 times, one should expect to get about five heads. To get six heads and four tails is not so unlikely, and, most important, it would not mean that heads is more likely on the 11th flip. Likewise, in the Lotto each number has a 7 in 40 (17.5 percent)

A convenience store worker was arrested yesterday after telling police he was addicted to the lottery and stole money from his employer to buy about 50 tickets a day, police said. Robert Kempton, 20, of Tamarac, is accused of faking three robberies at the Farm Store where he worked and stealing a total of $4,000, police spokeswoman Linda Zohman said. Kempton filed police reports in October, September and May, saying the store had been robbed and that he once was knocked unconscious, Zohman said.

The Springfield School District might start a lottery this summer. No, it's not a creative new way to finance the skyrocketing cost of education. This lottery would distribute precious spots in the district's morning kindergarten sessions to the lucky winners. The concept of a lottery was brought up at Tuesday night's school board meeting after a resident complained that the administration's recent decision to eliminate morning kindergarten would put an unfair burden on many families.

Kathy Stoutenburgh never dreamed she could be a homeowner. Now, through a federal Housing and Urban Development program, she'll get a chance to buy one of 20 houses available to low-income Abington residents for $30,000. Stoutenburgh's was the sixth name picked in a lottery Thursday night for the modular homes, valued at $70,000. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed when her name was read. She hugged her son and brushed away tears as she mouthed a "Thank you" to Abington Housing Authority officials.

Tyreke Evans ended weeks of speculation by signing with uber-agent Arn Tellem this weekend in Los Angeles. Tellem, who represents Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and is originally from Lower Merion, has also corralled Episcopal Academy's Gerald Henderson and Wayne Ellington. Evans, the 6-5 Memphis shooting guard from American Christian, is projected to be a lottery pick, possibly among the top five selected in the NBA draft, which is set for Thursday, June 25. "We're very happy with every decision that we've made, and we've made it with Tyreke's best interest," said Julius "Doc" Evans, one of Tyreke's older brothers.

Wading through a foot-high stack of membership applications, Margaret Rennoldson is experiencing the calm after the storm at Lotto-Link Inc. in Phoenixville. "One of my computers broke on Saturday (Sept. 15)," said Rennoldson, who is office manager for the agency that sells tickets from lotteries held in a dozen states. "I had a driving accident because I was thinking so hard on everything that happened during the past week, and I'm trying to get my office back in order. " There was a frenzied buildup to the $105 million Florida jackpot, which set off get-rich-quick dreams across the nation.

Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson surprised lottery officials yesterday in Austin, Texas, when he showed up at their headquarters to claim his $10.43 million prize. Henderson, who relished the spotlight when he played in the NFL, told lottery officials he wants minimal press coverage, said Kristina Childress, a lottery spokeswoman. Henderson, who was accompanied by his lawyer, entered the offices through a secret passageway. "It was a total surprise.

Here's a roundup of the latest lottery news. Camden County ticket wins $872,215. A Jersey Cash 5 ticket sold at Liquor Ranch, 4950 Marlton Pike, in Pennsauken matched all the numbers drawn Monday: 8, 18, 22, 26 and 36. Delco ticket just misses Mega Millions jackpot. The $25 million top prize was won Tuesday night by single ticket purchased at a Mobil station on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles. It matched all the numbers: 10, 11, 12, 14 and 24, and the Mega Ball of 6. Winning $250,000, though, was a ticket at a Rite Aid on West Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore.

Thanks to a lucky lunch break — or was it the power of prayer? — the four dozen happiest people in Philadelphia were introduced to an envious public today as they claimed a Powerball jackpot worth $107,533,238.27 in cash. They filled rows of chairs at a late morning news conference, telecast live from SEPTA headquarters, where most of them have worked for tenures of less than a year to 42 years. Ranging in age from 26 to 69, including some who were already retired, they vowed no further media meet and greets would be granted.

There are lottery odds and lottery balls. But lotteries also have oddballs and oddities, as recent news stories show. Recall the McDonald's worker in Maryland who told reporters her personal ticket, not her pool's, won a piece of March's record Mega Millions jackpot. Mirlande Wilson then said she lost the ticket, only to be proven she was mistaken about ever having it, when three educators from the Baltimore area claimed the prize — and vowed to continue working. The latest case involves a trashed ticket worth $1 million.

Interested in a piece of New Jersey's government? With Gov. Christie in office, now's the time to buy, buy, buy. In recent months the Republican governor's administration has amped up efforts to privatize government services, which would generate short-term revenue and cut the number of benefit-receiving employees. State parks, public schools, and Atlantic City Expressway toll booths all have been opened to outside companies. At least a dozen functions of state government are being filled by companies or are targeted for privatization, public documents show, with the Christie administration considering proposals from firms to maintain highways, repair state vehicles, cook prison food, and process child-support payments.

Anybody want some money? Some major lottery prizes, won by local tickets, are still looking to be claimed, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. One ticket worth $250,000 expires this month. Here's a rundown, including two last-gasp chances and a handful of recent victories. Expiring soon: $250,000 won in Bucks County. The Mega Millions ticket was purchased for the April 29, 2011, drawing at the Acme Market at 2301 Pasqualone Blvd. in Bensalem. It matched the first five numbers - 9, 10, 11, 33 and 51 - but not the Mega Ball of 29. Because the prize expires on a Sunday, final chance to stake a claim in person is Friday, April 27, and last chance for a valid postmarked mailed submission is Saturday, April 28. Also expiring: $50,000 won in Montgomery County.

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. - A Michigan lottery winner was charged with fraud Tuesday for collecting food stamps and public health insurance despite pocketing a $735,000 jackpot. Amanda Clayton, 25, was silent during a brief court hearing after spending a night in jail. A not-guilty plea was entered, and her lawyer vowed to fight the charges. Clayton is the second person in Michigan caught with food stamps despite newly minted wealth. Gov. Rick Snyder last week signed a law requiring the lottery to notify the Human Services Department when someone wins at least $1,000.

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. - A Michigan lottery winner was charged with fraud Tuesday for collecting food stamps and public health insurance despite having pocketed a $735,000 jackpot. Amanda Clayton, 25, was silent during a brief court hearing after spending a night in jail. A not-guilty plea was entered, and her lawyer vowed to fight the charges. Clayton is the second person in Michigan caught with food stamps despite newly minted wealth. Gov. Rick Snyder last week signed a law requiring the lottery to notify the Human Services Department when someone wins at least $1,000.

We all dream about it - but what if it actually happened? What if, like those winners of the $656 million Mega Millions lottery, we actually had to wonder now what to do with the money? What financial planners and people of means advise is that lottery tickets are just that - a lucky win. But there are real issues associated with planning for a sudden windfall. The Mega Millions winners will now be targets of both legitimate and illegitimate financial advisers, says securities attorney Andrew Stoltmann, who has represented lottery winners who have been defrauded out of the entire amount.

When it comes to creating a more secure financial future, there's just no substitute for planning ahead. That's exactly what Pennsylvania aims to do through Gov. Corbett's initiative to ensure Pennsylvania Lottery-funded programs for older adults can keep up with the huge wave of baby boomers nearing eligibility age. To be better prepared to serve those citizens, we're exploring establishing a private management agreement for the lottery....