(NEW YORK) — Mega Millions ticket holders will be watching Tuesday’s 11 p.m. drawing closely as the numbers for the third-largest prize in the game’s history are revealed.
The jackpot has climbed to $1.1 billion with no winner since Oct. 14. The cash option is $568.7 million.
While it’s the third-largest prize in Mega Millions history, it is the fifth-largest in U.S. lottery history. The largest prize in lottery history came in November 2022, when a single Powerball winner took home $2.04 billion.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million.
The lucky winner can opt for either an annuity or the cash option.
The Mega Millions annuity is paid out as one immediate payment, followed by 29 yearly payments with each payment growing by 5%.
“This helps protect winners’ lifestyle and purchasing power in periods of inflation,” according to the Mega Millions website.
Or, the winner can opt for the cash option: a one-time, lump-sum payment of the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool.
Photography by Keith Getter (all rights reserved)/Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — Dangerously stormy weather continues to wallop California, drenching the drought-stricken state with a sudden and near constant onslaught of rain and snow, leaving a trail of destruction.
The National Weather Service has warned of a “relentless parade of atmospheric rivers” in the West Coast over the coming week. President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for California, ordering federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Jan 10, 8:03 AM EST
Over 224,000 customers without power in California
More than 224,000 customers were without power across California early Tuesday, as storms unabatedly battered the Golden State.
As of 4:56 a.m. PT, there were 224,470 Californian customers without power, according to data collected by the website PowerOutage.us. A majority of those — 64,057 customers — were located in Santa Clara County.
Jan 10, 7:56 AM EST
California sees record rain, snow
Storms have dumped copious amounts of rain over California in recent days.
Santa Barbara received a record 4.12 inches of rainfall on Monday alone.
In the past two days, Ventura County counted 16.34 inches, Santa Barbara County 16.05 inches, Los Angeles County 7.12 inches and Monterey County up to 10.71 inches.
Meanwhile, the highest wind gust in the last 24 hours — up to 88 miles per hour — was recorded in the mountains near Santa Clarita.
Another 5 to 10 inches of rainfall is expected across California through the weekend, with the possibility of more flooding. An additional 4 to 6 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range is also in the forecast.
Jan 10, 7:47 AM EST
The latest forecast for California
An unusually long and powerful jet stream is bringing tropical moisture all the way from Southeast Asia to California. It’s been parked over the Pacific Ocean for weeks, with no end in sight.
The latest forecast shows parts of these Pacific storms moving into the Rocky Mountains on Tuesday, with heavy snowfall and gusty winds.
The next storm is already arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesday morning and will last through the day. Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California will also get more rain with this new storm, according to the forecast.
California will have some respite on Tuesday night before a new storm arrives in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday morning.
This pattern of stormy weather will not end there. The forecast shows yet another system arriving at the end of the week and lasting through the weekend, bringing even more rain from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Jan 10, 7:12 AM EST
Tornado warnings for parts of Central California
The National Weather Service issued two tornado warnings for parts of Central California early Tuesday morning.
The first lasts until 4 a.m. PT and includes the areas of Rancho Calaveras, Valley Springs and San Andreas. The second lasts until 4:15 a.m. PT and includes the areas of Modesto, Ceres and Riverbank.
Jan 10, 6:47 AM EST
Over 192,000 customers without power in California
More than 192,000 customers were without power across California early Tuesday, as storms unabatedly battered the Golden State.
As of 3:37 a.m. PT, there were 192,426 Californian customers without power, according to data collected by the website PowerOutage.us. A majority of those — 85,314 customers — were located in Santa Clara County.
Photography by Keith Getter (all rights reserved)/Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — Dangerously stormy weather continues to wallop California, drenching the drought-stricken state with a sudden and near constant onslaught of rain and snow, leaving a trail of destruction.
The National Weather Service has warned of a “relentless parade of atmospheric rivers” in the West Coast over the coming week. President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for California, ordering federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Jan 10, 6:47 AM EST
Over 192,000 customers without power in California
More than 192,000 customers were without power across California early Tuesday, as storms unabatedly battered the Golden State.
As of 3:37 a.m. PT, there were 192,426 Californian customers without power, according to data collected by the website PowerOutage.us. A majority of those — 85,314 customers — were located in Santa Clara County.
(NEW YORK) — Allen Weisselberg, one of former President Donald Trump’s most trusted and loyal employees, will face sentencing Tuesday after he pleaded guilty last year to 15 state crimes then testified against the Trump Organization this past fall.
Weisselberg, 75, pleaded guilty in August to devising and operating a 15-year scheme to defraud federal, state and city tax authorities by evading more than $1.7 million in taxes on unreported income in the form of company-provided perks that included the rent on his Manhattan, New York apartment, the leases on cars for himself and his wife and tuition for his grandchildren.
As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, he testified in the subsequent trial of the Trump Organization, which a Manhattan jury found guilty last month of criminal tax fraud for paying the personal expenses of some executives without reporting them as income, and of compensating them as independent contractors instead of full-time employees.
Weisselberg, while no longer the company’s chief financial officer, remained employed with Trump’s family real estate firm and expected to make more than $1 million last year in salary and bonuses, according to his testimony.
He was promised a sentence of five months in jail to be served on Rikers Island and five years’ probation in exchange for his testimony, and agreed to repay nearly $2 million in taxes owed.
Weisselberg pleaded guilty in August to one count of grand larceny in the second degree; three counts of criminal tax fraud in the third degree; one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree; one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree; one count of criminal tax fraud in the fourth degree; four counts of offering a false Instrument for filing in the first degree; and four counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
“Allen Weisselberg admitted in Court that he used his position at the Trump Organization to bilk taxpayers and enrich himself,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at the time of his guilty plea. “Instead of paying his fair share like everyone else, Weisselberg had the Trump Organization provide him with a rent-free apartment, expensive cars, private school tuition for his grandchildren and new furniture — all without paying required taxes.”
Weisselberg’s attorney, Nicholas Gravante, declined to comment in advance of Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, but said he would make a statement when it was over.
Weisselberg testified at the trial of the Trump Organization that he reduced his reported salary by the total amount of personal expenses paid and that the company benefited by paying less in payroll taxes. He also testified his primary motive was greed.
As part of this testimony, he told a story about sitting with Trump in his office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower one day in 2012 when Donald Trump Jr. walked in with checks for his father to sign to cover tuition payments for Don Jr.’s children.
Trump looked over at Weisselberg with a chuckle and said, “I might as well pay for your grandkids too,” according to Weisselberg’s testimony.
Trump then began paying $100,000 a year for Weisselberg’s two grandchildren to attend Columbia Grammar School. Weisselberg did not declare it as income and never paid taxes on it, he testified.
Trump, who was not a defendant in the case against the Trump Organization, denied any wrongdoing and called the case “a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country.”
(HOUSTON) — A Texas grand jury has declined to indict a man who hurled two cans of White Claw hard seltzer at Sen. Ted Cruz during the Houston Astros’ World Series victory parade in November, according to court records.
After hearing evidence from prosecutors, the Harris County grand jury decided there was not enough probable cause to indict 33-year-old Joseph Arcidiacono, ABC Houston station KTRK-TV reported, citing court documents.
The panel’s decision on Friday prompted the 182nd District Court in Harris County to dismiss charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon previously filed against Arcidiacono.
During his initial court appearance in November, officials said Arcidiacono admitted throwing the White Claw cans at Cruz, telling police when he was detained, “I know I’m an idiot. I’m sorry.”
Cruz was riding on the back of a Humvee during the Nov. 7 parade on Smith Street in downtown Houston when he suddenly found himself dodging the cans tossed at him from the crowd.
A viral video of the incident showed one can missing the 52-year-old Texas Republican senator. A second unopened can appeared to hit Cruz in the forearm when he tried to deflect it.
The senator did not require medical attention, police said.
Police officers standing nearby quickly arrested Arcidiacono and jailed him on assault charges. Police initially said the suspect threw beer cans at Cruz, but later clarified that the objects were cans of White Claw.
Afterward, Cruz tweeted a video of the incident and issued a statement thanking the Houston Police and Capitol Police for their quick action.
“I’m also thankful that the clown who threw his White Claw had a noodle for an arm,” Cruz said in his statement.
(NEW YORK) — Five people are dead, including the suspect, after a man allegedly shot and killed his wife and three children before turning the gun on himself, police say.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the High Point Police Department in North Carolina responded to an early morning call at approximately 7:05 a.m. to the 2700 block of Mossy Meadow Drive in High Point, just 13 miles southwest of the city of Greensboro, in reference to two people “screaming for help,” according to a statement released by the High Point Police Department.
“When officers arrived they came into contact with an adult male and female stating they needed help,” authorities said. “Officers had to force entry into the home, and once inside, they located five deceased people.”
All of the victims — three adults and two children — were pronounced dead at the scene of the crime, police said.
A subsequent statement from the High Point Police Department confirmed that investigators determined 45-year-old Robert J. Crayton, Jr. shot and killed his wife, 46-year-old Athalia Crayton, along with his three children aged 18, 16 and 10.
Police say that two other people who lived inside the home escaped but did not comment any further on their possible relation to the family in the statement released to the media.
The High Point Police Department also said that their officers have responded to the address where the alleged murder-suicide took place five times since 2014 with the last time being just over a year ago on Jan. 3 2022.
Officers say they are investigating a motive but did not elaborate beyond that.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of High Point at 336-889-4000.
(NEW YORK) — A 12-year-old girl has been arrested after allegedly stabbing her 9-year-old brother to death, police said.
The incident occurred late Friday night when the Tulsa Police Riverside Division in Oklahoma received a call at approximately 11:43 p.m. regarding a reported stabbing in the 1000 block of 64th Place South in the southern part of the city, according to a statement released by authorities.
The Tulsa Police Department said that once they arrived on the scene, paramedics and Tulsa firefighters were already performing CPR to the 9-year-old stabbing victim.
“Officers learned the children’s parent was upstairs asleep when the 12-year-old daughter woke the parent up and said that she had stabbed her 9-year-old brother,” the Tulsa Police Department said. “The 9-year-old male victim was rushed to the hospital and taken into surgery. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after 2:30 a.m.”
Tulsa Police Department Chief Wendell Franklin didn’t mince his words when he announced the tragic killing on social media.
“All homicides are tragic, but the 2nd homicide of 2023 in Tulsa shows a definitive societal problem,” Chief Franklin said. “The question is, how does society address a child killing another child?”
The unnamed 12-year-old suspect was subsequently taken into custody and is currently being held at the Family Center for Juvenile Justice, police said.
The motivation of the stabbing is currently unclear but the Tulsa Police Child Crisis Unit in handling the investigation.
No charges have been filed yet in this case but Oklahoma law says that any child under the age of 13 cannot be prosecuted as an adult for felony allegations of murder.
(WASHINGTON) — A Washington, D.C., man fatally shot a 13-year-old boy early Saturday morning, whom he said was breaking into vehicles in his neighborhood, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Police identified the deceased teenager as Karon Blake of Northeast D.C.
The MPD and D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services arrived on the scene at 3:55 a.m. after responding to a call of a shooting, where they discovered Karon suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the police report.
D.C. Fire and EMS transferred Karon to an area children’s hospital, where he was pronounced dead after attempts to save his life were unsuccessful, police said.
According to MPD detectives, the alleged shooter heard noises outside his home and noticed someone trying to break into vehicles shortly before 4 a.m. ET on Saturday.
The unidentified resident went outside with his registered firearm to investigate when he and Karon had some sort of interaction, resulting in the man shooting the 13-year-old boy, according to the report.
MPD did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
“I again wish to express my deepest condolences to the family of Karon Blake. He was a son, brother, friend and student who should still be here,” Ward 5 Council Member Zachary Parker told ABC News in a statement. “I am deeply saddened and outraged by Karon’s killing.”
The alleged shooter has not been charged with a crime or identified, but detectives from MPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are investigating the incident for any potential charges, according to the police report.
“No car or material possession is worth a life — under any circumstances,” Parker said. “I join Ward 5 residents in calling on the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold accountable the individual who took Karon’s life.”
Photography by Keith Getter (all rights reserved)/Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — Another “powerful” atmospheric river struck the West Coast Monday, and has already prompted evacuation orders and rescues in California as torrential rain, high winds and downed trees have created a dangerous situation for thousands of residents.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for several California counties, including the Pajaro Community, low-lying areas around the Carmel River, Carmel Valley, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Andrew Malero State Park. Around noon, the Montecito Fire Department issued an evacuation order for all of Montecito, parts of Carpinteria, Summerland and the City of Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Airport was shut down due to flooding and several rescues were undertaken as streets flooded and several roads were closed as the storm bore down, according to California officials.
Up to a foot of rain is expected to hit coastal areas before the two systems are done Tuesday morning, according to meteorologists.
“Take this seriously we anticipate rains to increase more in the afternoon hours,” Eric Boldt, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office said at an 11 a.m. news conference.
Flash flood alerts were issued Monday for several counties including Santa Barbara, Fresno and San Luis Obispo, according to the National Weather Service. Flash flood warnings were issued for the Bay area until Tuesday morning.
The latest forecast shows “two major episodes of heavy precipitation” impacting California “in quick succession,” along with “two of the more energetic and moisture-laden parade of cyclones that are aiming directly for” the Golden State NWS said. The first episode, which began streaming into central California on Sunday night, “is expected to be the more robust of the two,” resulting in rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches near the coast, according to the NWS.
The first system, which is still hitting the area, has already caused downed trees and damage throughout Northern California. Several California rivers approached or exceeded flood levels, according to officials
In Santa Cruz County, first responders had to use jet skis to rescue people stranded in the storm.
Montecito Fire Protection District Chief Kevin Taylor warned residents to heed evacuation warnings.
“We recognize that it is hard. It’s hard on you, your families and your businesses. But we know that you are strong, and our communities are strong and resilient,” he said.
The second episode is expected to quickly arrive Tuesday with less heavy rainfall totals but “impacting locations farther south into southern California,” the NWS said. The Sierra Nevada mountain range, which stretches along the eastern edge of California, will likely see snowfall totals “exceeding 6 feet across the higher elevations before the snow tapers off Wednesday morning,” according to the NWS.
The forecast shows hourly rainfall totals are likely to steadily increase through Tuesday morning, reaching 1 inch in central California’s coastal Santa Lucia mountain range. Elsewhere, peak hourly rainfall totals of one inch can be expected. The cumulative effect of successive heavy precipitation combined with gusty winds will lead to additional instances of flash flooding and debris flow — especially in burn scars and other areas of sensitive terrain — as well as mudslides and rapid rises of creeks, streams and rivers, according to the NWS.
“Significant” impacts to travel and infrastructure, including possible power outages, road closures, downed trees and snow load, can also be expected, the NWS said. Residents and visitors across the affected region have been advised to check their local forecast, never drive across flooded roadways and have both an emergency kit and evacuation plan in place.
As of noon local time on Monday, roughly 81,000 Bay Area customers and 34,000 Sacramento area customers were without power in California, according to data collected by the website PowerOutage.us. Officials warned residents that more outages are possible throughout the night.
Throughout Monday afternoon, first responders in tall vehicles had to travel through flooded streets and roads covered with debris from nearby hills and mountains.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Sunday that the worst of the storms was yet to come. He said officials were preparing by activating emergency response teams and staging equipment throughout the state. The governor’s office also submitted a request to the White House for a presidential emergency declaration. President Joe Biden late Sunday approved an emergency declaration in California, ordering federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts.
In Northern California, the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services issued an evacuation order on Sunday for residents living in the Wilton area, along the Cosumnes River.
“Flooding is imminent. Out of an abundance of caution, residents must leave now before roads become impassable,” the evacuation order stated. “Rising water may spill over onto the nearest roadways and cut off access to leave the area. Last weekend, exit routes flooded quickly for residents leaving Wilton, so we are urging residents to get out now.”
(NEW YORK) — Federal investigators saw Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger throw out garbage into neighbors’ trash bins in the middle of the night as they surveilled him in Pennsylvania in the days leading up to his arrest, a law enforcement source told ABC News.
Kohberger, 28, was arrested on Dec. 30 in his home state of Pennsylvania. Kohberger, a Ph.D. student in Washington State’s department of criminal justice and criminology at the time, was visiting his family in Pennsylvania over winter break.
The local FBI field office was first made aware of Kohberger’s presence in the region on Dec. 22, the source said. FBI agents surveilled his parents’ home in Albrightsville for four days before he was arrested, the source said.
Kohberger, who has since been extradited back to Idaho, was charged with first-degree murder and burglary for the killings of four University of Idaho students.
Roommates Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, as well as Kernodle’s boyfriend Ethan Chapin, were all stabbed to death in the girls’ home between 4 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. on Nov. 13. Two other roommates survived.
One of the survivors told police that night “she heard who she thought was Goncalves say something to the effect of ‘there’s someone here,'” according to court documents. But that could have been Kernodle on her phone because records showed she was on TikTok at about 4:12 a.m., the document said.
The roommate said “she looked out of her bedroom but did not see anything when she heard the comment about someone being in the house,” the documents said. “She opened her door a second time when she heard what she thought was crying coming from Kernodle’s room.”
The roommate “then said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of ‘it’s ok, I’m going to help you,'” according to the documents.
The roommate said she opened her door again when she heard the crying, and that’s when she saw a man in black clothes and a mask walking past her in the house, according to court documents. The roommate locked herself in her room after seeing him, the documents said.
Kohberger has not entered a plea. His next status hearing is Jan. 12.
