Lottery player pounds desk after scratching California ticket. ‘I lost my mind'
During a 'routine morning stop' at a Vacaville gas station across the street from his work, Michael Wright bought a $10 Triple Red 777 scratch-off ticket, California Lottery officials said in a July 15 news release.
Soon after, Wright said he 'got to scratching' in his methodical way.
'I start from the bottom right corner and work my way up,' Wright told lottery officials.
Wright found multiple zeros — six to be exact.
'Am I seeing things? Is this a dream? Oh my gosh,' Wright said of his reaction realizing he had won $1 million. 'I lost my mind in the store. I started pounding the little lottery desk.'
Prior to his win, Wright had been looking for an exit from his day job of more than three years.
And his 'win just accelerated a plan in motion,' lottery officials said.
'I told my son, 'We're going to transition. I'll find something else for us. We are going to exit gracefully,'' he said.
Wright told lottery officials he already has plans for his winnings, including starting a family business with his wife and buying a new home.
Wright said his win 'came at the right time.'
'If you don't believe in a higher power when this type of stuff happens, you've got to,' he said.
Vacaville is about a 30-mile drive southwest from Sacramento.
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Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Parkour vaults into Napanee Council's concerns
There is a delicate balance when it comes to parkour, the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee learned this week. Cora Wright, Founder and Head Coach of Pegasus Movement Academy (PMA) , addressed Council at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jul. 22, 2025, in response to concerns about her youth parkour program, which operates in Conservation Park and Rotary Park. Her deputation came just before Council received the Parks, Recreation & Culture – Park Rental Permits report , which proposes a new facility rental category, 'Passive Park – Commercial/Sport Use,' aimed at businesses using public park space. The report, which refers specifically to PMA's use of municipal infrastructure, states, 'Staff are proposing that council approve the addition of a new facility rental category for Passive Park Commercial/Sport use with a rate of $25/hour. The booking confirmation will be accompanied by a facility rental agreement and proof of insurance naming the Town of Greater Napanee as additional insured.' Wright began her presentation by saying, 'My love of coaching actually began here in Napanee… 30 years ago. I probably coached some of your kids and even some of your grandkids.' In the last three years, she's taught movement classes across Ontario and New Brunswick without incident: 'I haven't had so much as a severely sprained ankle teaching very difficult skills.' Wright described PMA as a program focused on safety, inclusivity, and physical literacy. 'Our classes aren't about stunts or reckless behaviour,' she explained. 'They're about learning how to move safely and confidently through our environment.' Even her youngest participants, as young as three, are trained in falling techniques, body awareness, and assessing their surroundings for safety, Wright explained. She acknowledged that parkour often suffers from misconceptions due to viral videos, but said, 'We don't even resemble them remotely.' Wright said her instructors are certified in gymnastics, parkour, trampoline, and adaptive coaching for youth with disabilities, and then highlighted the program's positive community impact. 'Several spectators, including seniors and youth who live near the area, are enjoying the park,' she said. 'The kids get supported and cheered on by the community. It's great to see.' Wright said her team always leaves parks cleaner than they find them. 'We've picked up trash, raked goose droppings, repaired wilful damage done by others, and even replaced stolen xylophone sticks,' she said. 'We've cleaned up and disposed of alcohol and drug containers, as well as paraphernalia… and we don't do that because we have to. We do it because we care.' She noted that before starting classes, she contacted the Town and was told her use of the parks would be acceptable, just like other groups and camps. But she raised concerns about the new permitting system under review. 'I constantly see wilful damage happening in the park done by people attending camps who aren't being supervised,' Wright said. 'A group of 20 children being monitored by two or three teenagers isn't going to notice everything.' Wright advocated for fairness and accountability, urging that any fees collected through the proposed permit system be used to address general wear and tear, not just damage linked to organized groups. 'What the Town has fixed, other groups have damaged, as well,' she said. Wright also emphasized accessibility, saying, 'We offer low fees, partial and full scholarship options. If a family came to me and said, 'We want to enrol our kids, we can't afford even one,' I would let every single one of those children attend for free.' Aside from church programs, Wright said she wasn't aware of any group in town offering the same level of support. 'Community means everything to me. I grew up here,' she expressed. She thanked the Town for removing a piece of rotting equipment in the parkour area that had posed a safety risk to children. While many councillors expressed support, some concerns remained, chiefly around safety, liability, and insurance. Wright confirmed she carried the required $5 million in liability coverage, but wasn't sure if the Town of Greater Napanee was named directly on the policy. Mayor Terry Richardson and Deputy Mayor Brian Calver stressed that the Town must be explicitly included. 'When somebody gets hurt, your legal stuff falls onto us,' the mayor warned. Councillors Bill Martin and Angela Hicks voiced strong support. 'I can't think of a better use of our park,' said Martin. Both councillors, however, referred to some negative comments on social media, and relations between PMA and the Town. Wright told Council that, while dialogue with staff had since improved, her first contact with the Town felt adversarial. 'The first email I received threatened me with fines,' she said, explaining that Town staff's initial concerns were focused on property damage, later shifting to liability, and then to the fact that she charged fees. 'I make three dollars a class,' she told Council. 'I do this solely for the community.' Councillor Dave Pinnell raised concerns about a Facebook photo showing a child hanging from a park light standard, citing the potential for encouraging unsafe behaviour or damaging infrastructure. Wright explained that, while the child is a student with PMA, the photo in question was taken outside class time when the child was supervised by his mother. With further regard to PMA's use of Town property, Wright said the padded boards used during lessons have been leaned gently against picnic tables and caused no damage. Councillor Mike Schenk offered support, but emphasized the need to minimize the use of benches or light poles. 'Everybody sues everybody these days,' he said. 'We have to protect the tax base and the municipality.' A report from the Town's insurer backed that stance, warning that if the Town knowingly allowed unpermitted or informal activities on its property, it could still be named in a lawsuit —- even if the municipality wasn't directly responsible. The report stressed that passing bylaws wasn't enough; they must also be enforced. Mayor Richardson closed the discussion by reaffirming Council's support for PMA and said the situation had been a learning experience. 'That's the wonderful thing about being in municipal government: every day is a new day,' he said. Council formally received Wright's deputation, then turned to further discussion under the meeting's agenda. That follow-up discussion focused on balancing public access with fairness for groups offering paid programming. Councillors debated the need for affordable permit options for children's fitness programs, with Hicks suggesting a seasonal permit might reduce the administrative burden on small organizations. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Matthew Grant clarified that Council would ultimately determine the rental rate and could choose to adopt seasonal, hourly, or youth-specific fees. Council voted to approve, in principle, the creation of the new Passive Park – Commercial/Sport Use rental category and directed staff to return to Council with fee structure options. PMA is allowed to continue its programming, pending Wright's providing updated insurance documentation. Meetings of the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee can be viewed virtually (or watched afterward) on the Napanee Town Council YouTube channel or attended in person in Council Chambers at Napanee Town Hall, 124 John Street. Further information about Council meetings, including agendas and reports, is available on the Town's CivicWeb portal . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hypebeast
5 days ago
- Hypebeast
Listings: Frank Lloyd Wright's Fountainhead Residence Is up for Sale
Summary Frank Lloyd Wright's Fountainhead residence in Jackson, Mississippi, has officiallyhit the market, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of American architectural history. Commissioned in 1948 by oil magnate J. Willis Hughes and completed in the early 1950s, the Usonian-stylehometakes its name from Ayn Rand's novelThe Fountainhead— a nod to Wright's influence on the book's protagonist and its themes of individualism and design integrity. Set on nearly an acre of wooded land, the 3,558-square-foot residence was designed to harmonize with its sloped site, embodying Wright's philosophy of organic architecture. Its diamond-shaped floor plan – based on a parallelogram – guides every aspect of the design from the layout of rooms to the scale of doors and windows. Constructed without stud walls, drywall, or paint, the house features Tidewater Red Cypress walls and ceilings, a copper roof and expansive glass panels that invite natural light and views of the surrounding landscape. Inside, the residence includes three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and two half baths. Signature Wright fedatures such as built-in furniture, radiant floor heating and geometric skylights contribute to the home's cohesive and functional aesthetic. The living room, with its soaring ceiling and cantilevered roof, opens to a terrace that overlooks a cascading fountain and pond—features designed to evoke a woodland glade. A gallery-style corridor connects the bedroom wing, which includes a master suite, a dormitory-style room and a third bedroom originally intended for the Hughes family's daughter. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, Fountainhead has been meticulously restored by its current owner, architect Robert Parker Adams, who has lived in the home for over four decades. The property remains a testament to Wright's enduring vision and craftsmanship, blending innovation with natural beauty. Located at 306 Glenway Drive in the Fondren neighborhood, the property is listed for $2.5 million USD throughCrescent Sotheby's International Realty.
Yahoo
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- Yahoo
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