Latest news with #SimoneJasper
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
These 7 lottery players tried their luck — and won big prizes. See their stories
National These 7 lottery players tried their luck — and won big prizes. See their stories Ordinary errands, lucky instincts and sudden splurges led these everyday folks to jaw-dropping lottery prizes. This list of stories outlines how a man's spontaneous stop at a Sheetz in Maryland landed him $250,000, while another player in Florida turned a $5 Cash Wheel ticket bought at a 7-Eleven into $1 million. Read the stories below. A man won big after buying a last-minute lottery ticket in Maryland, officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 1: 'THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT.' MAN BUYS LAST-MINUTE LOTTERY TICKET AND WINS BIG IN MARYLAND 'I was about to leave when I thought to myself, 'Why not?'' | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Paloma Chavez A record-breaking lottery ticket was sold in South Carolina. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 2: LOTTERY PLAYER WINS HISTORIC JACKPOT PRIZE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. WHERE WAS TICKET SOLD? The lucky player's ticket matched all numbers picked in a recent drawing. | Published May 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper Pamela Arscott won a $1 million lottery prize, but thought it was a mistake. Illinois Lottery NO. 3: GREAT-GRANDMA CREDITS LATE HUSBAND IN BIG ILLINOIS LOTTERY WIN. 'A BLESSING FROM HIM' 'I thought it was a mistake,' the woman said of her big win. | Published July 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mike Stunson A Powerball player in Georgia scored a life-changing win in the lottery game's latest drawing, officials say. Photo by Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash NO. 4: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS $2 MILLION PRIZE IN GEORGIA. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD? Check your numbers! | Published July 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney A man won a huge prize after buying a $50 scratch-off in Idaho, lottery officials said. NO. 5: MAN SWITCHES IT UP AND PLAYS 'BIG TICKETS' LOTTERY GAMES. IT LED TO A 'SURREAL MOMENT' 'Brain. Blown! Pwooff,' the Idaho winner said. | Published October 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Paloma Chavez A Missouri man thought he won $50,000, but his prize was worth much more. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 6: LOTTERY PLAYER THINKS HE WON $50K. THEN HE LEARNS MISSOURI TICKET IS WORTH A LOT MORE He turned out to be 40 times as lucky. | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rhiannon Saegert An Orlando man won a jackpot prize of $1 million in a scratch-off game he bought at a local 7-Eleven, the Florida Lottery announced. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 7: LOTTERY PLAYER TURNS $5 INTO LIFE-CHANGING PRIZE AT FLORIDA 7-ELEVEN. HERE'S WHERE The odds of winning jackpot in the game are 1-in-2,963,170. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
5 times dogs found new homes after ending up in shelters. See their stories
National 5 times dogs found new homes after ending up in shelters. See their stories A spunky senior Yorkie named Teddy found the perfect match after patiently waiting at a Florida shelter, despite his cataracts and missing teeth. In Pennsylvania, Max the sweet dog was reunited with an old friend after his heartbreaking story went viral on TikTok, leading to a joyful adoption. Take a look at the stories below. A 10-year-old Yorkie was adopted after 'patiently waiting' at a Florida shelter. Screengrab from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay on Facebook NO. 1: 'SPUNKY AND FUN' SENIOR SHELTER DOG NEEDED A NEW OWNER. THEN CAME THE 'PERFECT' MATCH The loving pup was 'patiently waiting' for a home, a Florida shelter said. | Published June 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper Max sits in the corner of the Pennsylvania shelter, the TikTok shows Screen grab from @sarahbrown701's TikTok video NO. 2: PUP WOULDN'T EAT AFTER HIS RETURN TO SHELTER — THEN AN OLD FRIEND SAW HIM ON TIKTOK Max was 'terrified and heartbroken' after returning to the Pennsylvania shelter eight years after being adopted as a puppy. | Published July 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by TJ Macias Dog best friends Rellie, left, and Boone were adopted into the same home. Greenville Humane Society NO. 3: DOG BEST FRIENDS SPENT MONTHS IN SC SHELTER. NOW, THEY GET A SECOND CHANCE — TOGETHER A family came to adopt one of the pups — then fell for her best friend, too. | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper This little meatball head is no longer up for adoption. Photo screen grab from Helping Hands Humane Society's Facebook post NO. 4: DOG WHO LOOKS 'LIKE SOMEONE SQUISHED A BULLFROG INTO A MEATBALL' GETS A FAMILY Adding to the cuteness? The Kansas shelter says he also 'snorts like a freight train with allergies.' | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by TJ Macias Buu the dog got a new home months after Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina. Asheville Humane Society NO. 5: SHELTER WORKER ENDURED 'SO MUCH LOSS' AFTER HELENE. THEN CAME TOUCHING ADOPTION The 'affectionate' North Carolina dog had been living in isolation because she was sick. | Published April 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Florida beach with ‘pristine' setting ranks among world's best. Why it's special
Florida Florida beach with 'pristine' setting ranks among world's best. Why it's special Siesta Beach ranks among the best beaches in the world. Miami Herald file A Florida beach boasts a 'pristine' setting — and it's one of the best coastal destinations in the world, a new report finds. Siesta Beach ranks No. 42 on a list of the top 50 beaches across the globe, according to results published April 29. To create the list, the website The World's 50 Best Beaches said it contacted thousands of travel experts and asked them to vote on their favorite beaches. A team reviewed the submissions, focusing on how the destinations fared across eight metrics: 'unique' landscape, coastal wildlife, under-the-radar setting, non-natural noise levels, accessibility, calm waters, low crowds and ideal weather. 'Our mission is to inspire travelers to go beyond the typical tourist hotspots and discover the kind of beach experiences they've always dreamed of — places that are truly breathtaking, peaceful, and unforgettable,' Tine Holst, co-founder of the website, wrote in a news release. What makes the Florida beach special? Siesta Beach was the only place in the United States to earn a spot on the worldwide list. The destination on Siesta Key — a roughly 65-mile drive south from Tampa — has powdery, white sand that stays cool on hot days, according to The World's 50 Best Beaches. 'The gentle slope of the beach, combined with the shallow, calm waters, makes it ideal for swimming and wading, providing a safe and enjoyable environment for families,' the website wrote in its report. 'Siesta Beach is also known for its pristine surroundings, free from large developments, which helps preserve its natural beauty.' It's not the first time Siesta Beach has received wide recognition. In February, the destination on Florida's Gulf Coast was named the No. 1 beach in the country. In those rankings, the review website Tripadvisor called the beach a fan favorite due to its clear water, seashells and proximity to other attractions, McClatchy News reported. 'The beach has lifeguards on duty, while the relaxing town offers nearby cafes and oyster bars all within walking or biking distance,' Tripadvisor wrote in its report. 'Visitors can spot wildlife like manatees and dolphins while on kayaking tours, and enjoy beautiful sunsets from the soft sand beach.' On the latest list, the world's top-ranked beach was Cala Goloritze, located on the Italian island of Sardinia. This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM. SJ Simone Jasper The News & Observer Go to X Email this person 919-836-5768 Simone Jasper is a reporter covering breaking stories for The News & Observer and real-time news in the Carolinas.
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Two lottery tickets worth over $400,000 win a day apart in NC. What to know
National Two lottery tickets worth over $400,000 win a day apart in NC. What to know Two lottery tickets worth over $400,000 were sold in North Carolina. sjasper@ Two lottery players scored $400,000 prizes just one day apart in North Carolina. One player hit the jackpot in the Wheel of Bonuses game, while the other won big in a Carolina Cash 5 drawing. Here's what the N.C. Education Lottery shared about the winning tickets: $461,435 Wheel of Bonuses ticket sold online to a Raleigh player $431,069 Cash 5 ticket sold at B&M Food Service in Pineville, near Charlotte The Wheel of Bonuses winner kicked off the lucky stretch Sunday, May 4. The person spent 50 cents on their ticket, which matched enough symbols to win big in the digital instant game, lottery officials wrote on their website and X, formerly known as Twitter. A lucky NC Lottery player with a Cash 5 ticket from B&M Food Service on Lancaster Highway in Pineville matched all 5 numbers to win a $431,069 jackpot in yesterday's drawing! Congratulations to the winner! — NC Education Lottery (@nclottery) May 6, 2025 In the past, a spokesperson told McClatchy News the lottery can't pinpoint where players are when they try their luck on digital instant games. But officials know the person who bought the winning ticket lives in Raleigh. A day after that win, the Cash 5 player's ticket matched all the numbers picked in the May 5 drawing. That person beat 1-in-962,598 odds to score the top prize in the rolling jackpot game, results show. The winning numbers: 3-4-14-36-37. As of early May 6, the two prizes remained unclaimed. Winners of both games have about six months to cash in, lottery officials wrote on their website and in an email to McClatchy News. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. SJ Simone Jasper The News & Observer Go to X Email this person 919-836-5768 Simone Jasper is a reporter covering breaking stories for The News & Observer and real-time news in the Carolinas.
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Powerball player reads about big win — and discovers she has the lucky ticket
National Powerball player reads about big win — and discovers she has the lucky ticket A North Carolina woman reading about a big Powerball win discovered that she had the lucky ticket. N.C. Education Lottery A Powerball player read about a big win in a North Carolina newspaper — and discovered she had the lucky ticket. 'We have never won anything like this before,' Megan Sikora-Stypolkowski told the North Carolina Education Lottery in a May 5 news release. Sikora-Stypolkowski scored the $150,000 prize after she played Powerball online. She was in the Raleigh suburb of Wake Forest when she spent $3 on a Quick Pick ticket, meaning the lottery chose her numbers at random. It turns out, her ticket matched all but one number picked in the April 21 drawing, just missing the jackpot. Since she spent an extra dollar on the Power Play option, her $50,000 prize tripled to $150,000, McClatchy News reported. A lucky NC Lottery player won $150,000 in last night's Powerball drawing with a ticket from Online Play! Congrats on the win! — NC Education Lottery (@nclottery) April 22, 2025 When the lucky player was searching for the drawing results online, she stumbled upon The News & Observer's story about an unclaimed Powerball ticket. 'I was with my coworker at the time and I said, 'Wouldn't that be funny if it was me,'' said Sikora-Stypolkowski, who lives in Raleigh. Her prize was no joke, and she kept $107,626 after taxes. The big winner now plans to go on a trip with her family, according to lottery officials. What to know about Powerball To score the jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball. The odds of scoring the jackpot prize are 1 in 292,201,338. Tickets can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times and price vary by state. Drawings are broadcast Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed online. Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. SJ Simone Jasper The News & Observer Go to X Email this person 919-836-5768 Simone Jasper is a reporter covering breaking stories for The News & Observer and real-time news in the Carolinas.
