Powerball Winning Numbers December 23: Any $227 Million Jackpot Winners ...

Winning LOTTERY Ball Appears Before Its Drawn - Powerball EuroMillions

Do you have the winning Powerball numbers for December 23? Check your ticket and see if you are the winner of Wednesday night"s $227 million jackpot. "Tis the season to be extra jolly if you match all six numbers and become the lottery"s newest mega-millionaire.

Scroll down for tonight"s winning Powerball numbers andsome information about the lottery"s cash option vs. 30-year annuity payment options for jackpot winners.

It"s been almost two months since the Powerball jackpot was given away. If there is no winner tonight, the jackpot will increase to approximately $250 million for the next drawing on December 26.

The winning Powerball numbers for December 23 are:16-38-55-63-67 PB 25 PowerPlay X4

If you end up beating the 1 in 259 million odds and win the $227 million jackpot tonight, it"s important to sign your ticket and put it in a safe place before you start celebrating.

When you present the winning ticket at your state"s lottery headquarters (hopefully with an attorney by your side), you will be given two optionsto receive your windfall a lump-sum payment or an annuity.

Lump-Sum Payment: A one-time payment will be based on the cash value of the jackpot $141 million. According to USA Mega, the lump-sum payment would be about $105,750,000 after 25 percent in federal taxes are deducted. Check here to see if your state taxes lottery winnings. If so, that percentage will be deducted from your payment as well.

30-Year Annuity: Jackpot winners who choose this option will get 30 annual payments of approximately $5,675,000 each after federal taxes. The annuity is based on the entire $227 million jackpot.

Business Insider has some helpful tips on how to choose between a one-time cash payout and annuity. However, if you are tonight"s jackpot winner, contact a financial adviser to get the proper advice that applies to your situation.

Watch the Powerball drawings live every Wednesday and Saturday night at 11 p.m. ET on one of these TV stations or by downloading the handy (and free) LotteryHub app for your iPhone or Android device.

Source: http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2015/12/23/powerball-winning-numbers-december-23-1

Continue Reading ..

[UPDATE] Ventura Fire Shuts Down Freeway Between Carpinteria and Ventura

Ventura County Fire Crew

Mike Eliason/ Santa Barbara Co Fire

Sixty-percent contained as of Saturday evening, the Solimar Fire burned 1,250 acres at its height mid-afternoon Saturday.

Motorists Detoured to Highways 150 and 33; Aerial Battle Against Solimar BlazeEscalates

Originally published 10:07 a.m., December 26, 2015Updated 3:44 p.m., December 26, 2015

[Update, 3:43p.m.]

Downed power lines on private property caused the Solimar Fire, Ventura County Fire public information officer Mike Lindbery told The Santa Barbara Independent. As the Ventura County Star reported, high winds knocked down the power lines, which were located north of Solimar Beach. Authorities plan to open the Pacific Coast Highway, as well as lift the evacuations for the Solimar Beach community and Faria Beach area, at around 5:00 p.m. Saturday, saidLindbery.

RayFord

[Update, 2:00p.m.]

Highway 101 is open in both directions, according to Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. Approximately 600 firefighters are still on the roughly 1,200-acre fire, according to Ventura County officials, and the public is advised to be aware of equipment working in thearea.

[Update, 11:51a.m.]

Northbound drivers planning to take Highway 101 through the Solimar area are advised to take the I-5 or highways 150 or 166 instead. Highway 101 remains closed between Carpinteria and Ventura due to a brush fire that began around midnight. The southbound lanes are estimated to open at 12:30 p.m. today, according toCaltrans.

RayFord

Hillsides midday Saturday after the fire made a pass throughSolimar.

According to the Ventura County Emergency Information website, an emergency shelter has been established at the Red Cross in Carpinteria, 941 Walnut Avenue for evacuees from Solimar Beach and campgrounds, and also Faria Beachresidents.

[Update, 11:23a.m.]

According to Ventura County Fire public information officer Mike Lindbery, the only available fixed-wing fire aircraft in southern California is dropping fire retardant on the blaze. Due to the rocky and slide-prone terrain in the canyon where the Solimar Fire is burning, its difficult getting a good handline established now, Lindbery said. Its difficult to get a nice clean fire break. Trains started traveling slowly through the area again around 10 a.m. Saturdaymorning.

Personnel are hoping to get some lanes open this afternoon on Highway 101 northbound and southbound between Carpinteria and Ventura, but Lindbery asks those drivers detoured to Highways 150 and 33 to please be patient while traveling through those very treacherousroads.

[OriginalStory]

Because of a 1,200-acre fire that broke out late Christmas night 10 miles north of Ventura, authorities have blocked off Highway 101 between Carpinteria and Ventura for the time being. Motorists are being diverted to Highway 150 and Highway 33. As of this writing, holiday traffic has remained relatively light and aside from a few 18-wheelers forced to lumber up Highway 150 the impact on the smaller winding roads has not beengreat.

RayFord

SolimarFire

In addition, rail traffic along the coastal route has been interrupted until Ventura County firefighting officials determine its safe. Getting the freeway re-opened is one of our highest priorities, said Ventura County Fire public information officer Mike Lindbery. It remains uncertain when exactly that might be, but containment crews are aiming for late Saturday morning. In the meantime, crews are attacking vegetation along both sides of the 101 to eliminate firefuel.

For the time being, the fire appears boxed in between Highway 101, Highway 150, and Highway 33 with no place to go, reported longtime Independent fire correspondent Ray Ford, who is on the scene. But, he added, theres plenty of material within that box which he estimated to be three air-miles wide and 10 air-miles long to keep the 600 firefighters dispatched to the scenebusy.

RayFord

SolimarFire

At this point, the fire is sitting in box canyons on the mountainside of Highway 101, where handcrews and aircrews will focus their attack. The good news is that winds have died down considerably from the violent gusts hammering the hillsides with such force the night before that an extreme wind advisory was declared. Smoke from the fire is heading straight up into the air; to the extent its moving laterally, its out to sea. But that could change later today when windier conditions are expected. The concern is that it could head south further into Ventura and northern Los Angeles counties.

Early this morning, residents of the Solimar community about 30 homes were evacuated, as were visitors camping at the Emma Wood State Beach. Two helicopters dropped water on the fire through most of last night, but they were played out by the morning. Four copters have gone up since, and four fixed-wing aircrafts are reportedly on their way to drop fire retardant on the flames. To date, no homes have beenburned.

Three strike teams from Santa Barbara County Fire Department have been dispatched to the Solimar blaze, as well as one water tender, five engines, and one helicopter. Engines from the Carpinteria and Montecito departments have been dispatched as well. None, so far, have been sent from the City of Santa Barbara, nor have any beenrequested.

No cause for the fire has yet beendetermined.

Source: http://www.independent.com/news/2015/dec/26/ventura-fire-shuts-down-freeway-between-carp-and-v/

Continue Reading ..

Arsenal must sign players in January after Southampton loss, says Charlie Wyett

I Was Surprised Arsenal Let Us Control The Game says Saints Fan | Southampton 4 Arsenal 0

After losing to out-of-form Southampton, will Arsenal again fall short of the winning the Premier League?

Arsenal must strengthen their squad in January or risk history repeating itself by missing out on the Premier League title, according to the Sunday Supplement panel.

Arsene Wenger"s side were thrashed 4-0 at Southampton on Boxing Day, a result that cost the club the chance to move to the top of the table following Leicester"s defeat at Liverpool.

However, despite the setback at St Mary"s, Arsenal"s manager is too "stubborn" to make any significant purchases in January, according toThe Sun"s Football Editor Charlie Wyett.

"It must be so frustrating for Arsenal"s fans," Wyett said. "I saw Southampton the previous week against Tottenham and they were poor, without a win in five and it just appeared to be an away win all day long.

"It is just such a bad result for them and it once again illustrates that Arsenal need to sign players in the January transfer window, but it will not happen because Wenger is remarkably stubborn and that is why they have not won the title in over a decade.

"There have been occasions when they should have won it, but they have not strengthened. Two years ago, they needed a quality player and they signed Kim Kallstrom, who arrived injured after messing around on the beach in Dubai.

"And history is repeating itself and I just do not think that things are going to change."

It is not all doom and gloom though as far as Arsenal"s supporters are concerned, with the Gunners still possessing the quality to win this season"s title, according to Wyett.

"You look at this current Arsenal squad and it is arguably stronger than the Chelsea squad that won last season"s title," Wyett said. "But is it nasty enough?

"Surely you want one or two characters, with John Terry being the obvious example at Chelsea last season as someone who just gets them together and gives them a kick up the backside.

"I am not sure Arsenal have got that. They clearly have got the quality to still win the title, there is absolutely no doubt about that, but it is whether they have got that resilience, which we have seen a few times they have not always had?

"But then equally, they do have the ability to just blow teams out of the water, like they did against Olympiakos."

Source: http://www.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/sunday-supplement/news/10111258/arsenal-must-sign-players-in-january-after-southampton-loss-says-charlie-wyett

Continue Reading ..

Travel deals to bowl games open for WVU, Marshall football fans

Marshall University Football 2015 Intro Video
By Elaina Sauber, City of Charleston Reporter

As the Mountaineers and Thundering Herd gear up for their respective upcoming bowl games, ticket sales and travel packages have opened up to fans.

On Jan. 2, West Virginia University will take on Arizona State University in the 2016 Motel 6 Cactus Bowl, at Chase Field in Phoenix. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, which means a 10:15 p.m. kickoff for viewers in West Virginia.

The WVU Alumni Association and Mountaineer Athletic Club are offering a travel package for fans. It includes a three-night stay at Hyatt Regency Hotel, which is within walking distance of Chase Field; a WVU Welcome Reception and access to the Official WVU Pre-Game Party, according to PrimeSport, the official fan travel provider for the WVU Alumni Association. Prices start at $515 for a group of four to a room, and up to $875 for a single guest.

Airfare is not included in the travel package, said Kevin Berry, WVU Alumni Association associate director.

Fans are coming from all over the place, he said, such as Pittsburgh, Charleston and Washington, D.C. We decided with this, to focus on taking care of fans needs when they arrive in the Phoenix area.

Plane tickets from Yeager Airport in Charleston to Phoenix start at about $500.

Berry added that the alumni association is also planning additional fan-related activities during the stay, which runs from Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. Those will be outlined in an upcoming release, he said.

National Travel in Charleston is offering individualized travel deals for those who want to attend the game but have more flexibility in their travel options, representative Molly Murphy said.

Marshall Universitys football team will travel later this month to Florida for the St. Petersburg Bowl. The Thundering Herd will take on the University of Connecticut at 11 a.m. Dec. 26 at St. Petersburgs Tropicana Field.

Marshall Athletics is partnering with Anthony Travel to help fans book flights to St. Petersburg. Depending on the departure and return dates, tickets start as low as $280 for a round-trip flight from Charleston to Tampa, Florida.

Fans can make reservations at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, where the football team is also staying, for $219 per night. Visit anthonytravel.com/marshall-bowl for more information on reservations, and herdzone.com to purchase tickets to the game.

National Travel also is working with nearby hotels to offer lower rates for Herd fans, as well as Allegiant Airlines, a low-cost carrier, for cheap, direct flights out of Huntington.

Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.

Source: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151207/GZ01/151209598

Continue Reading ..

Powerball winning numbers drawn; Ohio Lottery results for Wednesday

How to win the Powerball Lottery

CLEVELAND, Ohio Powerball selected numbers Wednesday night for a $145 million jackpot.

The numbers are 7-10-16-46-56 Powerball 1 Powerplay 2x.

Classic Lotto"s jackpot increases to $16.2 million for Saturday after no tickets matched the winning numbers from Wednesday"s drawing. The numbers are 17-20-35-37-38-42 Kicker 424636.

Wednesday"swinning Ohio Lotterynumbersare:

Pick 3 evening: 151 (midday 207)

Pick 4 evening: 3954 (midday, 9148)

Pick 5 evening: 87739 (midday, 77262)

Rolling Cash 5: 1-15-33-37-39

Pick 3 winnersreceive $500 for a $1 straight bet and the odds of winning are 1-in-1,000.Pick 4 winnersreceive $5,000 for a $1 straight bet and the odds of winning are 1-in-10,000.

TheRolling Cash 5jackpot for the next drawing is $130,000 for hitting all five numbers and the odds of winning are 1-in-575,757.

Drawings for Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 are twice daily, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m. The drawing for the Rolling Cash 5 is each night at 7:35 p.m.

Classic Lottodraws at 7:05 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $1 ticket are 1-in-13,983,816.

Mega Millionsdraws on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $1 ticket are 1-in-258.9 million.

Powerballdraws on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $2 ticket are 1 in 175,223,510.

The official Ohio Lottery siteoffers more information on instant tickets, raffles and other lottery games.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/12/powerball_winning_numbers_draw_36.html

Continue Reading ..

Marshall football notebook: UConn"s Cummings has history with Herd

2014 Ultimate Marshall Thundering Herd Football Highlights

CLEARWATER, Fla. Mike Cummings has gotten back in the trenches with Marshall this week, as his Connecticut offensive line figures out how to block the Thundering Herds cat-quick defense.

Cummings serves as offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator. He coordinated the offense in 2014, before 31-year coaching veteran Frank Verducci was brought on to run the unit.

Cummings was hired at Marshall by coach Bob Pruett, who abruptly resigned shortly thereafter. Mark Snyder retained Cummings, who worked as an offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, throughout his 2005-09 tenure.

Diaco and Cummings were on the same Eastern Michigan staff in 2000-01, and Cummings ran the Central Michigan offense for four seasons before heading to UConn.

Hes a valuable staff member, Verducci said. Great communicator, great motivator, the Xs and Os speak for themselves.

Saturdays St. Petersburg Bowl will be Cummings fourth bowl game, including MUs 2009 appearance in Detroit.

Big man in booth

Anthony Becht wasnt hard to miss at Marshalls practice Wednesday at Clearwater. Hes still roughly 6-foot-6, but the former West Virginia great tight end appears lighter than his NFL-listed 270 pounds.

Becht is the color analyst on ESPNs broadcast Saturday, working with play-by-play man Tom Hart. Tiffany Greene will patrol the sidelines.

Not surprisingly, Becht renewed acquaintances with Herd coach Doc Holliday. Of course, Holliday was at WVU during Bechts time in Morgantown.

He came in there came in about a 200-pound tight end, believe it or not, or a wide receiver, Holliday recalled. He grew into being a tight end, and what a great career he had.z

Some inside knowledge

Athletic directors are paid to know about coaches, so Herd tight end Ryan Yurachek knew one brain to pick about Diaco father Hunter Yurachek, athletic director of UConn league rival Houston.

Hunter painfully knows of Diacos work, as the Huskies handed the Cougars their only loss this season.

Its funny. Hes not the greatest guy as far as football knowledge, in the world, Hunter Yurachek said of his dad. He started talking on the phone after we learned we were playing [UConn], and he doesnt know what hes talking about. Actually, after watching some film, some of what he was talking about is true.

If youre wondering, Ryan has a seat in the Peach Bowl to watch the Cougars play Florida State.

Home advantage, Huskies

During its extended stay in Pinellas County, UConn is enjoying finer practice digs at Calvary Christian High School. Marshall will have the second of its two practices today at Clearwater Central Catholic, about five miles to the south.

Calvarys nice stadium has a respectable weight room adjacent to its stadium, and the Huskies are using it. After their practice Wednesday, most players made a beeline to the room.

Marshall, which has the shorter stay of five days, is not lifting this week.

From a strength and conditioning piece, we try to keep the in-season development going, Diaco said. We dont believe in just a maintenance. We try to get stronger, faster and always get better there.

And if we can eat right and sleep and then keep that up, you like to think that down the stretch, into November and December, youll have a chance to be more physical in a game.

By at least one account, the Huskies have drawn the better team hotel in the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Hotel and Golf Club. MU is about nine blocks away at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront.

MU stayed at the Vinoy in 2011, and one of the two current players who made that trip remember it fondly. One of Marshalls first functions Tuesday was held there.

Just when we went to the [Vinoy] last time, I said, Yeah, this is the nice hotel, D.J. Hunter said. I wish we were in this hotel, still.

Coming attractions

As the teams wrap up their pre-bowl workouts today, they will enjoy their last big fun event of the week this afternoon, the Beach Bash in Madeira Beach. The travel parties went to Busch Gardens on Wednesday.

Both squads have a walk-through practice Friday at Tropicana Field, site of Saturdays 11 a.m. game.

Source: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/20151223/marshall-football-notebook-uconns-cummings-has-history-with-herd

Continue Reading ..

Complaints from customers as Lush website crashes as Boxing Day sales begin

LUSH CHRISTMAS MAIL VLOG!

Cosmetics firm Lush have been forced to take down their website due to technical problems on Boxing Day.

The Poole-based firm, who saw people queuing outside their Bournemouth store throughout the first day of their post-Christmas sale, tweeted around 11.30am to say their site had crashed.

Inundated with complaints from people halfway through their orders, the company later updated customers, just before 5pm, to say: "The website has temporarily been taken down for maintenance. We would like apologise for the disappointment caused by today"s issues."

The company say they are working to fix the problems as soon as possible.

Customers are being told the website is down while the issues are sorted. There is no estimated timeframe for it to be fixed at present.

More follows

Source: http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14168594.Complaints_from_customers_as_Lush_website_crashes_as_Boxing_Day_sales_begin/

Continue Reading ..