BOSTON (AP) — The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to an estimated $800 million with a cash option of $401.8 million for Tuesday’s drawing after no one matched all the winning numbers for Friday night’s drawing.
The jackpot was last won in Illinois on June 4 with a ticket valued at $552 million.
Only two Mega Millions jackpots have been won so far this year. Before the Illinois winning ticket, a $1.1 billion winning ticket was purchased in New Jersey in March. That prize is still unclaimed. Winners in New Jersey have one year to claim their winnings.
Tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are conducted at 11 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets are $2 each. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each Mega Millions ticket remains in the state where the ticket was sold.
The odds of winning the jackpot are one in more than 302 million. The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24.
The top Mega Millions jackpot ticket — $1.6 billion — was sold in Florida in August of last year.
Austin, Texas (AP) — Texas has sued the Biden administration to block a federal rule that shields the medical records of women from criminal investigations if they cross state lines to seek abortion where it is legal.
The lawsuit, filed against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seeks to overturn a regulation finalized in April. In the suit, Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the federal government of trying to “undermine” the state’s law enforcement abilities. This appears to be the first legal challenge from a state with an abortion ban that took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, ending the nationwide right to abortion.
The rule prevents state or local officials from gathering medical records related to reproductive health care for civil, criminal, or administrative investigations from providers or health insurers in states where abortion is legal. Its goal is to protect women living in states where abortion is illegal.
In a statement, HHS declined to comment on the lawsuit but said the rule “stands on its own.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to protecting reproductive health privacy and ensuring that no woman’s medical records are used against her, her doctor, or her loved one simply because she got the lawful reproductive care she needed,” the agency said.
Texas’ abortion ban exempts women seeking abortions from criminal charges. However, it enforces the ban through private civil action or under the state’s criminal statutes, with penalties of up to life in prison for anyone assisting a woman in obtaining an abortion.
It’s unclear whether public officials have sought medical records related to abortion. However, the state has previously sought records related to gender-affirming care, demanding them from at least two out-of-state health centers last year. Texas, like many Republican-controlled states, bans gender-affirming care for minors.
At least 22 Democratic-controlled states have laws or executive orders that protect medical providers or patients involved in abortion from investigations by law enforcement in states with bans.
The federal regulation is an update to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which generally prohibits medical providers and insurers from divulging patient information. However, law enforcement can typically access these records for investigations.
A group of Republican attorneys general from states with strict abortion laws urged HHS to abandon the rule when a draft was released last year. They argued that the regulation unlawfully interferes with states’ authority to enforce their laws.
Paxton said in a news release, “With this rule, the Biden Administration makes a backdoor attempt at weakening Texas’s laws by undermining state law enforcement investigations that implicate medical procedures.”
Liz McCaman Taylor, senior federal policy counselor at the Center for Reproductive Rights, noted that federal law has long provided enhanced protection for sensitive health information. “But Texas is suing now, not because of its concern with state sovereignty, but because of its hostility to reproductive health,” she said.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — For decades, we’ve been hearing about the possibility of a high-speed train that would take passengers from Houston to Dallas.
It would be the first of its kind — a Japanese-style bullet train that could take you from Houston to Dallas in less than an hour and a half.
The federal government has now awarded Amtrak $64 million to move forward with the project.
It’s nowhere close to the tens of billions the project is expected to cost, but it is a start.
“It’s one of those things that I’ll believe it when I see it,” Ed Emmett, a fellow of Energy and Transportation at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said. “Generally, I roll my eyes because I first was hearing about Texas high-speed rail, I guess, way back in the 1970’s.”
The proposed route would have one stop, between College Station and Huntsville, to pick up university traffic.
The train would have to go through rural counties, but buying private land to do so has been expensive and complicated in the past.
“You have a lot of property rights people that are upset. High-speed rail can get around that by using eminent domain, but it’s going to cost a lot of money and take a lot of time and court battles,” Emmett said. “High-speed rail really hasn’t gone in anywhere else in the country. The one in California is at least double the cost it was planned.”
We can all agree, however, that Texas is growing quickly, and transportation will eventually need to expand, too.
Researchers are taking a serious look into the chemical found in so-called “magic mushrooms” and how it could potentially help treat depression.
Psilocybin, the chemical found in psychedelic mushrooms, is the subject of a study by UT Health Houston to determine if it is effective in fighting depression in those who cannot find help with currently approved medications.
“They have tried two to four different antidepressants and nothing has worked. So the idea is psilocybin — with adequate psychological support before, during and after — can make a difference for these people,” said Dr. Thomas Meyer, Ph.D.
Meyer is a professor of psychiatry at UTHealth Houston.
He and colleagues around the world are now looking for volunteers to take part in the study. Participants must have diagnosed depression, have tried other medications without success and be at least 18 years of age to participate in the study.
Researchers will give volunteers a single 25-milligram dose in a strict clinical setting. About one-third of the volunteers will receive a placebo.
Researchers say psilocybin impacts how the brain processes serotonin.
“What is seems to do is it downregulates specific parts of the brain which opens us up to making new connections and learning. It seems to affect the brain system that has to do with ourselves and how we see the world,” Dr. Meyer said.
ABC News spoke to a Colorado mom who took the drug and described the effects like this.
“I guess relief might be one word that like everyone could, like, universally understand. Your mood might change to a place where you feel stable, and more in a place of stasis,” said Tracey Tee, who created Moms on Mushrooms following her experience.
It’s important to note that the treatment is still in trial stages and has not been approved for use by the FDA.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The “King” has reentered the building.
On Friday, the Houston Astros announced they activated Kyle Tucker from the 60-day injured list and confirmed that the All-Star outfielder would be in the lineup when the club faces the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Astros said they optioned rookie infielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land and designated pitcher Parker Mushinski for assignment to make room for Tucker on the roster.
The 27-year-old’s return has been a long time coming since he went down with what was originally called a shin contusion on June 3 when a foul ball hit his leg while batting. What was initially labeled a weeks-long absence turned into three months. Tucker revealed this week that the team found a small fracture in his shin.
Since then, the Astros added veteran depth to the outfield, claiming former a New York Met, Ben Gamel, and signing Jason Heyward from free agency.
Before the injury, Tucker was cruising with 19 home runs and 40 runs batted in during his first 60 games, leading him to enter the American League MVP conversation. Despite the injury, Tucker earned his third All-Star nod in 2024.
Entering Friday’s series opener, Houston is 75-65 and 4.5 games up on Seattle for the AL West lead, with 22 games remaining.
WASHINGTON – Allan Lichtman, a historian known for correctly forecasting 9 out of the last 10 U.S. presidential elections, has announced his prediction for the 2024 race. According to Lichtman, Vice President Kamala Harris is his choice to reclaim the White House.
Lichtman, who developed a unique system based on thirteen “keys” or true-false questions, says these indicators help measure the strength and performance of the White House party. His prediction was first reported by The New York Times.
Who is Allan Lichtman?
Lichtman, a distinguished professor at American University in Washington, D.C., holds a Ph.D. in modern American history from Harvard University. He is well-known for his election forecasts and has authored numerous books and academic articles. Lichtman has also served as an expert witness in civil and voting rights cases.
What are the 13 keys?
Lichtman’s 13 keys assess factors such as the state of the economy, the presence of scandals, and the charisma of the incumbent party’s candidate. Some of the keys include:
Whether the White House party gained seats during midterms
Whether the sitting president is seeking re-election
The strength of the economy, both short and long-term
Whether there is a major foreign policy success or failure
The presence of a charismatic candidate
In Lichtman’s analysis, eight of these keys currently favor Harris, while only three support former President Donald Trump. However, he acknowledged the possibility of changes in foreign policy, particularly regarding the Biden administration’s involvement in the Gaza conflict.
“If foreign policy keys flip, it could affect the outcome,” Lichtman said. However, with only five negative keys, he still predicts a Harris victory.
Track record
Lichtman’s prediction method has been remarkably accurate over the last several decades, with the exception of the 2000 election when George W. Bush defeated Al Gore. Despite the close race that year, Lichtman’s system has otherwise correctly anticipated every presidential winner since the 1980s.
He concluded by urging voters to take part in the upcoming election, saying, “The outcome is up to you, so get out and vote.”
AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) — Talk to a Texas homeowner; no matter where they live, one thing could be in common.
“Property tax owners need relief,” Ronnie Kirkwood said. “Property taxes are way too high. They’ve been way too high for a long time.”
“Their property taxes are high, and what are you going to do? It is what it is,” Brittney Hughley said.
This week, a group of lawmakers learned what it would take to eliminate property taxes. About $80 billion in property taxes are collected.
The state uses that money for schools, infrastructure, and other projects. To replace the property taxes, the Texas Taxpayers and Researchers Association said the state’s sales tax figure would have to more than double by more than 20%.
“Any proposal to raise sales taxes outside of doing so indirectly by removing some targeted exemptions is another policy that’s dead on arrival this session,” Rice University political science professor Mark Jones said.
Jones added that while lawmakers may not eliminate property taxes, reducing them will be a priority this upcoming session. Jones said you may not have to worry about a rising sales tax.
Instead, he said a push to bring casinos could be the answer.
“That provides a revenue source that presently isn’t on stream that would provide revenue in perpetuity that could fund property tax relief not just for one or two years or three or four years but for decades,” Jones said.
The Tax Foundation said Texas has the sixth highest property tax rates in the country. Last year, $82 billion were collected. The state collected half of that amount at $45 billion a decade ago.
Experts said rising property prices have dramatically increased revenue, which would make it hard to eliminate. Relief, though, is a common theme among homeowners we talked to.
“Think about all the homeowners out there and the regular person and the economy – how it affects everybody right now,” Hughley said.
“Let’s lower them some more,” Kirkwood said. “That’s what we need to do.”
It appears gambling could be something Texans get behind. Earlier this year, the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundationfound nearly 60% of Texans support resort-style casinos.
It’s a figure political experts said will be on lawmakers’ minds when they meet next year to discuss property tax relief.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule is set to return to Earth unpiloted overnight Friday, marking the final chapter of a problematic test flight that has spanned 92 days instead of the planned one week. The spacecraft’s hatch was closed Thursday at 1:29 p.m. EDT, as astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who launched aboard the Starliner in June, remained aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The Starliner is scheduled to undock from the ISS at 6 p.m. EDT Friday, after which its braking rockets will fire for about 59 seconds to initiate re-entry. The capsule is expected to land just after midnight at White Sands, New Mexico, with Boeing and NASA recovery teams on standby.
While the Starliner returns home, Wilmore and Williams will remain aboard the ISS until February, when they are scheduled to return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon. By then, the astronauts will have spent 262 days in space.
During her final preparations aboard the Starliner, Williams remarked on the bittersweet moment of packing up the spacecraft. “We want to make sure she’s in good shape,” she said, adding that the team was doing their best to ensure a smooth landing.
Boeing initially expected Wilmore and Williams to be aboard the Starliner for its return to Earth, concluding the capsule’s first piloted test flight. However, after helium leaks were detected in the propulsion system and five maneuvering jets malfunctioned during the ship’s rendezvous with the ISS, Boeing and NASA faced critical decisions.
Despite extensive testing that led Boeing engineers to conclude the Starliner was safe for a crewed return, NASA disagreed. NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free explained that Boeing and NASA viewed the risks differently, ultimately deciding there was too much uncertainty to bring the astronauts back aboard the Starliner.
The malfunctioning jets are crucial for maneuvering the spacecraft away from the space station and keeping it stable during its descent. Though more powerful thrusters are used for re-entry, the smaller reaction control jets ensure the capsule stays on the correct trajectory.
“Spaceflight is hard. The margins are thin,” said Norm Knight, director of flight operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “And we have to be right.”
After an eleventh-hour plea followed by hours of legal wrangling on Thursday, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine tax-related charges, avoiding a lengthy and potentially embarrassing trial for President Joe Biden’s son.
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi accepted Hunter Biden’s guilty plea on all the tax-related charges he faced after being indicted in December. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 16.
Judge Scarsi said Hunter Biden faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.35 million.
“Do you agree that you committed every element of every crime alleged in the indictment?” Judge Scarsi asked.
“Yes,” Hunter Biden replied before pleading guilty to each count.
This development raised the possibility of a presidential pardon, despite President Biden’s previous assurance that he would not grant his son clemency.
Prosecutors had accused Hunter Biden in December of a four-year scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes while spending large sums on luxury items such as cars, clothing, and hotels.
Hunter Biden initially pleaded not guilty to a nine-count indictment, including six misdemeanor charges of failure to pay, one felony tax evasion charge, and two felony charges of filing false returns. However, on Thursday, just before jury selection was to begin, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, announced his intention to submit an “Alford plea.” This plea would allow Hunter Biden to plead guilty without acknowledging guilt for the underlying conduct, but prosecutors opposed this. Consequently, Hunter Biden entered a traditional guilty plea.
In pleading guilty, Hunter Biden avoided what could have been a grueling trial, during which his personal struggles and business ventures would have been scrutinized. Special counsel David Weiss’ office had planned to call over two dozen witnesses, including Hunter Biden’s ex-wife.
Hunter Biden, dressed in a dark suit, expressed understanding of the consequences of his plea in court. His attorney, Lowell, stated that Hunter Biden decided to plead guilty to protect his loved ones from unnecessary pain and humiliation. Lowell criticized the government’s case, likening it to issues faced by many Americans who file taxes late. He also suggested Hunter Biden was keeping his options for appeal open.
Hunter Biden’s 56-page indictment detailed his avoidance of paying taxes, with claims that he spent his money on drugs, escorts, luxury items, and failed to pay taxes despite having the means to do so. Though Hunter Biden eventually paid his back taxes with help from a third party, Judge Scarsi ruled this information irrelevant to the case.
Hunter Biden issued a statement following the hearing, expressing regret for the pain he caused his family and acknowledging that he had been clean and sober for more than five years.
Last June, Hunter Biden had agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor offenses for failing to pay taxes in 2017 and 2018, but that deal fell apart during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika. Later, Hunter Biden was convicted on three felony charges related to a firearm purchase while allegedly addicted to drugs. His sentencing for those charges is scheduled for Nov. 13.
AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Police in the Denver suburb of Aurora say a Venezuela street gang with a small presence in the city has not taken over a rundown apartment complex — yet the allegation continues to gain steam among conservatives and was amplified by former President Donald Trump in a Wednesday Fox News town hall where he said Venezuelans were “taking over the whole town.”
The unsubstantiated allegation gained momentum following last month’s dissemination of video from a resident in the complex that showed armed men knocking on an apartment door, intensifying fears the Tren de Aragua gang was in control of the six-building complex
Aurora is a diverse city that has long grappled with crime and gangs, and police said they have so far linked 10 people to Tren de Aragua and arrested six of them, including the suspects in a July attempted homicide.
But in a visit to the apartments where the armed men were filmed, interim Aurora police chief Heather Morris said gang members had not taken over and weren’t collecting rent. The remarks came after Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said that “criminal elements” had taken over some unspecified buildings and were extorting residents.
In a Facebook post, Coffman said apartment manager CBZ Management told him that tenants were being forced to pay rent to gang members.
After residents held a news conference to speak out against the claims, Coffman, a Republican and former congressman, conceded he was “not sure where the truth is in all of this.” In an interview this week with Denver7 TV station, Coffman said the narrative that all of Aurora was unsafe was not true and harmful to the economic health of the rapidly growing city of more than 400,000 people.
Coffman wasn’t immediately available Thursday to speak about the situation.
Trump has sought to capitalize on concerns over immigration as he seeks a second term in November. At Wednesday night’s town hall, he repeated his call for mass deportations after overstating the gang situation in Aurora.
“Take a look at Aurora in Colorado, where Venezuelans are taking over the whole town, they’re taking over buildings, the whole town,” Trump said. “You saw it the other day they’re knocking down doors and occupying apartments of people.”
Among the nearly 1 million Venezuelan migrants who entered the U.S. in recent years were suspected gang members tied to police shootings, human trafficking and other crimes — yet there’s no evidence that the gang has set up an organizational structure in the U.S., Jeremy McDermott, the Colombia-based co-director of InSight Crime, told the Associated Press this summer. He published a recent report on Tren de Aragua’s expansion.
Many of the immigrants from Venezuela and other Latin American countries who live in the Aurora complex say there are no gangs there, and they are being unfairly painted as criminals.
They pinned blame on New York-based CBZ Management for refusing to take care of bedbugs, rodents and constant water leaks despite monthly rent costing $1,200 or more. They fear they will be evicted like residents last month in a nearby apartment complex also run by CBZ that city deemed uninhabitable.
“The only criminal here is the owner of the building,” Moises Didenot, who is from Venezuela, said Tuesday through a translator at a news conference in a dusty courtyard at the complex
He showed reporters some mice he recently caught on sticky traps in the basement apartment he shares with his wife and 11-year-old daughter. Only two of the burners on their stove work, their ceiling fan is missing a blade and as soon as they clean their bathtub, mold quickly creeps back, he said.
CBZ didn’t immediately return a telephone call seeking comment, and phone numbers listed for two apartment buildings owned by CBZ in Aurora were disconnected.
Aurora officials said in an Aug. 30 social media post that they were taking the Venezuela gang’s presence seriously and indicated more arrests were expected. They also said they would “continue to address the problems that the absentee, out-of-state owners of these properties have allowed to fester unchecked.”
The video helping fuel the unsubstantiated allegation showed armed men, including one holding a long gun, climbing up the stairs and knocking on an apartment door. The former residents who filmed it told KDVR-TV it was taken before a shooting at the complex on Aug. 18 in which the victim later died.
An Aurora Police Department spokesperson, Sydney Edwards, said that police have been in possession of the video and seized evidence seen in it. She said she could not comment further about an ongoing investigation.
Aurora police have also announced a task force with local, state and federal enforcement agencies to specifically address concerns about Tren de Aragua and other criminal activity affecting migrant communities.
