A Powerball ticket sold in Iowa nearly claimed a share of Saturday’s massive jackpot. Iowa Lottery officials say the ticket, purchased at a Hy-Vee in Marion, came within one number of sharing the $559.7 million jackpot. Instead, the holder of the ticket that matched four of the first five numbers and the Powerball will claim a prize of $50,000.

The Powerball jackpot was won with a ticket purchased in New Hampshire, while Friday’s $450 million Mega Millions jackpot was won with a ticket purchased in Florida. This weekend marked the first time the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots were simultaneously above the $400 million mark.

The winning numbers in Saturday’s Powerball jackpot drawing were: 12-29-30-33-61 and Powerball 26. The Power Play number was 3. The winning numbers in Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing were: 28-30-39-59-70 and Mega Ball 10. The Megaplier number was 3.

(Radio Iowa)

A woman from Pottawattamie County was the driver of a vehicle involved in a three-vehicle accident Sunday  evening, in north central Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says 20-year old Carli Jo Fenn, of Carson, was driving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am that slipped onto the south shoulder while traveling east on Highway 20, in Hardin County.

Fenn over-corrected, which sent the car into the median and onto the west bound lane. In that lane, the car struck a 2016 Toyota Highlander SUV, and a 2015 Ford pickup. The accident happened at around 4:35-p.m.

The driver of the SUV, 52-year old David Pietan, of Johnston, was injured in the crash and transported by Ackley Ambulance to a hospital in Iowa Falls. Neither Fenn, nor the driver of the pickup, 22-year old Jordan Ingram, of Oelwein, were injured.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and E-Squad, Ackley Fire/Ambulance, and Steamboat Fire/Ambulance.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

MERRIMACK, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire lottery official says he’s looking forward to meeting the winner of a $559.7 million Powerball lottery jackpot sold in Merrimack. New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre says someone woke up a multimillionaire this morning. Officials say the jackpot was initially estimated at $570 million, but the actual jackpot at the time of the Saturday drawing was the lesser amount. The winning numbers drawn Saturday night were 12-29-30-33-61 and Powerball 26

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents isn’t expected to make a final decision on tuition increases at the state’s three public universities until June. The Des Moines Register reports that will leave students with only a few weeks to make financial plans before the start of the next academic year. The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have proposed tuition hikes ranging from 1.75 to 11.7 percent over the next five years.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ice fishing is now open on DeSoto Lake from now through the end of February. The DeStoto National Wildlife Refuge says it’s up to individual anglers to determine whether the ice is safe each day. A general guideline is 4 inches of clear and solid ice at a minimum for foot travel and ice fishing. The refuge’s visitor center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on federal holidays.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers return to the state Capitol on Monday with a to-do list ranging from overhauling state taxes to possibly addressing issues with the privatized Medicaid program.

Few details have been shared publicly about a tax proposal, though Gov. Kim Reynolds will give more information in her upcoming Condition of the State address. Any tax legislation would come on the heels of a federal tax law that state budget officials are still reviewing.

Medicaid, the health care program for poor and disabled Iowans, is expected to be debated because of ongoing complaints from health care providers and patients about reduced services. Reynolds has been steadfast about her support for privatization.

Republicans, entering a second year of complete statehouse control, will work amid another budget crunch and a looming election year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents isn’t expected to make a final decision on tuition increases at the state’s three public universities until June. The Des Moines Register reports that will leave students with only a few weeks to make financial plans before the start of the next academic year.

Presidents at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have proposed tuition hikes ranging from 1.75 to 11.7 percent over the next five years.

For the past two years, regents have set tuition rates in December, but have had to approve additional hikes right before the start of the academic year. Regents spokesman Josh Lehman says the board doesn’t want that to happen this time.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ice fishing is now open on DeSoto Lake from now through the end of February. The DeStoto National Wildlife Refuge says it’s up to individual anglers to determine whether the ice is safe each day. A general guideline is 4 inches of clear and solid ice at a minimum for foot travel and ice fishing.

The refuge’s visitor center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on federal holidays. Visitors can see the lake from inside the center. In recent days, eagles, ducks, swans and geese have been seen from the visitor center. The center also has bird feeders that attract an array of birds.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located north of Omaha, near Missouri Valley, Iowa and Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors is set to hold another special session dealing with budget requests. The meeting is set to take place 9-a.m. Monday (Jan. 8th) in their courthouse courtroom/boardroom. Department Heads Scheduled to present their budget requests for FY 2019 include:

• VA Director Rick Schaecher, who will also present an Opiod Engagement Agreement
• Sheriff Jeff Vandewater
• RC & D
• County Engineer Nick Kauffman, who will also present his regular weekly report
• County Recorder Janelle Scheider
• and County Auditor Mindy Schaefer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One Powerball ticket sold in New Hampshire has matched all six numbers and will claim a $570 million grand prize. The winning numbers drawn Saturday night to claim the nation’s seventh largest jackpot were 12-29-30-33-61 and Powerball 26. A Powerball winner may choose to receive the jackpot in 30 annual payments or a one-time, lump-sum cash payment.

The winning ticket was drawn one day after a single Mega Millions ticket purchased in Florida matched all six numbers to claim $450 million. The odds of winning Powerball are one in 292.2 million. The odds of winning Mega Millions are one in 302.5 million.

The Cass County Democratic Party will hold its mid-term Caucus on Monday, February 5, 2018. Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle reports all 13 precincts will hold their caucus at the same location, at the Cass County Court House in Atlantic.

Registration begins at 6 PM with the caucus starting at 7 PM. Attendees must be in line or signed in by 7 PM in order to participate. Only registered Democrats can be involved in the caucus. Toelle says “If you have yet to register to vote or you want to change your party affiliation, you can do so at the caucus,” where “You meet with your neighbors to discuss the issues and the candidates most important to you. You also have the opportunity to help direct the manner in which the Democratic Party functions in Cass County by being elected as a Delegate or Alternate to the county convention or by being elected as a precinct committee person to the County Central Committee.”

There is a three-fold purpose to this year’s caucus: to discuss and adopt proposed resolutions to the county platform, to elect Delegates and Alternates to the county convention, and to elect precinct committee persons to the county central committee. Toelle said this year’s elections are different from previous years, in that “We have seven Democrats running for Governor and for the Third District Congressional seat. In order for a nominee to be elected during the primary in June, a candidate must receive 35% of the popular vote. If no one candidate does so, then the candidates face off at special district and state conventions. What that means is that delegates elected at the county convention could be the ones to directly nominate their gubernatorial or congressional candidates.”

All county Democrats are encouraged to attend and participate in the caucus. Contact Chair Sherry Toelle at 243-4861 if you have questions regarding the caucus.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — It’s been a billion-dollar lottery weekend after a lone Powerball ticket sold in New Hampshire matched all six numbers and will claim a $570 million jackpot, one day after another single ticket sold in Florida nabbed a $450 million Mega Millions grand prize. The winning Powerball numbers drawn Saturday night were 12-29-30-33-61 and Powerball 26. The Powerball jackpot was the nation’s seventh largest.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new report says Iowa’s controversial shift to privately-managed Medicaid will save the state 80 percent less money this year than originally predicted. The Des Moines Register reported Saturday that a quarterly report prepared by Iowa Department of Human Services staff members says the state now stands to save $47.1 million this fiscal year by having private companies manage the $4 billion program. Former Gov. Terry Branstad had declared the move would save the state $232 million this year.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in north-central Iowa say no children where hurt when a window of their moving school bus was shot out. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the incident happened in Forest City on Friday morning, when the window shattered after being hit by a shot from a pellet gun. A statement from the Forest City School District said all children were safe and that no injuries resulted from the shooting or flying glass.