Friday night’s drawing for the Mega Millions lottery game will be for an estimated $400 million. Mary Neubauer, spokesperson for the Iowa Lottery, says “It’s the second largest jackpot in the history of the Mega Millions game and it’s number five on the list of the world’s largest jackpots.” There was no jackpot winner in Tuesday’s drawing, meaning a winner tomorrow (Friday) could choose a $400 million annuity or a cash option of just over $216 million. A Mega Millions jackpot hasn’t been won since October 1st.

The game is offered in 43 states. A lot of Iowans will be buying tickets for the drawing, which falls on a Friday the 13th, which some might associate with bad luck. “We’re choosing to think of this Friday as ‘lucky Friday the 13th,'” Neubauer says. She also notes that big lottery jackpots have become somewhat of a tradition around the holidays.  “This is the fourth year in row where there has been a big jackpot at holiday time. Obviously, we’re not planning that out, that’s just how it’s happened,” Neubauer says. “It’s just interesting that on top of the holiday rush, we’re adding the jackpot mania in there too.”

Although there wasn’t a single ticket matching all five numbers in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing, more than 37-thousand (37,000) tickets purchase in Iowa won prizes. “Those ranged from just $1 for matching the Mega Ball by itself — up to $5,000 with those folks matched four of the first five numbers,” Neubauer said.

Ticket sales for Friday’s drawing end at 8:59 p.m. that day.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The governor has filled a judgeship opening in Iowa’s 5th Judicial District. The office of Gov. Terry Branstad said Wednesday that he selected Jeffrey Farrell to become a district court judge. Counties in the 5th District are Adair, Adams, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Guthrie, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Polk, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Warren and Wayne.

Farrell is chief administrative law judge at the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Farrell fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Christopher McDonald to the Iowa Court of Appeals.

Authorities in Red Oak report the arrest early this (Thursday) morning of a Clarinda man. 19-year old Christian Lane Clark Latham was taken into custody following a traffic stop at around 1:45-a.m. near the intersection  of West Maple and North Broadway Streets, in Red Oak. An investigation determined Latham was driving with a revoked license. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.