(Radio Iowa) – The Mega Millions estimated jackpot for tonight’s (Tuesday) drawing has been increased. Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says increased sales prompted the change. “The jackpot for Tuesday’s drawing at this point is an estimated 810 million dollars annuity 470-point-one million cash option. And I say at this point, because it’s really kind of into the unpredictable territory now,” Neubauer says.  She says sales pick up rapidly when jackpots hit this type of number. “And that causes the jackpot to be raised, sometimes in between drawings, just like what happened with this amount now. So by the time the drawing happens at 10 p-m, it may be even higher than it is now,” Neubauer says.

Neubauer says this jackpot would be the third biggest in Mega Millions history. “We have a long ways to go before we hit the record territory. The biggest jackpot in the Mega Millions game was more than…one-point-five billion dollars, won in October 2018, in South Carolina,” according to Neubauer. “But it is definitely climbing and lots and lots of folks are talking about it, that’s for sure.” She says many new players jump in when the jackpots increase — and it doesn’t matter how many buy tickets — your odds don’t change. “I think there are all sorts of superstitions or beliefs out there. But you know, the odds are the same for every ticket purchased in the game, the odds never change, you know, if the odds changed with every ticket that you bought, we would never be able to predict what they are. So the odds and megamillions come from all of the different ways that you can combine the numbers in the game to make a play,” she explains.

And those odds are pretty long. “The odds of winning in Mega Millions are about one in 302-point-six million,” she says. One thing that is known about the jackpot is lottery terminals will be busy today (Tuesday). “The majority of tickets for any particular drawing are purchased on the day of the drawing. I think we as human beings procrastinate, and we even procrastinate when it comes to buying lottery tickets,” Neubauer says. “So just keep in mind, there is a sales cut off for Tuesday night’s drawing the sales cut off here in Iowa is 8:59 p-m,” Neubauer says.

If you buy a ticket after that, it would be for the next drawing.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — One person was transported to the hospital by helicopter, following a collision that occurred east of Red Oak, Monday morning, According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the crash occurred on Highway 34, about one-half of a mile west of K Avenue, at around 7:45-a.m. Authorities say a 2005 Chevy K2500 pickup driven by 18-year-old Slade M. Graham of Stanton, was westbound on Hwy 34 when it crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2020 Kenworth T680 semi tractor-trailer, driven by 62-year-old Robert L. Mosby, of Omaha. Mosby said he tried to avoid the collision by moving to the right in his lane, but the pickup impacted the sleeper area of the semi’s cab and both rear axles. The pickup continued down the left side of the semi trailer, where it damaged the tires and brake lines of the trailer. The pickup crossed the eastbound lane, exited the roadway, and struck a tree in the south ditch before coming to rest.

Graham was extricated from the pickup by rescue personnel, and was taken by Air Evac medical helicopter to an Omaha hospital for were believed to be non-life threatening injuries. Mosby was not injured in the collision. Damage from the accident amounted to $25,000. The pickup was considered a total loss. At the time of the Sheriff’s report, no citations had been issued.

(Union County, Iowa) –  Two women from Creston were injured during a collision Sunday night northwest of Creston. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 44-year-old Jessica Diane Lens was traveling east on 150th Street at around 11:48-p.m., when the vehicle ran a stop sign at the intersection with Highway 25. The pickup struck a 2013 Ford F-150 pickup that was northbound on Highway 25, and driven by 36-year-old Teagan Rae Gordon. Both vehicles came to rest in the northeast ditch. Upon arrival at the scene, Deputies detected the smell of alcohol coming from Lens, who also had bloodshot, watery eyes.

Both drivers were transported to the hospital in Creston before being flown by medical helicopter to hospitals in Des Moines. Authorities say Lens consented to a preliminary breath test, the results of which came in at .140%, or nearly twice the legal limit for intoxication. The report did not indicate if there were any citations or arrests.

Damage to the vehicles from the collision amounted to $45,000. Both pickups were declared a total loss. A fence, fence post and cast iron pipe on property owned by James Walsh, of Creston, sustained $1,200 worth of damage.

(Radio Iowa) – The leaders of two Iowa health care groups say they’re concerned about the pending closure of the state-run Glenwood Resource Center for residents with profound disabilities. After a federal investigation of how residents were being treated, state officials announced the facility would close in 2024. Di Findley is the founder of Iowa CareGivers, an advocacy group for health care workers and those who receive care. While Findley understands ending institutional care is a priority, she says transferring Glenwood residents to community or home-based care will be difficult.

“I don’t know who’s going to do that work,” Findley says. Findley says many of the families of Glenwood residents will not be equipped to provide direct care.  “I have serious concerns about how people are going to be able to access good care in the home,” Findley says, “(to) keep them safe.” Brent Willett is president and C-E-O of the Iowa Health Care Association. It represents nursing homes, the primary destination as al Glenwood Resource Center residents are transferred by the end of 2024.

“The priority is being on placing them in the community, which we absolutely support,” Willett says. “The concern that we have is that the infrastructure is not there and the timeline is aggressive just for these folks.” Willett says his association would like to see deep new investment in the facilities and services that are caring for frail and elderly Iowans  “The 30,000 people in nursing homes across the state of Iowa have some of the highest acuity levels, which is their level of illness, than any other state in the country,” Willett says. “…We need to face that reality that folks that are in nursing homes overwhelmingly cannot return home, and so we simply cannot have a long-term care continuum without a robust nursing facility system to support and care for those individuals.”

Willett and Findley made their comments during a recent episode of “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(Radio Iowa) – A key fundraiser for the American Cancer Society is making a comeback in Iowa this summer. Relay For Life events are being held across the state again where cancer survivors, caregivers and supporters walk around a track for pledges. Tina Morrison is spokeswoman for the Iowa branch of the American Cancer Society. “COVID has kind of changed our overview of Relay in the last couple of years,” Morrison says. “We still want to make sure that everybody is safe from COVID. We didn’t have a relay for a couple of years due to that reason and we did things a little bit differently.”

In past years, Relay For Life events would features dozens, even hundreds, of people walking around tracks for a certain number of laps or minutes to raise money. Morrison says she’s is grateful to see the event returning to communities across Iowa. “Unfortunately, since COVID is going to be a part of our life forever, we’re just trying to get back in the swing of things,” Morrison says, “and maybe get back to that four or five hour relay, just a little by little, get back to that and what it what it used to be.”

Relays are planned in the coming weeks in several Iowa cities, including: Mt. Pleasant on August 19th, Bettendorf on September 10th, Fairfield on September 13th, Burlington on September 25th, Washington on October 1st, Fort Madison on October 7th, and Boone on October 21st. Learn more at: relayforlife.org