|
"Ninety-two people claimed at least 50 tickets worth $600 or more apiece between 2008 and 2016."
|
The Virginia Lottery has opened investigations into three of the state’s most frequent winners and is reviewing three retailers’ licenses, an official confirmed this week. The move comes after The Virginian-Pilot’s investigation into people who claimed winning tickets at a statistically impossible rate, which led a security expert to criticize the agency’s lack of oversight. The probes also follow several policy changes from the $2-billion-a-year state agency sparked by The Pilot’s investigation. The story, published in September, revealed that 92 people claimed at least 50 tickets worth $600 or more apiece between 2008 and 2016. The Pilot analysis also found that the state had no records of investigations into those winners and wouldn't monitor any of them unless prompted by reports of wrongdoing.
The Virginian-Pilot
It’s been almost 10 years since Joe Dennette won big in the Virginia Lottery. The Fredericksburg man gained instant fame when he matched all six numbers in the Mega Millions drawing in 2009, getting a $75.6 million piece of the jackpot. He opted for the cash option, collected $47.8 million and found himself doing interviews with television news stations and People Magazine. But as he approaches the 10-year anniversary of his win, Dennette said he still gets harassed by people who have tracked him down and are begging him for money. If one state lawmaker has his way, future Virginia Lottery winners who score big might get to keep their identities a secret. Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, says that information should be kept private so winners aren’t susceptible to threats or pleas from strangers for money.
The Virginian-Pilot
During a private meeting earlier this year, two School Board members discussed turning Lindenwood Elementary into a charter school, according to an email written by someone who was there. It’s unusual for board members to meet with principals or school staff without the superintendent’s knowledge; board members have agreed to guidelines that require them to give her a heads-up before visits to schools. School Board Chairman Noelle Gabriel said in an interview that she didn't think she needed to tell the superintendent because she had been invited to the meeting and wasn't initiating it.
The Virginian-Pilot
The company proposing a massive solar farm in rural Spotsylvania County is touting a recent survey that it says shows widespread support for the project. But at a public hearing Wednesday, the critics greatly outnumbered the proponents of the proposed 3,500-acre solar farm near Fawn Lake. About 40 people raised concerns or outright opposed the plan by Utah-based Sustainable Power Group, known as sPower, while just a handful of speakers supported it. Each resident could speak for up to 3 minutes at the hearing, but the time limit increased to 5 minutes for those representing groups. Vivian Stanley of Spotsylvania got 5 minutes after indicating that she was speaking on behalf of “we the people.” Residents will not be able to speak publicly about the project at the next meeting Jan. 2 because the commission voted to end the public-hearing process. Some people said that action prevents them from publicly rebutting new claims by sPower or changes to its application, giving the company the upper hand.
The Free Lance-Star
As explained by Mike Brown, independent co-counsel to the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors when providing an update last week on the first of two lawsuits filed by local resident Marian Bragg against the BOS, “it’s running the meter. And that costs money.” A lot of money — six figures, potentially — for the first of Bragg’s two cases against four members of the BOS, three of whom remain in office. And Rappahannock taxpayers already are footing the bill. Bragg is suing because she contends the supervisors, without public notice and therefore in violation of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, went into closed session to discuss the hiring of a new county attorney in 2016."If there is any kind of consensus among board members or a desire to engage earnestly in settlement discussions the sooner the better," Brown told the supervisors.
Rappahannock News
Jennifer McDonald tendered her resignation Thursday as Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority executive director, a position she held for a decade. The announcement came after the EDA board conducted a closed session during which discussion was limited to McDonald’s performance and debt and accounting services. The resignation follows two Friday closed sessions that spanned over five hours, during which topics discussed included debt, the New Markets Tax Credit program, accounting services and a review of McDonald’s position. Blanton said he cannot speculate whether McDonald resigned due to a pending termination and only she could answer that. He added that he could not say whether the board was close to firing her. County and EDA officials have not revealed whether the county is also owed money, but the Board of Supervisors has scheduled a closed session for today to consult legal counsel regarding accounting and debt services.
The Northern Virginia Daily
|
