Here's a news item from the Associated Press:  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lottery officials say a 29-year-old northern Idaho woman has decided to collect her half of a $380 million Mega Millions jackpot in a lump sum payment. The Idaho Lottery announced Friday that Holly Lahti, from the small town of Rathdrum, had elected to take the $120 million lump sum instead of collecting her cash in annual payments over 25 years. The federal government would take $30 million in taxes, while the Idaho State Tax Commission would take a $9.3 million slice, leaving Lahti with about $80.6 million. Lahti, a mother of two, is splitting the second-largest lottery jackpot in history with Jim and Carolyn McCullar of Ephrata, Wash.

Lottery ticket sales have jumped at Ady’s Convenience Store & Car Wash on Seltice Way in Post Falls, where the winning ticket for a Mega Millions $190 million jackpot was sold. The winner, Holly Lahti of Rathdrum, was a regular customer at the convenience store; you can read our full story here at spokesman.com.

The winner of the $190 million Mega Milions Lottery from Idaho - half the full $380 million jackpot - is Holly Lahti of North Idaho, and the ticket was sold at Ady's Convenience & Car Wash on Seltice Way in Post Falls, Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson just announced. He called Lahti “a delightful individual,” but said she's asked for privacy, and the lottery isn't releasing any information about her other than that she's from North Idaho. She turned her winning ticket over to the lottery office in Boise yesterday, at the end of the day, and the lottery has confirmed that it is the winner. It hasn't yet paid, her, however, Anderson said. She has 60 days to decide whether she wants to take the 26 payments over 25 years, or the smaller lump sum of $120 million, which would equal $81 million after state and federal income taxes.

“She's given us an indication that she's willing to talk to the media when she's got her affairs in order,” Anderson said. “As you might expect, there's a lot of things that Ms. Lahti has to get in order.” He said, “We thank everyone who plays our fun and entertaining games.” He said Lahti is an Idaho native, but declined to provide any more information about her. “She's asked that we respect her privacy, so no, I can't,” Anderson said. “There's lots of curious people who want to know the winner is. This is a big deal.” Her name is public record, he said.
  

One of two $190 million winning tickets in the Mega Millions Lottery was sold in Post Falls, Idaho lottery officials announced today, splitting the big $380 million jackpot with a winner in Ephrata, Wash. The two big winners have not yet stepped forward - they have 180 days to do so. “With large winners like this, people don’t pop in the next day,” said Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson. “They have things to take care of.”

However, one smaller winner already has been named - Kevin Anderson of Melba, Idaho matched all five numbers but but not the mega-ball, and won a $250,000 prize. “I was a little disappointed when I didn’t get the mega-ball, but then I was like, ‘But I matched five,’” the construction superintendent said. “We were dancing around.” He said, “It made going to work so much easier today. I told my boss, if it’d been one more number, you would’ve gotten my resignation.” You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.