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January 14, 2016

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ByKenRitterand Michelle Rindels The Associated Press NIPTON Waitinginalong, winding line outside what officials call the busiest lot- tery store in the nation, 74-year-old William Burke had three hours to think about what he'll do if he wins a multistate Power- ball jackpot estimated at $1.5 billion. "I'd certainly take care of my family," the Nevada resident said as he emerged from the store in Nipton, California, just over the state line. "But I would also set up a charity to help as many kids go to college as I could." Forty miles from Las Ve- gas, the Primm Valley Lotto Store where Burke bought tickets Monday swarmed with hundreds of dream- ers — many of them refu- gees from the lottery-less Nevada. The state that fea- tures slots in almost every grocery store, airport and bar is one of six that shuns the lottery, fearing it would undercut the dominant ca- sino industry. "We have a lot of prob- lems in this state. We're high on a lot of the bad lists," said Democratic As- semblyman James Ohren- schall, who co-sponsored the latest failed attempt to repeal Nevada's consti- tutional lottery ban. "We can't afford to be exporting money that could be used to address these issues." But Nevada's political climate makes a lottery a tough sell. The state's ca- sino-based tourism indus- try accounts for 28 percent of Nevada's total workforce, pays taxes that make up 45 percent of state general fund revenues, and is a ma- jor contributor to political campaigns. "Our gaming industry throughout the state pro- vides a significant amount of tax money for the educa- tion of our children," said Republican Nevada As- semblyman Lynn Stewart, who chaired the committee where the latest attempt to start a lottery died with a whimper last year. "I think we need to realize who our golden goose is." So business keeps boom- ing for border town vendors such as Rosie's Den Cafe in Arizona, 60 miles from Las Vegas. "I'm sure glad mom had the foresight to get the lot- tery 27 years ago," store owner Brad Larson said of his late mother, Rosie Lar- son. "The terminals are running nonstop." While competition con- cerns prevent the lottery in Nevada, religious be- liefs have posed a barrier in Alabama, Mississippi and Utah. Alaska has been more concerned that a lot- tery wouldn't pay off in such a sparsely populated state. In Hawaii, lawmakers have proposed lottery measures, but the idea always fails. The Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs Powerball, reports that some of the biggest ticket sales come from border cit- ies. That means residents of one state are driving to another to play Powerball, then probably spending a bit more on gas, soda or doughnuts. "What that means for policymakers, that's their business," said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery. "I'm sure they're watching those dol- lars flow out of their state." In Alabama, people have been talking about insti- tuting a lottery for years, in part because of sales in border states. Faced with tight state budgets and de- mands from voters, Repub- licans and Democrats on Tuesday introduced rival lottery bills for the legisla- tive session that begins in February. Republican state Sen. Jim McClendon, one of the bill sponsors, said this month's Powerball mania highlights the huge number of Alabama residents who are driving to surrounding states for tickets and "can- not understand why Ala- bama doesn't offer what 44 other states in America of- fer." Mississippi state Rep. Alyce Clarke, a Democrat from Jackson, has repeat- edly sponsored a lottery bill, but she said religious opposition always kills the idea. That could change this year because of Powerball, she explained, enabling the state to raise money to sub- sidize colleges or fix roads and bridges. Other states seem less likely to adopt lotteries. In Utah, people have been crowding gas stations to buy tickets along the border with Wyoming and Idaho, but the state con- stitution bans all forms of gambling. Given that most legislators belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which op- poses gambling, a change in the constitution is unlikely. Alaska has seen only minimal interest in creat- ing a lottery. The state Rev- enue Department has stud- ied the option as a way to ease a budget deficit, but neither the governor nor legislators has made a for- mal proposal. An agency report found that given Alaska's vast land area and small popu- lation, a lottery would prob- ably not generate as much money as in other states. And games such as Power- ball could hurt state-regu- lated charitable gambling, which supports numerous nonprofits. Alaska's stand was still puzzling to Stacy Castle, a baker at Alaska Coffee Roasting Co. in Fairbanks. "I honestly don't know why we don't have one," said Castle, explaining that she has friends in Oregon who are buying her Power- ball tickets this week. "I've lived here for 20 years. It should be a choice for peo- ple in the state." POWERBALL JOHNLOCHER—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Patrons line up to buy Powerball lottery tickets outside the Primm Valley Casino Resorts Lotto Store just inside the California border Tuesday near Primm, Nev. Nevadanslongforlotto,thebit of gambling they can't have The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO A spe- cialty car manufacturer is recalling the limousine model involved in a 2013 fire that killed five nurses on a San Francisco Bay Area bridge. Accubuilt is recalling about 1,000 limousines manufactured between Jan. 2, 1998, and July 21, 2005, because a rubbing drive- shaft may increase the risk of fire. It's unclear if the re- call is a result of the Cali- fornia fire in a 1999 Lincoln Town Car limo. A representative of the Lima, Ohio-based com- pany did not return a call for comment Wednesday. The California Highway Patrol said the blaze broke out on the San Mateo-Hay- ward Bridge because of a catastrophic failure of the rear suspension system. Authorities said the air sus- pension failure allowed the spinning driveshaft to con- tact the floor pan, causing friction that ignited carpets and set the limo on fire. No charges were filed. The fire occurred while a nurse, Neriza Fojas, was cel- ebrating her recent wedding with a group of friends. She was among the five killed. Four other friends inside the limo and the limo driver survived. The state Public Utilities Commission had autho- rized the vehicle to carry eight or fewer passengers, but it had nine on the night of the fire. The commis- sion fined the limo opera- tor $1,500 for having more passengers than allowed. Aerial video of the af- termath showed the fire scorched parts of the rear of the limousine. The car's taillights and bumper were gone, and it appeared to be resting on its rims. The remainder of the vehicle didn't appear to be dam- aged. BAY AREA BRIDGE Limousine involved in fire that killed 5 nurses recalled C a l l 8 7 7- 4 D A D 4 11 o r v i s i t w w w . f a t h e r h o o d . g o v be a dad today. Take time to | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 4 B

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