Billion with a capital B.

An incredible stroke of luck landed an Illinois Powerball player the year’s largest jackpot, totaling a staggering $1.04 billion on Wednesday night.

The winning combination that changed someone’s life consisted of the numbers 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, along with the red Powerball 9.

As they weigh their options, the mysterious winner has the choice to claim the full $1 billion or opt for a one-time payment of $450.5 million.

To put this remarkable win into perspective, the odds of securing the Powerball jackpot stand at a daunting 1 in 292,201,338.

It is the eighth-largest jackpot win in Powerball’s history, surpassing the $842.4 million winner on New Year’s Day in 2024.

The historic holiday prize was claimed by “The Breakfast Club,” who chose the $425.2 million cash sum after purchasing the winning ticket at a Food Castle grocery store in Grand Blanc, Mich.

Powerball’s grand prize was last hit when two ticket holders in Texas and Florida shared the $20 million payout on May 2.

The Texas player, who remained anonymous, chose the $9,000,000 cash option, which was split to $4,500,000 because of the share.

The Florida ticket remains unclaimed.

Wednesday’s win is the largest since Tracy Hartwick won the $1.82 billion Powerball jackpot drawing on Christmas Eve in Cabot, Arkansas.

Hartwick, whose brother Terry Hartwick is serving his third term as North Little Rock mayor, claimed the second-largest Powerball jackpot in history.

The new billionaire’s name remained confidential only for six months since he is the sibling of an elected official, according to Arkansas Act 889 of 2021.

Hartwick chose the one-time cash sum option and split it with his other brother and a third non-relative.

A number of US Navy sailors have allegedly attempted to leap overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln, as their extended mission in the Middle East persists with no clear end in sight.

Onboard are approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines who have been stationed on the aircraft carrier for nearly nine months, since the deployment commenced on November 21.

Initially slated to return home in May, their mission was prolonged indefinitely due to escalating conflicts involving Iran.

This prolonged tour of duty has left several sailors feeling exhausted and desperate, with some reportedly choosing to abandon ship as a last resort, according to reports from worried family members.

One such instance involved Annabelle Loma’s husband, who, she recounted, faced repeated overextension that ultimately led to his attempt to jump ship.

He is now left on a medical hold, and Loma said she has not heard from anyone in the Navy about his condition for weeks.

‘He’s scared,’ Loma told the Military Times. ‘He thinks he’ll get a dishonorable discharge and just because he was burnt out, his 13-year career is ruined, just like that. 

‘That’s not fair. That’s not what he should be worried about.’ 

In a separate incident, a sailor on watch saw a shipmate preparing to go overboard and intervened, Maria Rodriguez, the sailor’s wife, told the outlet.

She described how her husband called out to the sailor before reaching down and grabbing the sailor’s arms, pulling him back onto deck. 

The sailor had not yet gone overboard when her husband rushed to his aid, Rodriguez said, noting that three other sailors heard the commotion and came running to help. 

‘He said he hadn’t felt adrenaline like that in his life and he was just so thankful he was able to get to [the sailor] in time, to stop them from going overboard,’ she noted.

Rodriguez said she does not know what happened to the sailor in the aftermath. 

Sailors have also described an incident in which watch standers stopped a crew member from going overboard a few months ago amid a struggle with exhaustion and declining morale, according to Stars and Stripes. 

More than 200 concerned family members met with acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao in an emotional town hall last Thursday to share their fears.

At one point during the meeting, a spouse tearfully told officials she received a message that same day from her husband saying ‘he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow,’ Stars and Stripes reports.

A mother also described how her daughter feels like she is never going to be able to come home and believes she is going to die on the ship, according to MS Now.

Officials did not respond directly to those claims or similar statements family members made. 

Instead, Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill, commander of the Naval Surface Forces, simply acknowledged the strain on sailors and their families the extended deployment causes.

‘We hear you loud and clear -regarding] the impact this has on families, on service members and the long-term ability of us to stand, sustain our force’s health,’ he said.

He then stressed that sailors had access to mental health professionals, chaplains and doctors, and noted they were also sending more mental health professionals to the ship. 

Navy officials added that the USS Lincoln’s leadership is continuously assessing sailor’s psychological readiness.

‘Leadership is continuously conducting assessments to monitor and sustain the psychological readiness of every sailor,’ the Navy told Stars and Stripes.

At the same time, Cao told family members at the meeting that the Navy is preparing another carrier strike group – the USS Theodore Roosevelt – to deploy to the Middle East to relieve the sailors onboard the Lincoln, two people who attended the meeting told MS Now.

But he would not specify when the relief would come, citing operational security. 

It comes after family of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln expressed concerns over food levels on board after images emerged appearing to show their meagre provisions.

One parent with a child on the Lincoln received a photo from mid-April that showed a tray with boiled carrots, a few scoops of ground beef and a gray slice of dry-looking meat.

Karen Erskine-Valentine, a West Virginia pastor who spoke to a parent of a child on the Lincoln, said the food is ‘tasteless’ and that the sailors are ‘hungry all the time.’

USA Today also reported that care packages that families have been sending to troops have not been making it to the Middle East because of an indefinite suspension of mail deliveries to military ZIP codes.

Naval officials dismissed the claims that food was running low as false with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth branding it ‘fake news.’

In the meantime, families said they are longing for the day they can see their loved ones again, with one mother telling the Navy officials last week she had a baby while her husband was deployed.

‘My husband has gotten no time with her,’ she lamented. ‘We have friends that are on this boat as well that – they have yet to meet their children.’

Shelby Sanders also told the Military Times how she is now preparing to start her senior year of high school without knowing whether her mother will be home for some of the year’s biggest milestones.

‘Will she be back before homecoming? My birthday? Christmas?’ she said. ‘I have no idea and that’s all that I think about.’ 

Meanwhile, Loma is left caring for her and her husband’s three children.

‘I’m trying to keep a happy face for our three kids,’ she said. ‘They’re little, they miss their daddy, they just want to know mommy and daddy are OK. So I can’t just worry and break down, even though I want to – every single day.’ 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the US Navy for comment. 

In Chandler, Oklahoma, amid the nostalgic backdrop of Route 66, a journey awaits that transcends modern navigation technology. Unlike the quick fixes of smartphone apps, the thoroughfare, often referred to as the Mother Road, demands a slower, more soulful exploration. As travelers navigate this historic path winding through quaint towns, ABC7 Chicago’s Ryan Chiaverini embarked on his own adventure for the “Pier To Pier: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66” series. Opting for a more traditional approach, Chiaverini was guided not by digital maps but by the “EZ66 Guide For Travelers,” authored by the insightful Jerry McClanahan.

Recalling his childhood memories, McClanahan shared, “Sitting in the backseat as a kid, we would hit 66 at Victorville and follow through to Oklahoma City.” Those family road trips from southern California to Arkansas left a lasting imprint on him. “I looked forward to vacation every year,” he reminisced, revealing a desire to recreate the wonder of those formative journeys as an adult.

Driven by nostalgia and inquisitiveness, McClanahan meticulously documented the stops he missed as a child, culminating in the first edition of the EZ66 Guide in 2005. As Route 66 prepares to celebrate its centennial milestone, the guide has reached its sixth edition, bringing McClanahan immense satisfaction. His work weaves together elements of history and commerce, breathing life into local businesses and old-time landmarks.

“I really love being able to be a part of keeping these places open,” McClanahan expressed, his voice tinged with pride. “It’s great to be a part of that long community of Route 66 shops and people and visitors.” His dedication highlights a commitment not just to the road itself but to the vibrant tapestry of stories and experiences it represents.

During a visit to McJerry’s Route 66 Art Gallery, McClanahan welcomed Chiaverini with a showcase of his curated road artifacts and exquisite art pieces. The gallery, with its meticulous paintings capturing the allure of classic cars against famed Route 66 landscapes, invites visitors to take a nostalgic journey of their own. Each artwork, painstakingly crafted over days, is a homage to the enduring spirit of America’s beloved highway.

“I am obsessed by the details. It’s like this one with the reflections in it,” said McClanahan pointing at a painting featuring a ’57 Chevy. “Halfway through I’m saying, why oh why did I put on the reflections in that painting?”

Chiaverini made sure to have McClanahan autograph his copy of the EZ Guide, but not before Jerry updated it with new detours on Route 66. Chiaverini would need the revisions because there’s plenty more to see on his journey toward the Pacific ocean.

“Pier To Pier: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66” is sponsored by Hyundai

A tragic incident unfolded at a Minnesota home daycare where a man killed his wife and young daughter before committing suicide, authorities revealed on Wednesday. The investigation has connected these tragic events to another lethal stabbing at a nearby residence.

Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson reported that officers arrived around 9 a.m. local time at the Brown Bear Daycare following a domestic disturbance call. Inside, they discovered a 41-year-old man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, along with his 41-year-old wife and 7-year-old daughter, both suffering fatal stab wounds.

Also, a 78-year-old woman was found stabbed to death in her Burnsville home, who is believed to be a relative, according to Chief Johnson.

Burnsville Police Chief Matt Smith stated that the suspect had been residing in the Burnsville home.

Authorities have not released the victims’ identities. Meanwhile, six other children present at the daycare during the incident were unharmed and have since been reunited with their families, as reported.

No note was left behind, police said. 

Johnson said a parent who showed up at the daycare to drop off a child called police and investigators believe that parent witnessed the incident, the station reported.

“There’s no worse scenario than this, where you drop off your child to somewhere you think is safe, and you get that phone call,” Johnson said. “I think we can all relate, [those] who have children and those who don’t. This is just a tragic situation anywhere in the world, let alone here in Hopkins.”

The Hopkins Police Department later released a statement to News Media saying it “responded to a report of a stabbing at a residence operating as a home daycare in the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North in Hopkins.”

“At this time, we believe there are no outstanding suspects and no ongoing threat to the public,” police added. “This is an extremely tragic event for our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this devastating incident.”

Johnson told Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul that investigators believe the deceased male was the perpetrator of the isolated incident and that he took his own life.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

“I know that our hearts and our prayers are with the people of Hopkins and any families that have been impacted,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Wednesday, according to the station. “I have already touched base directly with Hanlon and offer any assistance we can provide. The City of Minneapolis stands with Hopkins. We are not strangers to crisis, and when it takes place, we work together. That’s exactly what we’ll be doing here.”

Frey said the city will provide any resources. and assistance requested by Hopkins officials. 

“We’re aware of this morning’s tragic and devastating incident in Hopkins and are working with Hopkins Police as they investigate,” added Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. “Our office’s victim services division is prepared to support the individuals impacted by this incident.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., reacted to the tragedy during an appearance on FOX 9’s All Day.

“Your heart, you just think about these little kids in the daycare. Our daughter went to daycare for a while,” she said. “You think about dropping your child off, and then thinking about them in this scene of incredible violence and tragedy. You think about the relatives of this family, what they’ve lost with a little child, a mom and what these kids witnessed. No matter who old they are, it’s going to be with them forever.”

ATLANTA — Tobias Myers, once a promising pitcher for the Mets, now finds himself increasingly distanced from major league opportunities as the season heads towards its climax.

After being sent down in June, the right-handed hurler has struggled significantly, posting a disappointing 8.24 ERA over his last eight outings for Triple-A Syracuse, where he has resumed his role as a starting pitcher.

The season began with Myers serving as a versatile option for the Mets. His arrival, alongside Freddy Peralta in a winter trade deal with the Brewers, brought high expectations.

“He possesses the kind of talent necessary to succeed in the major leagues,” said interim manager Andy Green before the Mets faced a 6-3 defeat against the Braves on Wednesday at Truist Field. “It’s just not translating right now in Triple-A. He has the potential to turn things around, thanks to his commendable work ethic. He simply needs to showcase it. If he manages to do so, I’m confident he’ll make his way back,” Green added.

According to Green, the primary challenge for Myers has been a noticeable drop in his pitching velocity.

“The most recent outing he was sitting around 90 [mph],” Green said. “He’s been successful in the big leagues, there was an outing last year he went 3 ¹/₃ [innings], he was up to 98 and was sitting at 96. He has bullied hitters with his fastball and then the split plays off it. That is not happening right now. That belongs to him, and our pitching group is there to help him. But he’s got the opportunity to change that and he’s somebody we do believe in and want back here.”

Cristian Pache spent most of the season at Syracuse wondering if he would get an opportunity with the Mets. The veteran is now receiving that opportunity as the team’s fifth outfielder following the trade that sent Tyrone Taylor to the Cubs.

“I will keep working to play,” Pache said. “I want to do more for the team.”

Pache has primarily served as a late-inning defensive replacement in games Brett Baty has started in the outfield.

“The elite defense, the baserunning, kind of fits that role for us if we need that,” Green said. “Those are the skill sets we value with him and there’s not a lot of starts [for him] with the other guys in the outfield.”

Francisco Alvarez’s .838 OPS for August entering play wasn’t unnoticed by Green.

“I think [his at-bats] have just been really competitive, every one of them, for the most part,” Green said. “The power is there. The hits are there. He’s starting to drive in runs as well. Alvy’s ceiling is still astronomically high. He has the capacity to do so much in this game and to see a lot of it come out and see his OPS continue to march northward, it’s fun to see.”

The Mets fell to 18-21 against NL East opponents this season. They will continue their division slate with three games against the Nationals beginning Friday at Citi Field.