The Mega Millions jackpot is stuffed with greenbacks and closing in on the $100 million mark. The winning numbers in last Friday’s draw were 21, 27, 32, 40, 52 and the Mega number 36. No one ticket in that draw had all of those hot numbers. However, one California player did come pretty close to winning the money pot with all but the Mega  number correct. That ticket is worth $292, 587.

So the Mega Millions jackpot now stands at $96 million and could go higher before tomorrow’s draw at 8 p.m.

A lot of lottery players have their eyes on the Mega Millions jackpot, which stands at around $86 million.  No one purchased a ticket with the winning numbers from last Tuesday’s draw. Those hot digits are: 6, 29, 38, 50, 51 and the Mega Ball 39.

Two California players came real close to scoring the big one. They got all of those numbers correct, except for the Mega Ball. Each ticket is worth $128, 276.

The next draw for the Mega Millions game is tomorrow at  8 p.m.

A whole lot of green in the Mega Millions jackpot today. No one got lucky enough to purchase a ticket with all of the winning numbers in last Friday’s draw.  So the jackpot exploded to $85 million!!! That’s some serious moolah.

Those winning numbers: 8, 10, 22, 47, 48 and the Mega Ball 35. One ticket holder in California almost scored the top prize. Someone who bought a Mega Millions ticket for that draw in the Golden State has a ticket with all of the winning numbers, except the Mega Ball. That ticket is worth $250, 530.

The next draw is Tuesday, August 2, at 8 p.m.

The Mega Millions jackpot just keeps rolling along collecting millions!  That lottery jackpot skipped over the $100 million mark after no one had all of the winning numbers in last night’s draw. That big money stash now stands at $105 million.

Those lucky digits are: 12, 17, 27, 47, 48, and the Mega Ball 33.  Someone bought a ticket in California that has all of those digits, except for the Mega Ball. That ticket is worth a hefty $701, 316.  Now that kind of  money will start your July 4th holiday celebration off with a bang!

The next Mega Millions draw is Friday, July first at 8 p.m.

The Mega Millions jackpot has ballooned to the $64 million mark. No ticket held all of the winning numbers in last night’s draw.  Those  important digits: 12, 29, 46, 47, 51, and the Mega Ball 24.  One lucky California player has a ticket with all of  those hot numbers, except the Mega Ball. That ticket is worthy a hefty $735,439.  A very nice return on a dollar investment.

The next draw is Tuesday, June 21, 2011 a 8 p.m.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Chevron gas station at Glenoaks Boulevard and Olive Avenue in Burbank April 12, 2011

 Skyrocketing gas prices are turning motorists into gas scouts — on the lookout for the lowest pump prices anytime they hit the road. If that makes some of ditch the cellphone calls and texting to pay more attention to their surroundings –that’s a huge plus!

I spent $20 on gasoline last Tuesday and I got less than five gallons. I didn’t gas-up at a high end station like the Chevron at Glenoaks Boulevard and Olive Avenue, which was charging $4.23 for a gallon of self-serve regular. At the lower end a couple of blocks away, the Arco station at Tujunga Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard was charging $4.11 for regular.

Photo:FLLewis/Media City G -- Arco station at Tujunga Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard in Burbank April 12, 2011

I should have stopped at the Arco station. Instead, I popped into a 76 station across town and paid $4.15 a gallon for regular. I plan to do a better gas prices scouting job next week.

In general, we’re paying about a dollar more per gallon than last year. Here are some figures from the AAA Fuel Gauge Report website about the average price of regular gasoline.

Nationwide

• Average today       $3.8 a gallon
• A year ago              $2.8 a gallon

California

• Average today        $4.1 a gallon
• A year ago              $3.1 a gallon

Los Angeles/Long Beach (this includes Burbank)

• Average today     $4.2 a gallon
• A year ago            $3.00 a gallon

Another major Mega Millions lottery jackpot up for grabs tomorrow. On Tuesday, April 12, no one picked all of the winning numbers, but a player in San Francisco did get all but the Mega Ball correct. That lucky ticket is worth $467,776.

The winning numbers from Tuesday’s draw:10, 23, 39, 41, 45, and 15. The next draw is Friday at 8 p.m.

Texting behind the wheel or driving and talking on a hand-held cell phone are not just dangerous habits, they violate the law. California is sponsoring its first Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. 

Photo: FLLLewis/Media City G -- Traffic at Main Street and Alameda Avenue in Burbank

Starting today, Burbank Police will be joining law enforcement agencies throughout the Los Angeles area in cracking down on texting and illegal cell phone use by motorists.

“We take the issue of distracted driving very seriously,” said Burbank  police Chief Scott LaChasse in a press release. “Cell phone use and texting while driving is such a serious concern that we are putting officers on the road with a zero tolerance approach to these violations. Is that text message of cell phone call really worth $159?”

That’s right, the first ticket will cost you $159 and as much as $279 for repeat offenses. It’s a smarter move to pull over to the side of the road and stop, before texting or picking up that cell phone.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Sprinklers spray a lush green yard on Sunset Canyon Drive in Burbank March 2011

Last Wednesday, March 30, Governor Jerry Brown declared the state drought over, done, finished — a total wrap. After nearly three years of being in drought mode, Governor signed a proclamation ending it.

Brown’s announcement followed the fourth snow survey of the season, conducted by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), which found that water content in California’s mountain snowpack is 165 percent of the April 1 full season average… according to the Governor’s website.

Despite the good news, Brown urged residents to continue to conserve: ““While this season’s storms have lifted us out of the drought, it’s critical that Californians continue to watch their water use,” Brown said. “Drought or no drought, demand for water in California always outstrips supply. Continued conservation is key.”

Could that mean no water hike for Burbankers this year? Don’t bet on it. Someone has to pay for the pet projects and those hefty raises for executives in the Burbank Water and Power.  Hopefully, fewer Burbank residents will have to let their lawns go dry up and go brown during the hot summer months. A decision that depends more on city water rates than the governor’s proclamation.

More on the end of the drought and the governor’s remarks here.

Photo: Megan's Law/Media City Groove -- New photo of Amy Victoria Beck March 2011

As first reported on this blog, convicted sex offender and former Burbank sixth grade teacher, Amy Victoria Beck, is no longer behind bars. Beck was released from state prison on March 20, 2011 after serving “…approximately 8 months…”according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation official, James W. Symington, III.

Back in March of 2010, the former David Starr Jordan Middle School teacher turned herself in to Burbank Police and admitted to having a sexual affair with a 14-year-old male student. Some sort of “special hold” was placed on Beck’s booking photo. I have made numerous requests to the Burbank Police for that photo — all were turned down. Even CDCR official, Symington, could not get the authorization to release a photo of Beck to me last Friday.

This week, this new photo of Beck appeared in her sex offender profile on the California Megan’s Law website. As part of her two year prison sentence, Beck has to register as a sex offender in the city where she lives. Symington says she now resides in Sunland, California. The 34-year-old Beck is the mother of three and reportedly married to a Los Angeles Police Officer.