Calif. fuels $550M Powerball jackpot

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The numbers sum up the frenzy that has taken over the Golden State since it joined the madness over Powerball, which has seen its jackpot soar to $550 million for Saturday’s drawing.

California has sold $83 million worth of Powerball tickets since April, when it joined 42 other states that offer the game. Since then, the most-populous state has accounted for 11 percent of the game’s sales, fueling such fast-growing mega-jackpots like the latest one that has the potential to be a record-breaker.

The state expects to generate well above the originally estimated $50 million for public education, California lottery director Robert O’Neill told The Associated Press.

“One thing California has brought Powerball is sunshine and good fortune,” he said. “It has surprised us. We’re very happy.”