Mega Millions prize edges up to $454M

Mega Millions prize edges up to $454M

Des moines, iowa

The Mega Millions jackpot reached an estimated $454 million ahead of its drawing Tuesday evening, making it potentially the seventh-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.

With slightly better odds than the Powerball game, it’s rare that nearly four months passes without someone winning a Mega Millions jackpot. It is the longest the game’s jackpot has rolled on without a top prize winner.

For Tuesday’s winning numbers, see results on A2.

Md. officer decides against jury trial

BALTIMORE

There will be no trial by jury for the highest-ranking police officer charged in the death of a young black man whose broken neck inside a police van caused civil unrest in Baltimore.

Lt. Brian Rice has chosen to be tried instead by a judge, his lawyers said Tuesday – the same one who already acquitted two fellow officers in Freddie Gray’s death.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams denied a defense motion to dismiss the case against Rice, whose trial begins Thursday on charges of manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

Homeless man held in death of student

ROME

Rome police detained a homeless man on suspicion he pushed a 19-year-old American student into the Tiber River after a fight, as details emerged about Beau Solomon’s final hours in the thick of Rome’s summertime nightlife.

Police took suspect Massimo Galioto, 40, into custody Tuesday, saying he was “seriously suspected of aggravated homicide” in Solomon’s death.

Police said they were looking into the hypothesis that Solomon was robbed, went to the riverbank under a bridge in Trastevere where he got into a scuffle with Galioto, who then pushed him into the Tiber.

Police on Monday pulled Solomon’s body from the Tiber a few miles downstream of the Garibaldi Bridge where Galioto’s encampment is located. The student had last been seen early Friday, just hours after arriving in Rome for an exchange program at John Cabot University.

Bloody attacks mark end of Ramadan

BAGHDAD

The government minister largely responsible for security in Baghdad submitted his resignation Tuesday, two days after one of the biggest bombings in more than a decade of war and insurgency killed 175 people as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan came to an especially bloody conclusion.

In addition to the violence in Baghdad, the final week of Ramadan saw suicide attackers strike near one of Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia, in an upscale area of the capital of Bangladesh, and at the international airport in Turkey’s commercial hub of Istanbul.

In announcing he had submitted his resignation, Interior Minister Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban told a news conference the government needs to hand over complete control of security inside Iraqi cities to the Interior Ministry.

Capitol offers blood tests due to water

WASHINGTON

Lead-contaminated water in the drinking fountains at a U.S. Capitol office building has prompted officials to offer blood testing to lawmakers and staff, according to information provided to congressional offices.

In a notice Tuesday, Stephen Ayers, the Architect of the Capitol, said the testing will be available today at no cost to the individual or the congressional office.

Officials have shut off the water in the Cannon House Office Building after they received elevated lead test results, prompting widespread concern on Capitol Hill.

Associated Press