U.S. Virgin Islands

An Illinois player won the largest Powerball lottery jackpot of the year, reaching $1.04 billion. The winning combination was 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, with Powerball 9. The winner has the choice between taking full annual installments over 29 years or a one-time lump sum of $450.5 million before taxes.

The winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, August 12, 2026, were announced as 26-67-69-66-4 with a Red Ball number of 9. The Powerball option is available for $2 per play and drawings occur in various locations including the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Jackpot winners may choose their prize payout between an annuity or a lump sum payment.

The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $975 million for Wednesday's drawing after 43 consecutive drawings without a winner. The lottery offers prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million, with the overall odds of winning the jackpot being about 1 in 292 million.

The Powerball jackpot jumped to an estimated $905 million for Monday’s drawing because no ticket matched all six winning numbers in Saturday night’s grand prize drawing. The article detailed that the previous winning numbers were 5, 9, 35, 54, 63 and red Powerball 7. Furthermore, Powerball is played across 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United Kingdom.

The Powerball jackpot has increased to an estimated $905 million for Monday’s drawing because no ticket won the grand prize during Saturday's draw. Lower-tier winners were reported, including a $2 million winner in Texas and individual $1 million prizes across Arizona, Florida, Michigan, and New York. The game is available across 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United Kingdom.

Billionaire Stephen Deckoff purchased two Caribbean islands from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, aiming to build a resort, but now faces legal and security issues due to trespassing by social media influencers seeking to explore the islands' notoriety. Deckoff has sued nine individuals and reported violent confrontations with staff, including an arrest for false imprisonment and destroyed rental property.

A Mega Millions ticket holder in Florida won an estimated $800 million jackpot, marking the 10th largest grand prize in the lottery's history. The winning numbers were 34-48-49-59-70 with the Mega Ball 12, and additional prizes were awarded in multiple states for matching numbers with multipliers.

Gun Owners of America and Gun Owners Foundation are suing the U.S. Virgin Islands government and its police commissioner to allow nonresidents to obtain concealed carry licenses, citing the Second Amendment. A Florida resident, Sean Dale Henry, attempted to apply for a license without success, and the lawsuit claims the U.S. Virgin Islands’ refusal violates constitutional rights. The territory faces a separate ongoing lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department over similar issues.

Gun Owners of America and Gun Owners Foundation are suing the U.S. Virgin Islands government and its police commissioner to allow non-residents to obtain concealed handgun licenses, citing the Second Amendment. This is the second lawsuit over gun rights in the territory, following a December 2023 lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department. Florida resident Sean Dale Henry, who attempted to apply for a license without success, is a key plaintiff.

Gun Owners of America and Gun Owners Foundation are suing the U.S. Virgin Islands and its police commissioner over a dispute involving the Second Amendment. A Florida resident is seeking a license to carry a firearm in the territory, triggering the legal challenge.

HUD suspended procurements involving the U.S. Virgin Islands' housing finance authority over fraud concerns tied to nearly $2 billion in disaster-recovery aid. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. criticized the move as a 'shock' and 'overreach,' suggesting it may be a political stunt timed with the territory's gubernatorial election, and noted an audit cited by HUD had ended previously.

The Mega Millions jackpot increased to $743 million for the July 24, 2026, drawing after no winner matched all numbers in Tuesday’s draw. Two tickets matched five numbers, winning $2 million and $3 million with multipliers, while the last grand prize winner was in Ohio on March 17.

A federal appellate court struck down New Jersey’s assault weapons ban on Second Amendment grounds, marking the first such ruling in a case that could influence similar laws in other states. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals decision, led by Judge Arianna Freeman, cited U.S. Supreme Court precedents as grounds for invalidating the law, potentially affecting Delaware, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and pending cases in Illinois and Connecticut. The Supreme Court will hear challenges to assault weapons bans later this year, with a ruling expected by 2027.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) suspended disaster funding to the U.S. Virgin Islands’ housing authority due to mismanagement, which has prevented $1.3 billion in hurricane recovery funds from reaching survivors. An investigation found financial mismanagement, inadequate fraud controls, and incomplete housing projects, with only $570 million of $1.9 billion allocated funds spent over nine years.

The U.S. Virgin Islands' housing authority faces accusations of corruption, leading to the suspension of federal funding by the U.S. government. An HUD investigation revealed financial mismanagement, with only $570,000 of $1.9 billion in disaster recovery funds spent since 2017, as residents continue to recover from Hurricane Irma and Maria. The authority is accused of improper payments, inadequate fraud controls, and misuse of funds for administrative costs.

The Mega Millions jackpot increased to $672 million after no one matched the winning numbers in Tuesday's drawing. The prize, the 10th-largest in the lottery's history, follows a previous winner in Ohio in March and includes three $2 million-$4 million non-jackpot prizes from tickets with multipliers.

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $604 million for Friday's drawing after no winner in Tuesday's draw, marking the 11th time the jackpot has exceeded $600 million since 2002. The cash option is $266 million, and ticket prices increased from $2 to $5 in 2023. The lottery is played in 45 states, DC, and USVI, excluding Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

Two major earthquakes struck Venezuela less than a minute apart, causing at least 164 deaths and 971 injuries. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, triggered tsunami alerts for Caribbean coastlines and damaged Venezuela’s main airport, with over 30 aftershocks reported since.

Bill Gates met with Jeffrey Epstein multiple times between 2011 and 2014, as Epstein pitched his connections to billionaires for fundraising purposes related to the Gates Foundation. Gates stated the meetings focused on philanthropy and expressed regret, acknowledging Epstein used these connections to build legitimacy. Epstein, who had prior sex offense convictions, also made veiled threats about disclosing personal affairs.

A total blackout has struck St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands twice this weekend. The power outage occurred on both islands, affecting the entire region.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will answer questions from a House panel about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick previously admitted to visiting Epstein's private island in 2012. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Calvert White, former Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation, was sentenced to five years in prison for soliciting and accepting a bribe from a government contractor. White exchanged the bribe in return for assistance in obtaining a $1.43 million government contract.

Jeffrey Epstein's private island, Little St. James, is identified as a location where numerous alleged crimes reportedly occurred. The article examines the significance of this island in relation to the criminal investigations and allegations against Epstein.