MEGA MILLIONS

Winning ticket for $1.22 billion jackpot sold in California

At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night, according to the Mega Millions website.

The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known.

CASES SURGING

Nasty norovirus stomach virus back in full force

Cases of a wretched stomach bug are surging in parts of the United States this winter, according to government data.

The most recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported during the week of Dec. 5, up from 69 outbreaks during the last week of November.

Numbers from the past few years show a maximum of 65 outbreaks reported during that first week of December.

A norovirus infection is characterized by sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Outbreaks often are seen on cruise ships, in congregate living situations such as nursing homes and jails, as well as schools and other places where people are close together.

Norovirus is the leading cause of U.S. foodborne illness, responsible for 58% of such infections acquired in the country each year, according to the CDC.

Norovirus infections are caused by a group of viruses that spread easily, with as few as 10 viral particles having the ability to make someone sick, health experts say.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Family of 4 dies on Christmas after likely carbon monoxide leak

WAKEFIELD, N.H.>> A Massachusetts family of four were found dead on Christmas Day at their lake house in New Hampshire after their propane heating system appeared to have malfunctioned, poisoning them with carbon monoxide gas overnight, authorities said Friday.

Matthew Goldstein, 52, was an elementary school teacher in Chestnut Hill and his wife, Lyla, 54, was a project manager at Microsoft. Their daughters, Valerie, 22, who was also a teacher, and Violet, 19, a college student, also died in the accident. The family lived in Newton, Mass. They were visiting New Hampshire over the holidays.

SOUTH KOREA

28 dead after plane catches fire at airport

SEOUL, South Korea>> Journalists are reporting 28 people have been killed after a plane caught fire at an airport in the country’s south.

South Korea’s emergency office said the fire was put out and rescue officials were trying to remove passengers from the Jeju Air passenger plane at the airport in the South Korean city of Muan. It said the plane with about 180 people was returning from Bangkok.

Yonhap news agency reported the 28 deaths, but the emergency office couldn’t immediately confirm the casualty figure. Other South Korean media outlets carried similar casualty reports.

— Denver Post wire services