State has another jackpot winner

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) -- Whoever bought a winning Powerball ticket in Minnesota will share in a $150 million jackpot, one of the largest in the history of the lottery.

But it could be awhile before the winner is disclosed because he or she has up to a year to step forward and contact lottery officials in Roseville, who will validate the winning ticket. The office opened at 7:30 a.m. today.

Winning tickets were also sold in Kansas and Missouri, Powerball officials reported Sunday.

Winners have the option of collecting $50 million each over a period of 25 years, or taking about $25.94 million -- reduced to $16.6 million after taxes -- in a lump sum. The 25-year option results in annual payments of $1.28 million.

Once they step forward, the winners have 60 days to decide on a payout option.

For security reasons, the winner's name and the name of the store that sold the winning ticket are available only after the winning ticket is validated and an official winner declared, lottery officials said in a news release Sunday.

It is Minnesota's third Powerball jackpot winner in the last nine months. John and Sandra Wynne of Oakdale won $61.1 million in November 1999 and Farrah Slad of Brainerd won $150 million last July.

Minnesota has had 12 Powerball jackpot winners and six winners of LottoAmerica, Powerball's predecessor.

Powerball jackpots seldom reach as high as $150 million. Still, Saturday's drawing was well below the record Powerball jackpot of $295.7 million, reached in July 1998.

Minnesota also had 1,016,549 other winners. Three tickets matched all five balls except the Powerball to win $100,00

The lottery is played in 20 states and the District of Columbia.

Saturday's winning numbers were 3-6-8-43-48, with the Powerball 1.