Arizona Powerball winner claims prize
PHOENIX, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Arizona Lottery officials said a Phoenix-area man has claimed his share of the record-breaking $587.5 million Powerball drawing, but wishes to remain anonymous.
At a news conference in Phoenix Friday, lottery officials said the man -- who won $192 million in cash -- is in his 30s, is married and lives in Fountain Hills, an upscale suburb of Phoenix, KNXV-TV, Phoenix, reported. He moved to Arizona from Pennsylvania about a year ago.
The report said the man is likely to collect about $134 million after taxes but has indicated he plans to hold onto his job because he likes it.
Mark and Cindy Hall of Dearborn, Mo., claimed their share of the prize last week.
Rubio, Clinton top 2016 poll picks
RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Marco Rubio is the choice of Republicans and Hillary Clinton the choice for Democrats as 2016 presidential candidates, a Public Policy Polling poll indicates.
Poll data indicated 18 percent of Republicans chose Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida; followed by 14 percent for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; 12 percent for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bus; 11 percent for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, from Wisconsin; 11 percent for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; 8 percent for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; 7 percent each for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky; and 4 percent for Rich Santorum.
Clinton, the current secretary of state, was favored by 61 percent of those polled, followed by Vice President Joe Biden with 12 percent; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 5 percent; Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts with 4 percent; Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley with 2 percent; and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia with 1 percent each.
PPP queried 700 registered voters by phone Nov. 30-Dec. 2. The overall margin of error is 3.7 percent to 4.6 percent for Democrats and 4.5 percent for Republicans. PPP said no campaign or political organization paid for the poll.
Medical marijuana shop opens in Arizona
GLENDALE, Ariz., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Arizona's first medical marijuana dispensary is open for business, two years after voters approved an initiative to legalize the drug for certain patients.
With touches of elegance and considerable security, Arizona Organix opened its doors Thursday in Glendale, Ariz., offering polished floors, artwork on the walls, bulletproof windows and retail transaction stations similar to those of bank tellers, The Arizona Republic reported Friday.
Passersby have mistaken the business for an art gallery, one owner said, but behind a secure steel door, qualified patients can purchase one-eighth of an ounce of marijuana for $55-$60, tax included.
"We didn't want it to feel like a medical-marijuana dispensary. We came up with a model of what we wanted, a high-end experience with a lot of security," said Ben Myer, 32, a part owner of the business, with his father and a friend.
Voters approved the Arizona medical marijuana measure in 2010, making the drug available to people with certain debilitating medical conditions that include chronic pain, cancer and muscle spasms. Eligible patients, who number more than 33,000 in Arizona, must obtain a doctor's recommendation and register with the state's Department of Health Services to obtain identification cards. Patients are permitted to purchase 2 1/2 ounces per two weeks, the newspaper said.
A Maricopa County, Ariz., Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday the law doesn't conflict with existing federal drug laws, clearing the way for dispensaries to open without fear of state prosecution. However, Myer said his business cannot accept credit cards because some banks regard the transactions for marijuana illegal under the Controlled Substances Act.
Woman survives 6 days in Sierra Mountains
CARSON CITY, Nev., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- A Nevada woman was in stable condition Friday, recovering from six days stranded in the Sierra Mountains, authorities said.
Paula Lane, 46, of Gardnerville was taken to Carson-Tahoe Hospital in Carson City, Nev., after her rescue Wednesday night, KCRA-TV, Sacramento, reported. Her brother discovered her sheltering in a hollow tree.
"She was one very lucky person," Dr. Vijay Maiya said.
The hospital said Lane had minor frostbite and could be discharged Sunday.
Lane and boyfriend, Roderick Clifton, 44, of Citrus Heights, Calif., got stuck in a snowdrift near Lake Tahoe when they decided to go offroad Nov. 29. Clifton left Lane in their Jeep and went to get help but died in the snow. She found his body when she tried to reach the road.
The Jeep was covered in snow when searchers found it, and authorities said Lane was fortunate to leave when she did.
"Before they went on their excursion, they had stopped by some family members' houses and apparently, they had gotten some tomatoes. She sustained herself on tomatoes and snow," Maiya said Thursday at a news conference.
Lane's brother, Gary, decided to head out to search late Wednesday even though his family advised him to wait until morning.
