California Lottery officials have announced a special promotion for Daily Derby players after a software error affected lottery ticket machines. 

Daily Derby is one of eight draw games offered by the California Lottery where players select two sets of three numbers: the first numbers representing three horses to finish first, second and third, and the second set represents the winning race time. 

According to a press release, lottery players’ odds of winning were not impacted by the error, but the prize amounts for winning tickets may have been affected “for a subset of players.” 

“The software error affected two specific kinds of California Lottery ticket machines and only under certain circumstances, depending on how a person chose to play and purchase tickets,” lottery officials stated.  “The error only impacted those who used the QuickPick option…[which is for] players who don’t want to choose their own numbers and instead prefer the gaming system selects for them.” 

Those who used the QuickPick option received tickets with numbers only in ascending order, and the software issue also affected the race time number selections in some cases, with numbers only being printed on tickets in ascending order and with no repeating digits. 

Officials released a statement summarizing the software error: 

“Although the odds of winning were not affected, prize payments on winning Daily Derby tickets may have been impacted by the software error.  In California, prize amounts are split among the number of players who won in the same way.  Because the error resulted in a subset of players having access to limited combinations of numbers, more winners were likely produced when these limited combinations turned out to be selected than in cases where the winning numbers matched those from the larger pool of all possible combinations.” 

The error was traced back to a programming mistake by International Game Technology, the state lottery’s gaming partner. 

Upon discovery of the error, the California Lottery worked quickly to correct it within 24 hours, officials said. 

It was also announced by lottery officials that beginning Tuesday, the overall prize pool for Daily Derby will be boosted by $100,000 each day for 12 days, meaning that winners at any prize level will have the opportunity to win bigger prizes than they normally would. 

The added money will remain in the pot until someone wins the top prize, even after the original 12-day promotion, lottery officials added.  The funds will come from International Game Technology and not funds directed towards California public education. 

Preliminary estimates by state lottery business analysts indicate that approximately 20% of Daily Derby wagers were affected by the error, which translates into about four million each year; for context, California Lottery officials say that more popular games like the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots generate hundreds of millions of wagers each year. 

More information about Daily Derby can be found here. 

A popular firearms influencer spoke out Monday on YouTube condemning Thomas Matthew Crooks’ attempted assassination of former president Trump and said he was stunned to learn the shooter was wearing a Demolition Ranch T-shirt. 

“As a lot of you guys know — and we were shocked and confused to find this out — the shooter who tried to assassinate Trump was wearing merch from my channel, wearing a Demolition Ranch T-shirt,” Matt Carriker told his 11 million subscribers.

The video has racked up nearly 4 million views.

“We don’t vet the people who buy our shirts,” Carriker said. “I would love to keep people like that from buying, wearing, being associated with that article of clothing…I wish he couldn’t get a shirt, but it happened.” he said.

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Authorities approach the suspected gunman from where he fell after the U.S. Secret Service returned fire after an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

The Texas-based veterinarian, who runs two firearms channels for gun enthusiasts, said he usually steers clear of political discussions, but the news has thrust him and his business into the spotlight. 

“I think the difference in a gunman wearing a pair of Nike shoes and a gunman wearing my T-shirt is this brand is much more personal to me than Nike is to its executives,” he said. “To see my name next to the shooter’s name — oh, it sucks and I wish, I wish we could keep that from happening.”

He added, “No matter what side you’re on politically, none of us want violence. This channel was never meant to incite violence or hate. It never has, it isn’t, and it never will be a channel that does that. I don’t want any violence or hate anywhere around me. I have a wife and little kids. I want them to be safe and secure forever.”

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Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The company’s Facebook account featured a photo of a law-enforcement officer, wearing a camouflage uniform and holding a semiautomatic, standing over Crooks’ body with the caption, “What the Hell.”

On the right sleeve of the 20-year-old shooter’s T-shirt is an American flag and the word “DEMOLITIA.” At a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Crooks opened fire, striking Trump’s ear, killing a spectator and wounding two others. 

Typical posts on Demolition Ranch’s YouTube channel range from “Eating A Meal Cooked ONLY With A GUN!!!” and “Can a Spinning Propeller Stop a Bullet???” featuring Carriker using a propeller as target practice.

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An undated image of Thomas Matthew Crooks.  (Handout via AFP)

Carriker wrote on X Sunday that he was in disbelief seeing his merchandise connected with Crooks. 

“Sucks seeing articles about this and they are naming 3 people,” he posted. “The shooter, trump and somehow me.”

A convicted felon was arrested for allegedly trafficking a 14-year-old girl who was discovered in Anaheim.

The suspect was identified as Marcus Boyd, 36, of Las Vegas, Nevada, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

On July 9, authorities received information about a 14-year-old girl who was being trafficked for sex. The girl was located in Anaheim and detectives began investigating the alleged trafficking.

Boyd was identified as the suspect and was spotted driving later that day. Officers attempted to pull him over but he refused to yield, leading police on a pursuit.

At one point, Boyd ditched his vehicle and began fleeing on foot. He was eventually located and taken into custody.

On July 11, he was charged with:

• Human trafficking of a minor
• Pandering a minor under 16 years old
• Possession of a silencer
• Evading a police officer
• Resisting and obstructing a police officer

Boyd’s previous convictions were not released. The case was investigated by the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF).

“A critical component of the OCHTTF is the OCDA’s Human Exploitation And Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, which targets perpetrators who sexually exploit and traffic women and underage girls for financial gain, including pimps, panderers, and human traffickers,” officials explained.

The lead agencies involved in the task force include the California Highway Patrol, Irvine Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Probation Department, Orange County Social Services Agency, The Salvation Army, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Boyd remains in custody and is being held on $1 million bail.

If you or anyone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 888-373-7888 or call your local law enforcement agency.