SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A software error affecting a California lottery game is prompting lotto officials to boost the prize pool by hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming days, leading to potentially bigger jackpot wins. 

On Monday, the California Lottery said it recently discovered the glitch which affected machines selling Daily Derby tickets.

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As part of the game, players select two sets of three numbers: the first represents three horses to finish in first, second, and third places. The second set of numbers represents a winning race time.

The software error was limited, according to lottery officials, who said it affected two specific kinds of ticket machines and had an impact on players who used the “quick pick” option. That option allows the gaming system to select the numbers for players.

“The machines affected by the error produced Quick Pick tickets with numbers only in ascending order. 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 explained.

They also said the software issue was corrected within 24 hours of its discovery and stressed that no other state lottery games were affected.

Because of the error and as a promotion, the California lottery said that starting Tuesday, the Daily Derby overall prize will be boosted by $100,000 each day for 12 days. 

“This means winners at any prize level will have the opportunity to win bigger prizes than they would without the promotion,” officials said. “If the grand prize is not won during the promotional period, the money added to the grand prize will remain in the pot until someone wins the top prize.”

You’re lounging on your back, saltwater coating your lips, sand between your toes. And you think to yourself: “Now this is a great beach.”

When you visit the 50 beaches from San Diego to Santa Barbara on The Times’ best beaches list, we want you to feel like you’re having one of those oh-so-California beach days. Reporters visited more than 200 miles of coastline, picking through hundreds of beaches. We prioritized ease of use (although some have a more remote feel) and special amenities — like firepits, volleyball courts, camping, surf conditions and views. Most have accessibility options, all but three have bathrooms (cleanliness varies), and they’re almost evenly split in terms of dog-friendliness.

The majority of beaches on the list tend to pass water quality tests during the summer. As noted in their descriptions, a handful don’t have test scores but are near high-scoring sites or received temporary water-quality warnings this summer at limited spots. At a few beaches, the water quality typically meets standards in most areas but not in some sections. Bacteria levels may increase for a variety of reasons, including contamination runoff from storm drains, poor water circulation, water depth and high heat. (A good rule of thumb: Don’t swim near outfalls.) You can check for updates through the county public health departments of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego as well as Heal the Bay. Even if water quality dips, there are other ways to enjoy these beaches.

While leisure was our guiding light, our list — which is grouped by county below, starting with San Diego — also underscores the importance of public access. Some of these beaches might not exist as they do today if not for a 1976 state coastal protection law unlike any other in the country. Over decades, the law has been used to save firepits; add bathrooms, parking, trails and acreage; and force a private club to drop discriminatory membership rules.

“The general public in California, they don’t think about public access to the beach because they’ve always had it,” said Linda Locklin, the California Coastal Commission’s coastal access program manager. “There are a lot of insidious ways that public access can be undermined and is being undermined all the time.” Her comments call to mind private guards previously stationed at Malibu beaches.

So in the spirit of recognizing aquatic splendor, we’re also celebrating beach access. “The California coast is California’s commons,” after all, as Locklin said.

— Brittany Levine Beckman

(FOX40.COM) — Invasive species cause billions of dollars worth of damage in the United States annually, and California is no exception.

In 2021, it was reported that the United States spent between $120 billion and 137 billion per year on the environmental damage caused by invasive species, which are defined as organisms (plants, animals, microbes) that are not native to an environment, and once introduced, quickly reproduce, spread and cause harm to the environment, economy or even human health.

In California, at least $3 billion is spent annually on eradicating invasive pests, according to the University of California Riverside. The university adds that 80% of endangered species are threatened globally by invasive species, making them second to habitat destruction as the largest threats that native species face.

California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife says it has identified numerous invasive species that have already established populations in the state. Additionally, the agency has identified potential invasive species that haven’t been introduced but could cause harm if brought onto state grounds.

“By educating the public about these species, their likely impacts, the pathways of introduction, and what to do if they are encountered, we aim to prevent introductions and intercept populations before they can establish, spread, and cause harm,” CDFW said.

CDFW has identified these animals as invasive species that are present in California:

Fishes such as snakeheads, piranhas, northern pike, bighead carp, silver carp, and black carp are considered invasive to California, but the animals are not currently present in the state, CDFW says.

According to CalMatters, California spends about $3 million annually to eliminate nutria. The organization adds that the number is only a fraction of the costs because eradication efforts are typically unsuccessful.

CDFW asks that the public take basic steps to ensure that the animals on its invasive species list don’t become more of an issue than they currently present. The most important step is to not release the animal into the wild. If someone has an unwanted animal that is also on the invasive species list, the CDFW recommends either finding the animal a new home, learning how to handle the animal, or contacting animal control.

If an invasive animal is spotted, the CDFW recommends filling out a “suspect invasive species sighting report,” which can be found here.