ST. GEORGE, Utah — When most Utahns hear about a big prize above a billion dollars, they’re out of luck. That is unless they live in southern Utah with a 30-minute drive from Arizona.

“I’m from St. George, Utah and I have the winning tickets,” Cindy Gaines yelled waving her Mega Millions tickets.

Gaines runs Discount Plumbing with her husband Josh in St. George, though she admits that doesn’t make them rich.

“It keeps us going and we pride ourselves on not being a big corporation,” she said. “But when we win, we’re going to reinvest the money in our company, keep our prices down and keep our customers happy. “

What Gaines wants to win is the Mega Millions national lottery prize being drawn on Friday night which will be somewhere above $1.2 billion.

While national lotteries aren’t legal in Utah, people in southern Utah are willing to drive 30 minutes across the state line to Arizona – where Mega Millions can be played.

St. George resident Brian Cram was one of them and said his reason for chasing a billion-dollar dream is to not worry about finances.

“I mean obviously there’s house and cars and being able to get those things when you want,” said Cram. “But ultimately, yeah, it’s just you, your friends, your family saying, ‘Hey, you’re done worrying about those kind of things.’”

The Eagles Landing truck stop is the first place people driving down the freeway from Southern Utah can get to where the Arizona Lottery can be played.

But it wasn’t just people from Utah who were from out of state.

“I’m coming from Las Vegas!” exclaimed Elinor Gacae. “You know, there’s no lottery over there so I just needed to make sure I get some lottery tickets.”

If nobody wins on Friday night, then at least another $100 million will be added to the prize, making it at least $1.3 to $1.4 billion for the next draw on Tuesday.

After a Utah man accidentally triggered an avalanche while riding a snowmobile on Christmas Eve, he was able to rescue his brother and return to safety. 

The unidentified pair of brothers and their father were snowmobiling in the Steep Hollow area of the Logan Canyon, a series of hiking trails in Cache County, Utah. The younger brother was riding across a slope when he triggered the avalanche, the Utah Avalanche Center said in a news release. 

The younger brother saw the snow ripple below and around his sled and was able to ride off the avalanche, but watched as it “swept up and carried his older brother,” who had not been on his snowmobile at the time of the incident, the UAC said. The avalanche carried the older brother and his snowmobile about 100 yards and through a group of trees, partially burying the machine and completely burying the older brother. 

The brothers’ father was stuck below the avalanche, but climbed up to try to search for his sons. He was hampered by snow that “was deep and completely unsupportable,” and became trapped up to his waist. 

The younger brother was able to get close enough to where his older brother was trapped to see “a couple of fingers” sticking out of the snow. The younger brother was able to dig him out of the drifts. 

The two brothers doubled up on one snowmobile and rode out of the area. Their father was able to get out of the snow and ride out as well. 

The older brother broke a leg in the incident, according to the UAC. The center said that on Dec. 26, its staff went to the scene of the accident and recovered the older brother’s “bent-up and broken snowmobile” and the airbag had deployed when he was caught in the avalanche. 

“The damage to the sled, the airbag, and the rider was caused by all being dragged violently through a group of trees by the avalanche,” the UAC said. 

The UAC warned that similar avalanche conditions “are widespread in the area and that the danger will be rising across the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeast Idaho as we head into the weekend.” 

Avalanches can occur on any steep slope, given the right conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Warning signs include cracks forming in the snow around a person’s feet or skis, a feeling of hollow ground, a “whumping” sound while walking, or surface patterns made by strong winds. Heavy snowfall or rain, or significant warming in recent days, could also be a warning sign for an avalanche, according to the NWS. 

To stay safe in case of an avalanche, the NWS recommends following advisories from regional avalanche centers, who will have up-to-date local information. Those going out in the snow should bring a transceiver so they can be found if they are buried in the snow, a shovel so they can help dig if someone is trapped, and a probe that can help locate someone covered by snow. 

Associated Press

Philadelphia 76ers (11-17, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (7-22, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Utah aims to stop its five-game home slide with a victory against Philadelphia.

The Jazz are 2-10 on their home court. Utah has a 2-3 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The 76ers are 6-8 on the road. Philadelphia gives up 110.5 points to opponents while being outscored by 4.1 points per game.

The Jazz’s 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.6 more made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the 76ers allow. The 76ers average 12.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.9 fewer made shots on average than the 14.9 per game the Jazz allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: John Collins is averaging 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Jazz.

Tyrese Maxey is scoring 25.7 points per game with 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the 76ers.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 114.5 points, 45.2 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 6.3 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.

76ers: 7-3, averaging 108.6 points, 41.4 rebounds, 22.9 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Jordan Clarkson: day to day (plantar), John Collins: day to day (hip), Keyonte George: day to day (ankle), Taylor Hendricks: out for season (fibula).

76ers: Jared McCain: out (meniscus), Andre Drummond: day to day (toe), Eric Gordon: day to day (illness), KJ Martin: day to day (foot).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.