A Mega Millionaire May be Made Right Before Christmas

Mega Millions grows to mega payout. Lottery mania is likely to hit as Tuesday night's Mega Millions Jackpot has grown to $550 million after no one took home Friday night's jackpot of $425 million – a $228 million lump sum payout. The lottery's jackpot has not been hit in more than two months. According to Chron.com, a lottery official has said excellent ticket sales over the weekend and an expected spike in sales on Tuesday, could push the jackpot closer to last year's record-setting $656 million jackpot, and it could even surpass it. Nothing like a cash windfall the week before Christmas, right? A lump sum payout of Tuesday's $550 million jackpot would net the winner $295 million before taxes. Drawing is at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Ayotte to speak to local veterans. Sen. Kelly Ayotte will speak to local veterans at the Merrimack Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 8641 on Monday morning as she continues an effort to nix military retiree benefits cuts from a budget deal pending in the Senate. She said the cuts "unfairly target current and future military retirees, who have put their lives on the line to defend our country. According to a press release from Ayotte's office, "In order to achieve approximately $6.3 billion in savings, the legislation currently includes a provision that requires a one percent reduction in cost of living benefits for many military retirees under age 62.  According to analysis by the Senate Budget and Armed Services Committees, under the proposal, a Sergeant First Class who retires in his early 40s - who has served our country for two decades and most likely deployed multiple times to war - could lose more than $70,000. Ayotte will be at the VFW at 11:45 a.m. The VFW is at 282 Daniel Webster Highway.  

Public hearing. The Amherst Planning Board will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 18, for a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium/Theater at, Souhegan High School, 412 Boston Post Road. Get a look at the proposed changes on the town website.

School board meetings. The SAU 39 school board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Souhegan High School Annex Room 222. The Amherst School Board will meet Thursday, Dec. 19, in the Souhegan High School Information Center. Get the SAU 39 agenda and the ASB agenda on the school website.