DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – From now on, those hoping to strike it rich with a Powerball jackpot will have to dig a little deeper to pony up for a ticket.
Powerball ticket prices rose to $2 apiece on Saturday.
Lottery organizers hope the increase will entice more people to play because jackpots are getting bigger and the odds of winning are improving.
The move is a strategy to differentiate the game from Mega Millions, another big-money, multi-state lottery game that sells for $1 a ticket. Both games are sold in 42 states, plus the U.S.
Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. Both have drawings twice a week but are played on different nights.
Lottery officials say they are betting players will like the changes. But some players say the increase may keep them from playing.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – North Platte’s police chief has been named to the Nebraska Crime Commission.
Chief Mike Swain was named to a four-year term by Gov. Dave Heineman.
Swain was named North Platte’s chief in September 2010.
Swain replaces South Sioux City Chief of Police Scot Ford, who had served since 1999.
The commission’s duties include reviewing grant applications and administering law enforcement grants, doing officer conduct reviews and reviewing law enforcement procedure throughout the state.

GERING, Neb. (AP) – Republican Rep. Adrian Smith has filed for re-election to serve Nebraska’s vast, rural 3rd Congressional District.
Smith, who was first elected to the seat in 2006, easily defeated Democrat Rebekah Davis and independent Dan Hill in 2010.
So far, Smith faces a primary challenge from one other Republican, Columbus church music director Dennis Parker. No Democrats have yet entered the race.
However, Parker had raised no campaign by the end of September.
Smith, on the other hand, says he has received contributions from more than 4,500 Nebraskans and has more than $500,000 cash-on-hand.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Harassment through Facebook, instant messaging and other online services would be outlawed under a new bill in the Nebraska Legislature.
The measure introduced Wednesday by Plattsmouth Sen. Paul Lambert and Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill would expand an existing telephone harassment law to include online communications.
Lambert says he submitted the bill to modernize the existing law. He says the idea came from conversations with prosecutors in his district who have received complaints about so-called cyber bullying.
Intimidation by telephone would remain a misdemeanor under the bill, but the possible penalties would increase. The bill would apply to threats, obscene language and attempts to extort money.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – North Platte Police are investigating the theft of prescription medication from Buffalo Bill Manor.
On Monday evening, police responded to a complaint of a burglary at 1200 South Oak. The victim reported that they were missing prescription medications from their home, but there was no sign of forced entry. An investigation led to the arrest of 40 year old Vicki Arriola, who was not an employee of Buffalo Bill Manor, but an assistant who had been issued keys.
Arriola was charged with burglary. She remains in the Lincoln County Jail on $20,000.00 bail. The investigation continues.