Around the state

By Times staff and wire reports

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 17, 2001

Summon Legislature, Frankel urges

TALLAHASSEE -- House Democratic Leader Lois Frankel called on Gov. Jeb Bush Monday to declare a special legislative session to increase school funding.

Frankel, a candidate for governor, said she wants Bush and the Legislature to take $277-million -- almost all of what Bush vetoed last month -- and return it to the state's schools.

Frankel was joined by state Rep. Curtis Richardson, a D-Tallahassee.

The Florida Education Association last week asked Bush to call the session in September to approve spending the money he vetoed last month on schools.

But neither Bush, who can authorize a session, nor House Speaker Tom Feeney, who can call one if Senate President John McKay agrees, will entertain the idea. A McKay spokeswoman said he would consider a special session if he receives a formal request.

Bush spokeswoman Elizabeth Hirst said Bush has overseen historic increases in education since taking office in 1999 and that he will encourage lawmakers to set aside even more money for education at the next scheduled session, which starts in January.

Fantasy 5 boosts payoff -- and odds

TALLAHASSEE -- The Lottery's Fantasy 5 game is changing, starting Monday, with an increase in the top prizes from $20,000 to $100,000.

Under the new format players will choose five numbers from a field of 36, instead of 26 as before, the Florida Lottery said.

In Fantasy 5, players win by correctly picking three, four or five of the winning numbers in any order. The game is the Lottery's second-most popular after Lotto. Tickets cost $1.

Lottery Secretary David Griffin said player surveys found that customers wanted larger payoffs.

The larger prizes are possible since it will be harder to win because of the increased number of choices from which players pick numbers. The odds of winning go from one in 65,780 to one in 376,992.

The new game also features a prize "roll down." If no players pick all five numbers, the top prize money is shared equally by everyone who picks four of the five numbers. Also, players who match two of five numbers will get a free Fantasy 5 Quick Pick ticket for the next drawing.

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