With big Powerball jackpot, RI hopes for third win

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island is hoping luck will strike again.

Rhode Islanders have hit big Powerball jackpots twice already this year. And the jackpot for the Wednesday evening drawing has climbed to $550 million, the largest jackpot in the game's history. State lottery officials say it has prompted record ticket sales.

An 81-year-old woman from Newport won $336.4 million in a February drawing. Another winning Powerball ticket was sold in the state a day after she came forward to claim her prize. A woman in her 50s from Smithfield later claimed that prize of $60 million.

A lone winner of Wednesday night's drawing who chooses the cash option would get a lump sum payment of $360.2 million.