Genesee County Woman Wins $1 Million Playing Michigan Lottery’s Lucky Stars Instant Game A Genesee County woman celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a friend when their impromptu stop at a convenience store transformed into a life-changing moment. The 39-year-old, who chose to remain anonymous, won $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s new Lucky Stars instant game. The unexpected windfall came after she initially purchased a few tickets for $5 each, only to discover she had already won $30. Encouraged by her initial success, she used the winnings to buy two additional tickets, which she scratched in the store. When she realized the second ticket was a $1 million winner, she described the experience as “unreal” and admitted she was “still trying to process it.” The winning ticket was purchased at Liquor Wheel, a retail location on 4117 Clio Road in Flint. The woman recently visited the Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim her prize, opting for a one-time lump sum payment of approximately $693,000 rather than annuity payments over time. She revealed her plans to use the funds to purchase a new home and vehicle for her parents, with the remaining amount intended for savings. The Lucky Stars instant game, launched this month, has already generated over $2 million in prizes since its debut. Each $5 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $5 up to the top prize of $1 million. As of now, more than $20 million in prizes remain available, including two $1 million top prizes and nine $2,500 awards. The game’s popularity has contributed to the Michigan Lottery’s strong performance in 2025, during which players won over $1.7 billion in instant game prizes. Lottery officials emphasized that instant games are widely available at retailers across the state, making them accessible to a broad audience.#genesee_county #michigan_lottery #flint #liquor_wheel #lucky_stars
Consumers Energy aims to repurpose plants in Bay & Genesee counties Consumers Energy has announced a new initiative to repurpose existing facilities in Bay and Genesee counties, Michigan, as part of a strategy to provide reliable energy while reducing costs for customers. The plan involves converting two existing power plants into natural gas facilities, which the company claims will offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. Matt Johnson, a Media Relations Specialist at Consumers Energy, explained that the company’s Integrated Resource Plan will focus on repurposing the Karn Generating Facility in Bay County and another site in Genesee County’s Thetford Township. These locations, he noted, already have the infrastructure in place to support the project. Johnson emphasized that the plan is designed to meet peak energy demand while keeping customer bills stable. “Those are locations we already have resources available to us,” he said. “Felt like those are the places we can do it most affordably and cleanest way possible to provide reliable energy in the places we need to.” The company highlighted that the repurposed plants will enable on-demand power generation, ensuring energy availability during periods of high demand. Johnson added that the plan incorporates insights from how data centers manage infrastructure costs, which he said will help reduce expenses for consumers. Consumers Energy also stated that the investments in Bay and Genesee counties will contribute to a nearly $19 billion boost in the local tax base. However, the plan still requires approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission, a process that could take up to a year.#consumers_energy #bay_county #genesee_county #karn_generating_facility #michigan_public_service_commission
