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A Newport man nearly missed out on a $32,000 payday.

The winner claimed his Wild Money jackpot just five days before the ticket expired, according to the Rhode Island Lottery. He had one year from the January 27, 2025, drawing date to collect.

He purchased the winning ticket at Joe’s Kwik Marts, 864 West Main Rd., Middletown, and told lottery officials he plans to use the money to help his family.

A Middletown man also cashed in recently, claiming a $25,000 Daily Numbers prize from the January 5 evening drawing. He had wagered $5 on a four-digit straight bet at the Shell station at 1149 West Main Rd.

In other recent wins, a Danielson, Connecticut, woman claimed a $30,000 prize from a Holiday Traditions scratch ticket purchased at Foster Extra Mart in Foster. She plans to buy a new car.

The Rhode Island Lottery reminded players that non-winning Holiday Instant Games can be entered in the Twice as Nice promotion at rilot.com or scanned in the Rhode Island Lottery app for a second chance to win cash prizes totaling $15,000.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020).

He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide.

Ryan is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and Local Independent Online News Publishers. He is committed to the codes of ethics of these organizations: accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency.

In Newport, Ryan served on the boards of the Fort Adams Trust and Potter League for Animals, and hosted a daily radio talk show for four years.

In 2021, Ryan moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to support his wife Jen's career. He launched The Alexandria Brief in 2025, applying what he learned in Newport to a new community. With the help of some talented on-the-ground contributors, he still runs What's Up Newp — and always will.

Contact: ryan@whatsupnewp.com.