While doing some housecleaning after learning of an unclaimed $853,492 Powerball ticket from October, Steve Jones swept several tickets from underneath his bed and one turned out to be the lucky one. Jones says, "Someone had mentioned to me there was a story in the paper about the missing ticket. "

The University of Vermont is hoping its cat has nine lives. The cat is really a mascot that's part of sign - a 200-pound, nine-foot by seven foot aluminum snarling mascot that is jumping through an oversized V. The sign had been taken to a South Burlington business for updating when it disappeared Jan. 27. The big hunk of aluminum featuring a snarling catamount jumping through an oversized "V" was due for updated graphics and had been taken to Sign-A-Rama at 3037 Williston Road in South Burlington. Before the work could be done, the sign was stolen. It disappeared between Jan. 27 and Thursday, South Burlington Police said. University of Vermont officials want the cat to come home. The plan is to give it a makeover and display it on Patrick Gymnasium, not far from a twin sign that already has been updated.

Britain's Musicians' Union is calling on performers to come clean and tell audiences if they lip synch rather than sing live. The union is urging promoters, producers and artists to back its campaign for lip-synching to be clearly labeled during TV shows, in pop arenas and on stage. The union suggested that a lip-synching logo could be flashed up on television or on posters and tickets for shows.

A top executive at Morgan Stanley tried to use his company's connections to become a New York Yankees honorary batboy. Guy Chiarello wanted to celebrate his 20th anniversary with Morgan Stanley at Yankee Stadium. To achieve his goals, he sent a number of e-mails to Robert Nederlander Jr. , whose father is a part-owner of the Yankees. Chiarello, the investment bank's chief technology officer, suggested that many of his 1,500 employees would buy tickets or contribute to a charitable donation on behalf of the team. He also said he would not mind being part of the grounds crew working to the strains of YMCA.

A Florida dad punched a teacher's assistant in front of a class full of students after his daughter accused the aide of touching her inappropriately. Dave F. Swafford has been charged with felony battery for hitting the 35-year-old employee of Lakewood Ranch High, located near Bradenton, Florida.