Omaha woman claims the $1 million Powerball prize

Omahans Kevin and Wendy Donahue won $1 million in the July 25 Powerball drawing. That jackpot is the largest lottery payoff in Nebraska since Jesus Gomez of Grand Island claimed a $200,000 Cash Crossword scratch-ticket prize June 29.

Like many Nebraskans, Wendy Donahue bought some Mega Millions tickets last week as the lottery jackpot surged toward $1 billion.

But when she stopped by the Baker’s Supermarket near 156th Street and West Dodge Road, she also picked up a ticket for the July 25 Powerball drawing, with a projected payout of $130 million.

That turned out to be a good move.

Donahue’s ticket matched the five white numbers (25, 37, 38, 39, 65) but missed the Powerball enough to win her a cool $1 million. That payoff beat odds of 1 in 11.7 million.

Donahue told lottery officials the biggest prize she had ever won was a cake at a cakewalk when she was 14, according to a Nebraska Lottery press release.

She and her husband, Kevin, decided to check their tickets after learning there was a $1 million winner at the Baker’s where they shop.