MIDDLETOWN — A Pennsylvania couple is sharing a $42.5 million Powerball jackpot with a dozen relatives.

What's more, they didn't even have to buy the winning ticket — they received it as part of a lottery promotion at a convenience store.

Barrie Edwards, of Lancaster County, purchased two Pennsylvania lottery tickets and received a "quick pick" Powerball ticket for free. It turned out to match the winning numbers drawn Aug. 2.

Edwards' wife, Jean, presented the winning ticket to Pennsylvania Lottery officials in a ceremony on Friday.

By sharing the prize with the family, the Edwardses said they're making good on a longstanding verbal agreement to split winnings with relatives who also buy lottery tickets.

PITTSBURGH — It doesn't sound as exciting as "Whiskey Rebellion II," but about 20 Allegheny County residents have formed their own group in the drink tax battle.Pittsburgh attorney Shawn Flaherty said he started Citizens Against Raising Taxes on Property to support the county's 10-percent tax on poured alcoholic drinks that helps subsidize public transit.The anti-drink tax group, Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation, dubbed its movement "Whiskey Rebellion II." It submitted more than 46,000 signatures to get a November ballot measure to slash the 10-percent tax to a half-percent.A county council ballot measure will ask voters to choose between the keeping the levy or higher property taxes.

HARRISBURG — State regulators said they are ready to hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the proposed rescue of Pittsburgh's financially troubled casino project.The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said Friday it will hear public comment and presentations by agency investigators next week.The hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Harrisburg.Under the rescue proposed last month, an investor group led by Chicago real-estate billionaire Neil Bluhm would take over the partially built Majestic Star casino.Construction on the project has stopped since owner Don Barden ran out of money for the nearly $800 million project.

APOLLO — A West Point graduate from Western Pennsylvania died in Afghanistan, the soldier's family confirmed.Second Lt. Michael Girdano, 23, of Apollo, died Friday, just over a month into his first overseas deployment, according to his brother, Nunzio.Girdano had dreamed of attending the U.S. Military Academy since visiting the campus in about sixth grade."He came back when he was that young and said that's what he wanted to do," Nunzio Girdano said. "It takes a lot of work to get into West Point. Everyone was very proud of him."The military had not yet announced the death, but the family believes he died of injuries from an improvised explosive device.