Circle K is Suing a Store Manager for Trying to Buy Unclaimed Winning Arizona Lottery Ticket

Circle K is suing an employee for trying to buy an unclaimed winning lottery ticket from one of its stores.

Circle K

Summary of What Happened at an Arizona Circle K with the Lottery Tickets

Here's what happened:

A Circle K manager noticed that a winning Arizona Lottery ticket was lying around the store, and he bought it “as a customer” after he found out it had the winning numbers. His employer — Circle K — wants to keep all $12.8 million , which would be the fourth-largest jackpot won in Arizona since 2019.

The Full Details of the Circle K Story

Here’s what happened in Maricopa County, according to 12News:

A customer entered the Circle K at 5601 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 24, 2025, and asked for lottery tickets to be printed.

The store manager, Robert Gawlitza, printed $85 worth of tickets; however, the customer only paid for $60 worth of the tickets, leaving the remaining $25 worth of tickets on the counter “available for sale” at the convenience store.

That night, the Arizona Lottery announced the winning numbers, and these tickets were still sitting in the store.

On the morning of November 25, 2025, Gawlitza noticed that one of the tickets had the winning numbers of 3, 13, 14, 15, 19, and 26, meaning that it was worth a winning cash payout of $12.6 million.

He then “clocked out” as an employee of Circle K and purchased the abandoned lottery tickets from another Circle K employee.

After the sale, Circle K management “was alerted to the winning ticket,” and the company requested that the winning ticket be kept in the head office for safekeeping until a judge decides who the rightful owner of the ticket is.

The winner of the ticket must claim the cash prize by May 23, 2026.

Reader Poll: Who do you think should be entitled to the winning lottery ticket?

Sources

Simchuk, Kyle. “Lawsuit: Circle K employee buys lottery ticket worth millions the day after the drawing.” 12news.com. 20 Feb. 2026.

Walcott, Escher. “Arizona Store Clerk Sued for Trying to Cash in $12.8 Million Lottery Ticket Left Behind by a Customer.” People.com. 22 Feb. 2026.

*****

Opinion Editorial:

Here is a thought of why Gawlitza should be able to keep the winning lottery ticket and claim the winnings.

The manager should be allowed to keep the $12.8 million winning ticket because the purchase was made as a private individual, not as a representative of Circle K. If he had clocked out and completed the transaction using his own money, then the ticket was a personal purchase, just like any other customer buying a ticket from the Arizona Lottery. Employment at a store does not automatically transfer ownership of personal property to the employer, especially when the employee followed standard purchasing procedures and paid with personal funds. Denying him the prize would set a troubling precedent suggesting that workers lose basic individual rights simply because of where they work. A lottery is based on chance, and if the ticket was legally purchased, fairness and common sense support allowing the manager — not the corporation — to claim the winnings.

A Massive Bran Flake is For Sale on EBAY in the UK for £163,000.00, Nearly $200,000 USD & It is "Still Crispy"

An Ebay Uk user posted a giant bran flake for sale on eBay for almost $200K in USD. He doesn't know how he will get it to someone undamaged, but it does come in a picture frame, and he claims it is "still crispy."

A Large bran flake; credit: dumplingsisters (on Instagram)

At the time of the publication, the massive bran flake had not been sold on Ebay UK with the "Buy it now" price of £163,000.00, which is nearly $200,000 USD. You can see it below.

Giant Bran Flake on Ebay UK

Ebay.co.uk user "petelightning" has posted a "Giant Bran Flake" on Ebay for £163,000.00, which is nearly $200,000.00 USD.

The Description of the Giant Bran Flake 'Buy It Now' Item 

The author of the listing posted the following of the description:

"This listing is for one gargantuan and uneaten Bran Flake - mounted, framed and undamaged. Still crispy.

I discovered the elephantine edible on a crisp winter morning whilst pouring out my least favourite breakfast cereal (aka ‘torture flakes’) in a vain attempt to wean myself off of Pop Tarts and “be heathy for a change”.

A little tilt of the box was all it took to awaken this mammoth from its slumber, causing it to dislodge and thunder out in what seemed like slow motion before shattering the bowl and embedding itself in the table. 

I’ll never forget that there was a pigeon outside on the fence, which looked disconcerted but not overly concerned. Probably just putting on a brave face.

All in all, I’d say the event took around 5 seconds GMT. Thankfully no-one in the immediate vicinity was physically hurt, but I checked the news later: there was a war, a pandemic, and food and fuel shortages.

The whopping wheat measures approx. 8.6cm x 7.3cm and has a folded edge, which means it’s technically a lot bigger. Scientists have not yet studied the monolithic munch but I am waiting to be contacted about this as I am certain it holds much significance.

If you do wish to transfer custody of the flake I have no idea how I will actually transport it to you undamaged, but I am confident that we will all get through it together. I can promise that, once the transaction is complete, you will never see or hear from me again."

At the time of the publication, the massive bran flake had not been sold on Ebay UK with the "Buy it now" price of £163,000.00, which is nearly $200,000 USD. 

One might wonder, "How will "petelightning" keep the giant bran flake crispy?"

How to Keep Bran Flakes Crispy

To keep bran flakes crispy, it is important to store them properly. Here are some tips:

• Store in an airtight container: Transfer the bran flakes from their original packaging to an airtight container, such as a plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid. This will help to prevent moisture from getting in and making the flakes soft and stale.
• Keep away from moisture: Bran flakes should be stored in a dry place, away from any sources of moisture, such as near a sink or a window. Moisture can make the flakes soft and stale.
• Don't mix with other cereals: If you are storing bran flakes along with other cereals, make sure they are not mixed together. Mixing can cause moisture from one cereal to transfer to the others, which can make them all soft and stale.
• Store in a cool place: Bran flakes should be stored in a cool place, away from heat sources, such as near an oven or stove. Heat can cause the flakes to become soft and stale.

By following these tips, you can help to keep your bran flakes crispy and fresh for longer.

Who do you think would buy a massive bran flake and spend this kind of money?  (Share your thoughts in the comments)

If Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" Shoes Sold Out in Stores, Where Can I Buy Them?

Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue"

The Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" shoes were officially released on December 20, 2014.  They are sold at Nike.com for $200.00 USD, but they are sold out on the Nike.com website.

Where can I buy Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" shoes?

This has left many Air Jordan aficionados asking, "Where can I buy these shoes?" This is a fair question to ask, but keep in mind the dangers of buying such a coveted item.

Dangers of Buying Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue":

• You may be a target for shoe theft, or being mugged for your shoes.  
• You may get swindled into buying knock offs if you buy them online from fake sellers on eBay.
• You could be buying from an untrusted seller if you Google the search phrase: Where can I buy Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue"

Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" sold out at Nike.com

Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" are in High Demand - Where can I buy them?

Because of the short supply and high demand of the Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" shoes, they are selling on eBay, Amazon.com and Kixify from various people and vendors for an average price of $335.00 (not including the shipping fees).

This is because they are sold out from Nike.com and now individuals can price them much higher.

The release of these shoes were so anticipated that tickets were issued at participating retailers selling the Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue".  Instead of asking "Where can I buy them?" - perhaps you should also be informed that there are knock offs being sold under the premise that these are the Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" shoes, when they are in fact, not.  This is a real danger of buying shoes that have sold out in stores.

If you buy Air Jordan 11 "Legend Blue" shoes, how can you be sure they are the real thing?

1. Make sure the seller includes the receipt.
2. Study the shoes on Nike.com, and make sure they look exactly like the real shoe