The Powerball lottery has jumped to $700 million.<br />By midday Thursday, lottery officials said the new high came as sales of tickets continue to skyrocket.<br />The new jackpot translates into a $428.4 million cash value for a potential winner or winners.<br />And lottery officials in Maryland said the jackpot could easily grow more in the coming days before Saturday's drawing at 11 p.m.<br /><br />"This is just one of those rare times when everybody is talking about the Powerball jackpot," said Gordon Medenica, director of the Maryland Lottery agency.<br />Ticket sales across the country were up, and in Maryland, officials reported selling $6 million worth of tickets on Wednesday.<br />Carole Everett, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Lottery division on Thursday, said there is no limit on how many times the jackpot can roll over.<br />Sales of lottery tickets have been jet fueled over the past week as dreamers take a shot at the jackpot.
