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Outrage in Baltimore after kids huddle in freezing classrooms

January 5, 2018 by  
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Old Man Winter’s first big breath brought similar snowy scenes all along the East Coast. Meteorologists say the strengthening storm has already surpassed the criteria for a “bomb cyclone.”
USA TODAY

Baltimore closed its public schools Thursday amid blustery cold, snowy conditions and community outrage after conducting classes in some buildings where students had to wear coats and gloves to stay warm.

At least a half-dozen schools opened late or closed early Wednesday because of heating problems. Staff in about 60 district schools complained about heating issues, almost one-third of the city’s total.

Schools CEO Sonja Santelises, in a Facebook Live video, blamed the “unprecedented” cold.

“We don’t normally close just because it is a cold day,” she said. “But we also understand, and I hear people, that this is sustained cold. And nobody in this city, including me, wants folks sitting around in coats and in mittens all day for the entire day.”

The conditions drew national notice after former NFL linebacker Aaron Maybin, now a public school teacher, posted video on social media of his elementary school students huddled in coats.

“It’s really ridiculous the kind of environment we place our children into and expect them to get an education,” Maybin said. “I got two classes in one room, kids are freezing, Lights are off. No computers. We’re doing our best but our kids don’t deserve this.”

More: Violent ‘bomb cyclone’ sends high tide to near record levels in Boston

More: What is a ‘bomb cyclone’ and ‘bombogenesis?’ Monster storm moves east

The district has defended its efforts in a letter to staff, students and families, saying keeping buildings open whenever possible is a priority. Santelises acknowledged that classes were underway “even when conditions are sometimes less than ideal.”

She said many schools contain leaky windows and outdated heating systems that make maintenance difficult.

“We want students to have every possible opportunity for teaching and learning,”  Santelises said. “And we also want to make sure that students can get the services and supports that many families rely on (such as)  warm meals and before-and after-school care.”

The Baltimore Teachers Union responded with a letter to Santelises, blasting the condition of the classrooms.

“Your expectation that our members and the children that they teach endure bursting boilers, drafty windows, frigid temperatures in classrooms, and risk getting sick in these ‘less than ideal’ conditions, is utterly ridiculous,” the union said.

Maybin, a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2009, is a teacher, an artist and an activist in his native Baltimore. His social media posts about the schools have drawn offers of help, and he says local women are collecting money for space heaters and coats.

“Update: yesterday we raised 8,000$ of our $20,000 goal to get space heaters and winter coats for the kids in the affected schools,” Maybin tweeted Thursday. “Thank you to everyone that has donated so far. Let’s keep this going. School is closed today so I will be collecting items myself.”

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Powerball and Mega Millions: What you need to know

January 5, 2018 by  
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The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in more than 302 million. You have a better chance at all these other extraordinary things.
USA TODAY

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots now total more than $950 million combined after Wednesday’s drawing failed to produce a winner. 

And this stretch is the first time that both multi-state lottery grand prizes have been at more than $400 million each. That makes Saturday’s Powerball $550 million jackpot potentially the eighth largest lottery prize ever and Friday’s Mega Millions $418 million pot potentially the 16th largest lottery prize.

The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing were 2, 18, 37, 39, 42 and the Powerball was 12. The Power Play number was 3. 

Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot worth $460 million was the game’s seventh largest and 10th largest for all lottery games in the United States, according to Dennis Rosebrough, public relations director for the Hoosier Lottery.

► Jan. 3: No one wins Powerball, Mega Millions drawings
► Jan. 2: Happier new year: $800 million in jackpots await lucky winners
► Dec. 31: Will you hit it rich in 2018 with soaring lottery jackpots?

Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing would have netted a winner $361 million jackpot.

Here’s what you need to know if you play Powerball or Mega Millions:

What is a winning ticket worth?

The Powerball jackpot now stands at $550 million for Saturday’s drawing, payable in 30 annual installments, with a one-time cash option of $347.9 million before taxes.

The Mega Millions grand prize is $418 million for Friday night’s drawing with a cash value of $261 million before taxes.

► Dec. 30: What to do if you win the lottery in 2018
► Nov. 16: North Carolina woman wins lottery twice in one day

No matter how a winner chooses to go, lottery prizes that hefty are taxed as ordinary income and put a winner in the highest tax bracket. So that’s $128.7 million for the feds right off the top of that Powerball lump sum, not counting state and local taxes.

One benefit of winning now vs. last year: The new federal tax cut will allow the winner of Saturday’s Powerball jackpot who chooses the one-time cash option to keep about $9 million more for himself.

When are the drawings? 

Powerball numbers are drawn at 10:59 p.m. ET every Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions numbers are drawn at 11 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday.

Find out where to watch the drawings on your local TV station by heading to your state lottery’s webpage. (Sorry, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah; you can’t play unless you cross state lines.)

If you’d rather look online, Powerball’s drawing is streamed here; some websites offer live streaming video of Mega Millions drawings, and Mega Millions’ official YouTube channel posts its video soon after the live event. 

Odds of winning

The odds of buying a winning Powerball ticket are 1 in 25. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in more than 292 million. The odds of becoming a millionaire by matching five numbers is 1 in more than 11.5 million.

Mega Millions’ odds of winning overall are a little better at 1 in 24. However, the odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in more than 302.5 million. A shot at matching five numbers for a $1 million is 1 in more than 12.5.

You have a better chance of achieving sainthood than winning either grand prize, 1 in 20 million, according to Gregory Baer, author of Life: The Odds.

How much does it cost to play?

Powerball and Mega Millions tickets sell for $2 each.

Powerball players can add Power Play for an extra $1 per ticket for a chance to multiply a non-jackpot prize up to five times.

Mega Millions players can purchase the Megaplier for an extra $1 a ticket for a chance to multiply a non-jackpot prize up to five times.

How to play Powerball

How to play Mega Millions

If you win …

Rosebrough recommends that players sign and secure their ticket. Winners should call the number on the back of their ticket when they are ready to claim their prize.

“First, you should pause and take a deep breath,” Rosebrough said. “Then, our experience with past winners says you should consult with some experts whether they be accounting, legal or whatever if you have a major prize.”

Rosenbrough has been impressed with most Indiana winners. Most have had a plan in place before they attempt to receive the money.

How long before you get paid?

Both Powerball and Mega Millions officials transfer the money from a central depository of all districts selling tickets — that includes 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Powerball; Mega Millions sells in all of those places except Puerto Rico — to respective state lotteries within 24 to 48 hours, Rosenbrough said.

However, the transfer sometimes can take longer because of things such as long holiday weekends.

Follow Chris Sims and Channing King on Twitter: @ChrisFSims and @ChanningKing

 

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