Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 8 March 2018

Teacher unions see momentum build with West Virginia strike

day to protest proposed teachers behind the walk-
cuts to their retirement out that shuttered public
benefits. Teachers in Pitts- schools statewide said the
burgh reached a tentative 2 percent pay raise initially
agreement after threaten- proposed would not have
ing a strike, and hundreds covered their rising health
of educators held demon- insurance costs.
strations this week in Jersey Some of the teachers who
City, New Jersey. returned to classrooms on
The unions' victory in the Wednesday said they hope
West Virginia strike has giv- unions around the coun-
en a boost to organizers try will be encouraged by
who say the national spot- what they accomplished.
light on teacher pay is long "I do think this strike can
overdue. "To be able to do be the start of something
that there? I think people in big nationally," said Me-
Arizona started looking at linda Monks, a special
each other saying, 'Wow!'" education teacher at Brid-
said Noah Karvelis, an art geview Elementary in South
teacher in Phoenix who Charleston, West Virginia.
helped launch a campaign "Because the United States,
urging Arizona teachers to as Gov. (Jim) Justice says,
wear red Wednesday as a has fallen behind in edu-
show of solidarity. The dem- cation, behind some of our
onstration was meant to other nations, and I think it's
Retired teacher Meg Judd raises her arms and chants "Find funding first!" during a legislative com-
mittee hearing in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, March 7, 2018. Lawmakers voted to advance a bill gauge interest in stronger time that teachers step for-
that would reduce annual cost-of-living benefits for retired teachers to 1 percent from 1.5 percent. action by teachers, who ward and demand a more
(AP Photo/Adam Beam) received a 1 percent pay central role in education
increase this year, Karve- and more respect for our
By CAROLYN THOMPSON tum was building elsewhere actions of their own amid lis said. From West Virginia, profession." “They’re really
Associated Press for similar protests over pay growing frustration over which has some of the feeling it now and they’re
As teachers in West Virginia and benefits for the nation's meager pay. Teachers nation's lowest teacher leaving all of their options
noisily celebrated a 5 per- public school teachers. and staff in eight Kentucky salaries, unions heard fa- open in terms of what kinds
cent raise that ended their Teachers in Oklahoma and school districts were plan- miliar stories of educators of actions they are ready
nine-day walkout, momen- Arizona are contemplating ning "walk in" rallies Thurs- struggling to get by. The to take,” she said.q

Powerball winner wants to give up to $50 million to charity

By MICHAEL CASEY her lawyers said would be a good country." won the money in the na- plan to appeal the ruling if
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A donations over the years of The unidentified woman tion's eighth-largest lottery a judge orders the release
New Hampshire woman between $25 million to $50 signed her ticket after the jackpot. The state says the of the woman's name and
who won a Powerball jack- million during her lifetime. Jan. 6 drawing, but later law was clear on the re- address. Little is known
pot worth nearly $560 mil- "My client doesn't want any learned from a lawyer that quirement to release her about the woman, and her
lion plans to give as much accolades. She doesn't she could have shielded name and failing to pub- lawyers have only said she is
as $50 million to charity as a want any credit. She just her identity by writing the licize her identity could from southern New Hamp-
legal fight to keep her iden- wants to do good things," name of a trust. They said erode trust in the lottery. shire and doesn't want the
tity private proceeds, her said William Shaheen, one she was upset after learn- Despite the court case, attention that often comes
lawyers said Wednesday. of the woman's lawyers ing she was giving up her New Hampshire Lottery Ex- with winning a big jackpot.
The New Hampshire Lottery and the trustee for her anonymity by signing the ecutive Director Charlie Shaheen said she hasn't yet
Commission handed over Good Karma Family Trust of ticket — something the lot- McIntyre said the lottery quit her job and plans to re-
$264 million — the amount 2018. tery commission acknowl- commission didn't want to main where she lives.
left after taxes were de- "She knows there are many edged isn't spelled out on stand between the woman The woman comes from a
ducted — to the woman's charities that do good work the ticket but is detailed on and her money. family of givers "and this is
lawyers. They said she and need money but we its website. "Our hope was just to com- just part of a continuation
would give $150,000 to Girls want to start with these two A judge is considering her ply with the law while mak- of how she was raised,"
Inc. and $33,000 apiece ... because she believes lawyer's request that her ing sure that the winner got Shaheen said. She hasn't
to three chapters of End that the children are our privacy interests outweigh what they deserved," Mc- been in a position to give
68 Hours of Hunger in the future," he said. "If we raise what the state says is the Intyre said. to charities in the past, he
state. It is the first of what good children, we will have public's right to know who Shaheen said her lawyers said.q