SALEM, Ore. (AP) — One of the winners of a $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot this month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week. Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, 46, of Portland, told a news conference held by the Oregon Lottery on Monday that he and his 37-year-old wife, Duanpen, would split the prize evenly with a friend. Laiza Chao, 55, of the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, had chipped in $100 to buy a batch of tickets with them. They are taking a lump sum payment, $422 million after taxes. “I will be able to provide for my family and my health,” he said, adding that he’d “find a good doctor for myself.” Saephan, who has two young children, said that as a cancer patient, he wondered, “How am I going to have time to spend all of this money? How long will I live?” After they bought the shared tickets, Chao sent a photo of the tickets to Saephan and said, “We’re billionaires.” It was a joke before the actual drawing, he said, but the next day it came true. |
Sanders orders US and Arkansas flags flown at halfWondrous Xinjiang: Xinjiang's mobile bazaar blooms aheadKenya to invest 1.9 mln USD to boost EV adoption in 3 yearsTrout bats leadoff for first time since 2020 as threeRizzo's 2New Mexico reaches settlement in 2017 wageWhat is the Rwanda scheme? Your questions answeredMaine's governor signs bill to protect providers of abortion, genderTrout bats leadoff for first time since 2020 as threeFamily pay tribute to 'incredible mother and cherished daughter' who was found dead at luxury five