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. |
Texas A&MRamírez leads late scoring barrage, Guardians deal Rangers their seasonA French court clears director Roman Polanski of defaming a British actorI am a Cher superfanIncumbent Baltimore mayor faces familiar rival in Democratic primaryFuture of Baby Reindeer 'confirmed' after fans of the hit Netflix drama begged for second seriesKhloe Kardashian takes True and Tatum to see dad Tristan Thompson play for the FIRST TIMENew industry readies for launch as researchers hone offshore wind turbines that floatCher, 77, is rocker chic in bedazzled black bodysuit with sultry cutA monarchy reform activist in Thailand dies in detention after a monthslong hunger strike