It took persistence, but 25 years of effort paid off big time for two old friends in New York.
Willie McPherson, 74, and Christopher Manzi, 44, won a $14 million jackpot last month playing the Mega Millions lottery, according to the New York Post. The two had been buying lottery tickets together for a quarter of a century after becoming friends while working at Manzi’s print shop in Manhattan. Despite having spent a sizable amount of cash on their lottery habit over the years, neither McPherson nor Manzi shelled out a dime for the winning ticket. As part of a lottery promotion, they received two Quick Picks for free.
“We won $14 million on a free play ticket,” McPherson told to the New York Daily News. “[It feels] beautiful.”
The pair opted to take the prize in one lump sum, which, after taxes, comes out to about $3.5 million each. Media accounts indicated the two may celebrate in Miami.
Kyu’s Coffee Shop, which gave McPherson the winning ticket, received $10,000 for its hand in the deal, NBC News reported.
Posts published in “U.S.”
“What Washington needs is adult supervision.”
–President Barack Hussein Obama
(Watch the debate tonight @6pm/9pm PST/EST — and VOTE!!!!)
In one of the country’s most high-profile voter ID cases, a Pennsylvania Commonwealth judge has ordered an injunction to block the state’s strict photo ID law. The law, which was passed by the state’s Republican-controlled government, required voters to produce a government-issued photo ID in order to cast their ballots–which has been highly criticized by advocates who say it discriminates against minority, low-income and elderly voters, among others.
Pennsylvania is one of many states that passed photo ID laws, many of which are being contested in court. The injunction comes just in time for the November presidential election.
Court Rules Pennsylvania Can Vote Without Photo ID.
NEW YORK — As President Barack Obama widened his lead over Mitt Romney in polls this month, traders at hedge funds and investment firms began shooting emails to clients with a similar theme: It’s time to start preparing for an Obama victory.
What many in the market worry about isn’t that high earners may pay more in taxes if Obama wins. They worry that federal spending cuts and tax hikes scheduled for 2013 will kick in on Jan. 1 and start pulling the country into another recession. The higher taxes and lower spending would total $600 billion. They take effect automatically unless Congress and the White House reach a deal before then.
A San Antonio company has been ordered to pay $200,000 to three black ex-workers who say they were racially harassed by derogatory comments and a noose at the office.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Thursday announced a federal jury’s punitive damages against AA Foundries Inc. The company makes components for water wells.
The EEOC says a company superintendent called adult African-American males “boys.” A noose was found at the workplace after several employees filed harassment charges. Authorities say the superintendent said the noose was “no big deal” and the workers were “too sensitive.” The three men later left the company. The EEOC sued last year.
AA Foundries lawyer Stephen White says the company will appeal.
U.S. President Barack Obama participates in an election campaign rally in Virginia Beach, September 27, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama maintains a lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney with 40 days left until the November 6 election, the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll said on Thursday. The daily tracking poll said Obama had 49 percent support to 42 percent for Romney among likely voters. Ipsos interviewed 1,194 registered voters online for the survey.
President Barack Obama speaks to supporters at the Stroh Center on September 26, 2012 in Bowling Green, Ohio. Six days before early voting starts in Ohio, the President discussed what he says is a real and achievable plan to restore middle-class economic security by paying down the debt in a balanced way. (Photo by J.D. Pooley/Getty Images)
President Obama has a strong lead over Mitt Romney in New Hampshire and narrow advantages in Nevada and North Carolina, according to a new series of NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist College polls, putting him ahead in virtually every swing state with fewer than 40 days before the election.
The president leads 51 to 44 among likely voters in New Hampshire, a state he won in 2008 but one Romney advisers view as winnable for their candidate. Obama has a 49 to 47 advantage in Nevada and a 48 to 46 lead in North Carolina, both well within the margin of error of the surveys. (Go to NBC’s First Read for even more details on the polls.)
WASHINGTON — The Congressional Black Caucus held a series of events throughout the country on Tuesday to educate communities on voter suppression laws and to help ensure eligible voters aren’t turned away at the polls in November.
Members of the CBC have partnered with community leaders and local and state elected officials in their districts to present the “For the People” voter protection initiative. The goal of the project is to give local leaders the tools to inform constituents of what documents and procedures are required to vote.
Gloria Guy enjoys her new “Brad Pitt” house after being rescued from her rooftop during Hurricane Katrina. “I’m glad I stayed,” she says. “I’m tired of running.”NEW ORLEANS — Seven years ago, as floodwaters in the wake of Hurricane Katrina rushed into her living room and swallowed cars, homes and friends around her, Gloria Guy spent 9 1/2 hours on the roof of her Lower 9th Ward home until a neighbor with a boat took her to higher ground.
Gloria Guy enjoys her new “Brad Pitt” house and new neighborhood after being rescued from her rooftop during Hurricane Katrina. “I’m glad I stayed,” she says. “I’m tired of running.” Last week, Guy mostly napped and chatted with family members inside her newly built home on the same lot where Katrina’s floods nearly took her life as Hurricane Isaac wailed and moaned outside but failed to deliver any damage.