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NC lottery to no longer contribute to teacher salaries

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wednesday night’s $1.58 billion Powerball numbers are 8, 27, 34, 4, 19- 10.

The California Lottery tweeted a winning ticket was sold in Chino Hills.

The odds are high someone knows somebody playing the Powerball, and they’re slim that the person will win.

The odds are so high, one in 292.2 million, which means there’s a better chance of that person being struck by a comet, according to Darmouth College researchers.

But with every ticket purchased in North Carolina, education is benefited in the state.

According to lottery officials, 76 cents of every $2 ticket goes toward North Carolina education. The remaining money goes to prizes, retailers and lotto officials.

While the lottery benefits education, starting in 2016, proceeds will no longer benefit teachers.

Channel 9 learned that over the past two years, more than 800 teacher positions in Mecklenburg County were paid for by lottery earnings.

The remaining money was divided between teacher assistants, school construction, Pre-K programs, college scholarships and University of North Carolina need-based financial aid.

Things are changing in 2016. Lawmakers decided not to gamble that teachers' positions would be funded through the lottery. Instead, non-instructional positions, like bus drivers and custodians, will receive the funding.

That doesn't bother some players, like William Phillips, who bought $45 worth of tickets on Tuesday. He's hoping his numbers not only help education but also his family and the less fortunate.

"I'm going to pay off all my bills, pay off my kids bills and help the homeless," Phillips said.

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