More than 500,000 students are not in classes as the Los Angeles Unified School District is closed for a 3-day strike after union negotiators failed to reach an agreement with the district Monday. 

Members of SEIU Local 99, or the Education Workers United, voted to approve a strike for Tuesday, March 21 through Thursday, March 23 following a year of failed negotiations over staffing and wage increases. 

SEIU Local 99 is a union of 50,000 education workers including cafeteria workers, special education assistants, custodians and bus drivers in K-12 schools, early education centers, homes and community colleges throughout Southern California, according to its website. 

SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias has said workers have been living off "poverty wages" with the average salary at LAUSD at $25,000 a year with employees often working part-time hours. 

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LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho confirmed the close of the district's schools on Twitter. 

"Despite our invitation for a transparent, honest conversation that perhaps would result in a meaningful solution that would avoid a strike, we must formally announce that all schools across LAUSD will be closed to students tomorrow," he tweeted. "We continue to be available to have a conversation tonight, early morning and all throughout the day tomorrow."

Negotiations began in April 2022, but union leaders said talks came to a standstill in December and a state-appointed mediator took over communications between both parties. In February, 96% of LAUSD workers represented by SEIU Local 99 voted to strike. 

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"This afternoon, SEIU Local 99 had agreed to enter a confidential mediation process with LAUSD to try and address our differences," Arias said in a statement regarding the strike. "Unfortunately, LAUSD broke that confidentiality by sharing it with the media before our bargaining team, which makes all decisions, had a chance to discuss how to proceed."

"This is yet another example of the school district’s continued disrespect of school workers. We are ready to strike," he added. "We want to be clear that we are not in negotiations with LAUSD. We continue to be engaged in the impasse process with the state."

Picketing began at 6:30am PT and footage of the early morning strike has already begun circulating social media. 

"LAUSD STRIKE ALERT! RAIN OR SHINE WE ARE OUT AT THE PICKET LINES! Local 99 bus drivers we’re out this morning @LASchools Van Nuys Bus Yard. Did you know Local 99 represents nearly 1000 district bus drivers?" SEIU Local 99 tweeted. 

"This is the first day of a 3-day strike against #LAUSD. Here at a bus yard in #VanNuys, bus drivers march in a picket line in the pouring rain. They want a 30-percent pay raise.," KNX News reporter Jon Baird tweeted. 

"BREAKING: thousands of LAUSD workers are on strike and teachers will not cross the picket line, shutting down schools across LA. Congressman Adam Schiff is here at the press conference launching the walk out," Spectrum News 1 SoCal reporter Kate Cagle tweeted. 

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Select schools in the district are providing supervised child care and grab-and-go lunches during the strike.

The court of public opinion has spoken and "Jeopardy!" fans are rife with fury.

After Monday night's episode of the game show, viewers voiced their disdain on social media for what they believe was an allowed incorrect answer, altering the outcome of the show.

Contestant and professor Melissa Klapper narrowly defeated teacher and football coach Jake Garrett as well as Kelly Barry, a marketing communications specialist.

At one point, Klapper selected the "Quite the Fishy Story" category for $200, and was presented a clue by host Ken Jennings. 

"The force of Lasse Hallström was strong to pull in this Scot to play a fisheries expert in 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,'" it read.

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Without hesitating, Klapper responded, "Ewan Gregor."

The name of the actor in the 2011 film "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" that Jennings was referring to is Scottish actor Ewan McGregor.

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Despite the perceived flub, Jennings confirmed the answer, telling Klapper, "That is correct, taking you to $5,200, you're just off the lead." Garrett led the contestants with $6,800.

Fans immediately flocked to Twitter to confer, questioning if they had all heard the same thing. 

People were adamant that after rewinding the tape, they were sure Klapper had uttered the wrong name.

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"Tonight there was a mistake on @Jeopardy the woman in the middle named Melissa said ‘Ewan Gregor' when really it’s ‘Ewan Mcgregor’ I played it back twice just to make sure," one fan wrote. 

Another person tweeted, "That red headed lady who won answered a question incorrectly. She said Ewan Gregor instead of Ewan MCGREGOR. We ran it back twice. She didn’t say it. She shouldn’t have won."

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Other fans questioned why the program missed what they believed was a clear error.

"@Jeopardy Ewan McGregor was the correct answer. Not Ewan Gregor. Why didn’t @KenJennings or the judges catch that? Could have made a difference in the outcome," one person tweeted. Another user shared, "She said Ewan Gregor! Not MCGregor … So surprised they let that one slide… #tisktisk."

One keen-eyed fan shared that they thought Klapper looked at the judges after giving the wrong answer, tweeting, "#Jeopardy it’s Ewan McGregor not Gregor. Saw her look off to judges after she gave the wrong name but nothing happened."

Klapper eventually won the game, beating defending champion Barry as well as Garrett by only $1.