A township fire district must pay upwards of $1 million in back pay, benefits and interest to two firefighters who were fired in what has been deemed retaliatory union-busting, according to their union rep. "The taxpayers in the district get stuck paying the bill for six years of legal bills and pay for something they got no services for," said James Hannon, the president of the union representing Monroe firefighters, after an Appellate Division ruled last week in the union's favor.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Newark Star-Ledger/NJ.com

Four years after former Highwood Fire Department Deputy Chief Ronald Pieri was arrested on charges related to payroll fraud, a Lake County Circuit Court judge has found him guilty on a single count of false entry for falsifying time records. But Judge Victoria Rossetti found Pieri not guilty on two counts of official misconduct and two counts of theft of government property.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: chicago tribune

The holiday spirit is normally alive and well this time of year in Oakville, Washington. It is a town of 700 people that is not accustomed to controversy. When volunteer firefighters at Grays Harbor Fire District No.1 put a biblical message on their sign, someone complained. The fire commissioner ordered the sign to come down and their Christmas tree turned off.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: kiro tv

Ever since that fatal day, Ride the Ducks Seattle not only expected scrutiny, it welcomed it. Now nearly three months after the deadly crash and after handing over 19 years' worth of safety records, procedures and e-mails to investigators, Ride the Ducks wants a second chance. In an exclusive TV interview, Ducks CEO Brian Tracey said without another chance soon, the Seattle tourism institution may have to shutter its doors for good.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: komo news

Ever since that fatal day, Ride the Ducks Seattle not only expected scrutiny, it welcomed it. Now nearly three months after the deadly crash and after handing over 19 years' worth of safety records, procedures and e-mails to investigators, Ride the Ducks wants a second chance. In an exclusive TV interview, Ducks CEO Brian Tracey said without another chance soon, the Seattle tourism institution may have to shutter its doors for good.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: komo news