controversy

Supporters of Bill Fahey speak out in select board meeting

By |

Susan Allen, a former Andover, Massachusetts resident, was shaking as she read a letter to the Andover Select Board during a July 19 meeting. Allen is one of the many people in town who have met Fahey throughout the years, continue to support him and oppose his firing. 

“After upon hearing about the firing of Mr. Fahey, many women from over the 27-year history contacted me asking me what we could do,” said Allen. “I said the best thing I think we can do is speak our truth and so that’s what I’m here to do tonight to speak upon our experience.” 

Fahey was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a minor, which led to him being fired as the director of Andover Youth Services. Many people in the town were outraged by this firing, believing that he would never do such a thing or even if he is guilty, this accusation shouldn’t have resulted in a firing. 

The Cormier Youth Center, home to Andover Youth Services where Bill Fahey was the director. Allen, someone who met Fahey when she was 14 and was employed at Andover Youth Services until 2009.

Government

Bill would prohibit employers from asking about birth control

By |

By DANIELLE WOODWARD
Capital News Service
LANSING — Employers couldn’t discriminate against employees who use birth control or have had abortions under a new bill recently introduced by lawmakers. “It is mainly to protect women from discrimination and questioning from employers on whether or not they use birth control or have had an abortion,” said Rep. Marcie Hovey-Wright, D-Muskegon, who is the primary sponsor of the bill. The bill is pushed by the American Civil Liberties Union. “It is really based on the recent controversy over employees who don’t want to cover birth control in their insurance plans,” said Shelli Weisberg, legislative director for the group. “That gave rise towards companies acting discriminatory towards females that have taken birth control or who have had an abortion.”

Those are questions asked of women but not of men, she said.

Business & Economy

Right-to-Work Bills Spark Controversy

By |

Some have described it as a ‘game changer’ while others have declared it a travesty for Michigan workers. Either way, in a matter days, a GOP majority quickly moved right-to-work legislation through a lame duck session in both the House and Senate. “In the space of 72 hours it went from ‘not on my agenda’ to ‘it’s going be a law in a couple of weeks,’ and that’s a pretty dramatic transition,” said Rick Pluta of Michigan Radio who has been following Lansing politics for more than two decades. It’s a move that marks the end of decades long “closed shop” laws in the state, meaning workers would now no longer be required to join union or pay union dues. For most of his term Gov. Rick Snyder has made it a point to steer clear of such divisive issues.