Government

Fired Mackinac Bridge worker can sue over lost promotions, court rules

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By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service
LANSING – A former toll collector is entitled to a trial on claims that the Mackinac Bridge Authority wrongfully denied him a promotion because he’s African American, a federal appeals court has ruled. However, the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals refused to reinstate a claim that the authority discriminated based on race when it later fired Terrance Fuller for wrongfully collecting unemployment benefits. The authority, whose members are appointed by the governor, sets policy and tolls for the bridge linking the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The Department of Transportation (MDOT) maintains and staffs the bridge. The authority hired Fuller in 2004 as a temporary part-time employee.

Public Safety

Two men go to trial in Bay City asbestos case

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By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — A jury trial is scheduled to begin April 29 on asbestos-related criminal charges stemming from the conversion of a former church into a Bay City charter school. Roy Bradley Sr. and Gerald Essex are accused of violating the Clean Air Act by failing to properly handle, remove and dispose of material containing asbestos on the Bay City Academy project. The charter school has more than 500 students from kindergarten through 9th grade at the former church and two other buildings. Bradley, who owned Lasting Impressions, the contractor business doing the remodeling, was in charge of the project. Essex was the foreman supervising demolition and renovation activity at the site between August 2010 and September 2011, according to court documents.