Discrimination lawsuit rejected
An age discrimination suit filed against Post Falls’ furniture manufacturer flexcel has been dismissed.
In a ruling last week, U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge said the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission failed to demonstrate that its client, a Hauser man, was fired because of his age.
Robert Zychek was 59 when he was dismissed in 2003 as a part of a workforce reduction at the company, formerly known as Harpers. The EEOC suit said that Zychek’s managers made derogatory remarks about Zychek’s age and ability. The suit sought an amount to be determined at trial.
Attorneys for flexcel countered that Zychek was slow in his job, resulting in complaints from co-workers.
In dismissing the case, Lodge said that the evidence would not support a finding that Zychek was performing his job satisfactorily.
Spokane
Talk to outline Bush farm bill
The Bush administration is making crop-based fuels such as ethanol a large piece of the federal government’s upcoming five-year policy and funding plan for farmers.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Rural Development Undersecretary Thomas Door will highlight what the administration wants in the 2007 farm bill. His presentation is part of Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum and will take place in the Spokane Convention Center Theater.
Federal farm bills, usually passed every five years, provide subsidy guidelines that grain farmers have come to rely on during times of poor crop prices.
ExpressJet unveils times
ExpressJet Airlines on Monday posted the arrival and departure times of seven nonstop flights from Spokane to three California cities.
Starting on April 1, two daily flights to Los Angeles/Ontario International Airport leave at 9:30 a.m. and 4:10 p.m., arriving at 12:05 p.m. and 6:52 p.m.
Starting April 9, three daily flights to Sacramento leave at 6:30 a.m., 11:40 a.m. and 4:55 p.m., arriving at 8:28 a.m., 1:38 p.m., and 6:53 p.m.
Starting June 4, two daily nonstops to San Diego leave at 10:25 a.m. and 5:45 p.m., arriving at 1:11 p.m. and 8:31 p.m.
Spokane Valley
Networking group in Valley
A national networking organization has opened a Spokane Valley chapter.
LeTip International Inc. will meet every Thursday at the Old European Breakfast House, 11520 E. Sprague Ave., from 7 to 8:30 a.m.
LeTip brings together a network of professionals from all facets of business, the organization said in a news release. Each business type is represented by one seat, and competitors cannot join once that seat is filled, the release said.