In brief: Former YWCA director alleges discrimination

Monica Walters, who served as executive director of the YWCA in Spokane for 13 years, is suing the organization, alleging breach of contract, disability discrimination and privacy invasion.

Walters was “discharged” from the YWCA on Feb. 24. A lawsuit filed Monday by Walters’ attorney, Paul J. Burns, says the board breached Walters’ contract by interfering with her ability to manage day-to-day operations, including making hiring and firing decisions, causing “severe, medically diagnosable stress, mental anguish and emotional distress,” the lawsuit states.

Walters said that the medical condition was a disability and that the YWCA failed to accommodate it. The decision to discharge her “constitutes unlawful disability discrimination,” according to the lawsuit.

Walters’ invasion of privacy allegation stems from the YWCA’s disclosure to the media that Walters had resigned. Walters is seeking damages for economic loss, mental anguish and emotional distress.

Rebecca Nappi

COEUR D’ALENE

Bunker Hill site to get cleanup funds

The federal stimulus plan could give a $25 million boost to cleanup work at the Bunker Hill Superfund site.

The money will accelerate the removal of metal-contaminated soil from residential yards, lowering the risk of lead exposure for children.

The Bunker Hill site will receive $10 million to $25 million in stimulus money, said Angela Chung, a Superfund team leader at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She expects to learn an exact amount in May.

Idaho’s Silver Valley is polluted with heavy metals from a century of mining activity. Lead dust from the Bunker Hill Smelter settled over the valley, contaminating neighborhoods. Mine tailings were also used as fill in residential areas.

About 1,200 residential yards still need to be cleaned up.

With the stimulus money, the EPA could finish the yard remediation by 2013 – two years earlier than planned. The additional funds could create 70 to 100 seasonal jobs in the Silver Valley as more contractors are hired, Chung said.

Becky Kramer

Republic, Wash.

E. coli in water system prompts boil advisory

Tests of the municipal water system in Republic have detected E. coli bacteria, prompting a boil advisory for the community’s 1,400 people. The state Department of Health is working with the town to find the source of contamination.

Residents have been asked to use boiled water or buy bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, dishwashing, preparing food and making ice.

John Stucke