FORMER LIVERMORE LAB WORKERS SUE
LIVERMORE (AP) — A jury is hearing from former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory workers who say they were unfairly targeted due to age, salaries and other issues.
The Oakland Tribune reports 130 ex-employees are suing lab management, claiming wrongful termination and breach of contract. They are seeking restitution for the loss of their jobs and incomes.
On Monday an attorney for five of the plaintiffs told jurors that the employees chosen were picked for layoff ahead of others with less seniority, violating terms in their contracts.
A lawyer for the lab argued that the positions eliminated were no longer necessary to fulfill the lab's directives as it transitioned away from nuclear weapons research.
The trial for the first group of plaintiffs is expected to continue through April.
SF BAY AREA TEEN ARRESTED IN ALLEGED HATE CRIME: EL VERANO (AP) — A Sonoma County teen has been arrested on suspicion of committing a hate crime in an attack on a gay man in a schoolyard.
Sonoma County Sheriff's Lt. Bret Sackett says the 17-year-old suspect and other gang members called the 18-year-old victim sexually derogatory terms while beating him on March 29.
The victim had apparently gone to an El Verano schoolyard that night to meet his friends.
Sheriff's officials tell the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa the suspects also took the victim's wallet and cellphone and attacked his friends.
The 17-year-old suspect has not been identified because he is a juvenile.
EX-MARIN. SANITARY MANAGER CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING
MARIN (AP) — A former sanitation manager in Marin County who is facing multiple criminal charges related to a $350,000 loan he received from the sanitary district to buy a house.
District Attorney Ed Berberian told the Marin Independent Journal (Monday that an arrest warrant has been issued for Brett Richards, the former general manager of the Ross Valley Sanitary District.
Prosecutors say Richards never repaid the housing loan, and apparently never bought a house in the area as he was supposed to. He allegedly used the money instead on living expenses, a new truck, vacations and for cash withdrawals.
The 45-year-old Richards has been charged with nine felony counts, including misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement.
Richards resigned from his $197,000-a-year job at the sanitary district in July. Authorities say his whereabouts are unknown.
ANTIOCH STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR TUBERCULOSIS: ANTIOCH (AP) — Authorities say some 200 students at a Contra Costa County high school will be tested for tuberculosis this week after one of their classmates tested positive for the infectious disease.
The Contra Costa Times reports the principal of Deer Valley High School has informed parents that health workers will be on campus Thursday to test anyone who shared a classroom with the student who contracted the disease.
The school is not recommending all students or staff get tested at this time. It is uncertain how many kids will be tested, but the parents of 209 students were sent consent forms.
The newspaper says the student with tuberculosis is no longer infectious and was back in school Monday.
Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial infection of the lungs. Symptoms typically include a prolonged cough and fever.
