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Worker dies in snow-blower accident
Hunter Mountain - A ski resort employee was killed Monday night when he was sucked into a snow blower, state police said.
Walter Rion, 63, who worked at Hunter Mountain Ski Resort, was pulled into a running 6-foot-wide snow blower after his clothes got caught in its blades, state police in Catskill said.
He was standing next to the machine while trying to close an overhead garage door when the accident happened about 8:30 p.m.
Rion, of Prattsville in Greene County, died at the scene.
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Whistle-blower lawsuit settled
The Madison County Commission approved an out-of-court settlement Friday of a federal whistle-blower lawsuit that could save more than $1.3 million in taxpayers' money. Five of the six commissioners voted to pay $53,750 as the county's part of a $110,000 settlement to end litigation that stemmed from the defunct Working Connection welfare-to-work program. Tommie Lockhart of Huntsville, who sued in October 2001 under the federal False Claims Act, will receive 30 percent of the settlement. The government will receive a 70 percent share after payment of $45,000 to Lockhart's attorney, Kerri Riley, for legal fees. Lockhart was executive director of the program from December 1999 to August 2000. Commissioner Faye Dyer was absent Friday, and Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie does not vote unless there is a tie.
Haringey hits back at child protection whistle-blower
Haringey Council has launched a counter-offensive against a senior social worker who won an employment tribunal against it by default last week. Nevres Kemal, who still works for the council successfully sued Haringey for racial discrimination and being disadvantaged as a result of whistle-blowing, because it failed to respond to her claims. .
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