KIRO Newsradio Headlines: Judge requires Starbucks to re-hire unlawfully fired employees

A federal judge has ordered Starbucks to re-hire seven employees in Memphis.

The National Labor Relations Board contends they were fired for leading a unionization effort at their store.

Starbucks says the employees violated company police when they let a television crew inside the store after closing and without permission.

Olympia passes new regulations to help renters

Olympia’s City Council passes new laws for landlords, which caps move-in fees and takes effect in four weeks.

Landlords will be able to ask for last month’s rent or a security deposit that does not exceed one month’s rent, and they will not be able to charge other non-refundable fees at the beginning of a lease.

Landlords will be required to give 120 days notice for rent increases greater than 5%; for increases greater than 10 percent, 180 days notice will be required

The ordinance also caps pet deposits to 25% of a month’s rent, plus other changes involve notifying renters of rent increases greater than 5%.

The ordinance is set to take effect in December or early next year.

KIRO Newsradio Headlines: Mushroom grower facing lawsuit over gender discrimination, retaliation

Mountlake Terrace Parks employees to get bonuses to combat staffing shortages

Most Mountlake Terrace Parks and Recreation workers will be getting quarterly bonuses in a move to fight local staffing shortages.

Seasonal and temporary workers can’t apply, but all year-round employees who work at least five hours a week are eligible.

A full time staffer could earn up to $3,000 extra each quarter.

Mountlake Terrace’s Parks and Recreation Director tells us they are using coronavirus grants for the bonuses which will be paid out through June of next year.

Former judge sentenced to 15 months for repeated sexual assaults

A former Eastern Washington judge has been punished with 15 months in prison for repeated sexual assaults on two Asotin County court employees.

Scott Gallina pled guilty to reduced charges as a way to avoid trial. He was originally charged with second-degree rape.

The Lewiston Tribune says he was given a sentence on the lower end of the prosecutor’s recommendation.

The state attorney general says the former judge must register as a sex offender after he is released.

Residents of Puyallup mobile home park being priced out of living 

Dozens of residents of a Puyallup mobile home park say they are being priced out of a place to live.

The residents of the Meridian Mobile Estates are down to the final weeks before they must be off the property.

The city of Puyallup is offering households a $5,000 relocation grant, and the state is also providing some financial support.

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