Hundreds of Foxwoods employees
called in sick
As reported by The Norwich Bulletin

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. – "About 400 Foxwoods Resort Casino workers are estimated to have called in sick Sunday in protest of what some employees say is an erosion of worker benefits, Foxwoods Employee Group Council Chairman Steve Getchell said Monday.

"The Employee Group Council is made up of 75 employees representing different departments at Foxwoods, Getchell said. The group serves as an intermediary, but with little authority and power, between employees and management.

"The 'sick-out,' or call-out day, was weeks in the planning by an anonymous source operating madatfoxwoods.com, a Web site that called for employees to call in sick or walk out on their New Year's Eve shift, one of the busiest holidays for the casino…"

West Virginia gambling debate heats up
As reported by The West Virginia Herald-Dispatch

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.V.. – As reported by the West Virginia Herald-Dispatch: "The debate over whether table gambling should be allowed at West Virginia's four racetracks might come down to who gets to vote on the decision, a group of panelists said Thursday.

"The panel discussion was part of a legislative lookahead forum sponsored by the Associated Press at Marshall University's Graduate College campus in South Charleston.

"…Racetrack officials will make another push during the 60-day legislative session, which begins Wednesday, to allow the four racetrack counties -- Jefferson, Kanawha, Hancock and Ohio -- to have local referenda on the table gambling issue.

"…[Rev. Dennis] Sparks, a staunch opponent of gambling expansion in West Virginia as well as the state's reliance on lottery revenues, said any vote on table gambling must be conducted statewide.

"…Ted Arneault, president of MTR Gaming Group Inc., which runs the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Hancock County, claimed that provisions in the state constitution would make a statewide vote nearly impossible…"