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Midwest
Wisconsin ski park faces lawsuit after allegedly firing employee for sharing Bible verses on social media
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A Wisconsin snow park is facing a federal lawsuit that accuses it of firing a Christian employee for posting Bible verses on his personal social media account.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a complaint against Crystal Ridge Ski Area, LLC, formerly known as The Rock Snowpark, a winter sports park and summer events venue in Franklin, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. Their complaint alleges the park discriminated against a former employee who worked there from January 2, 2022 to June 12, 2023.
During his time of employment, the Rock Snowpark employee “frequently posted religious messages” including Bible verses, on his personal social media account, the suit states. On June 9, 2023, Rock Snowpark’s Operations Manager met with the individual and expressed concern that his posts “were discriminatory to gay people,” and asked him to refrain from posting these statements. When the employee asked if he could still post Bible verses, the manager gave approval, the suit says.
Three days later, the employee posted another Bible verse on his personal social media and was terminated the same day.
A federal lawsuit filed by the EEOC claims a Christian employee was told to refrain from posting Scripture on social media that was discriminatory toward gay people. (iStock)
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The EEOC complaint states the employee did not identify his workplace or claim to be representing the views of his employer on his social media account. His posts were not directed at any employee of Rock Snowpark and the park did not receive any complaints about the posts, the complaint claims.
The employee had worked for the company for a year and a half before his termination, during which time he received bonuses and was promoted for his excellent performance, according to the lawsuit.
The EEOC filed the suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement, the complaint explains. The park is accused of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion.
The commission is asking the court to issue a permanent injunction restricting Crystal Ridge from engaging in “any employment practices which discriminate on the basis of religion in violation of Title VII.” The commission asks the court to order the park to implement new policies to ensure equal employment opportunities “regardless of religion.” The complaint also asks for the employee to receive backpay and compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged harms caused.
The EEOC lawsuit asks for the Wisconsin snow park to provide compensation and damages to an employee who was fired over alleged religious discrimination. (Getty Images/IStock)
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The commission is requesting a jury trial in the case.
“All employees have the right to earn a living free from discrimination based on their religious beliefs,” EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas said in a press release. “While employers must remain alert to potential harassment in the workplace, religious statements made outside of work that do not reference or impact anyone in the workplace do not constitute unlawful harassment.”
Crystal Ridge Ski Area told Fox News Digital it had not yet been served the legal complaint but rejected the allegations.
“First, we want to make clear that we, as an employer and member of the community, treat all of our employees and customers equally and with respect, regardless of who they are and what they believe,” the park said. “We also expect all of our employees to similarly respect each other and the customers that we are here to serve.”
“Second, we want to make clear that the internal employment decision that apparently led to the EEOC’s lawsuit was not made on the basis of the employee’s religious beliefs. Rather, it was a business decision based on performance issues and policy violations,” they added, saying they had no further comment on the matter.
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Indianapolis, IN
Foundation donates $20 million to Purdue for health care systems innovation
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WISH) — Purdue University has received a $20 million commitment from the Ricks Family Foundation to establish the Purdue Institute for Healthcare Systems Innovation at the Indianapolis campus.
The institute in the Mitch Daniels School of Business aims to improve health care efficiency and effectiveness, the university said in a news release issued Wednesday afternoon.
Dr. Christina Ricks and her husband, David A. Ricks, the chair and CEO of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co., are the primary leaders of the foundation.
James “Jim” Bullard, a dean for the Daniels School of Business, said in the release, “Considering the health care situation in the U.S. today, there is a clear need for rigorous, market-informed research that challenges conventional thinking and drives new solutions. This institute will allow Purdue to lead that work and make a lasting difference.”
As Purdue works to develop its relatively new Indianapolis campus, the university recently announced that plans for a 12-story apartment building on recently acquired canal property in Indianapolis are now on hold as the university develops its campus, Mirror Indy reported.
This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
Cleveland, OH
Skeletal remains of woman missing for 7 years found in Cleveland
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified skeletal remains found earlier this month at a home on Cleveland’s east side as a woman who’s been missing since 2019.
Paige Natassia Coffey, of Bratenahl, Ohio, was reported missing on May 17, 2019, after having no contact with family members for several days, according to the FBI.
Coffey was 27 years old at the time of her disappearance and would have turned 35 later this year.
Coffey was last seen on May 7, 2019, at a Home Depot in Cleveland, according to investigators.
Cleveland Missing on Wednesday, April 29, released a statement on behalf of Coffey’s family:
“They are devastated by this loss, and we at Cleveland Missing grieve alongside them,” wrote co-founder Sylvia Colon. “They wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped search for Paige, and to the members of the media who kept her story alive.”
Her remains were found on April 17, 2026, at a vacant home on the city’s east side, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The cause and manner of Coffey’s death are still under investigation.
The Bratenahl police chief told Nexstar’s NewsNation last year they had identified a person of interest in the case: Coffey’s former boyfriend, with whom she had recently reunited.
The last time Coffey was seen was with Mason, on a store’s surveillance footage from May 2019, reported NewsNation.
Federal court records show Mason has been jailed since 2024, awaiting trial on a firearm charge in Ohio’s Northern District federal court.
Greg Nelsen, FBI Cleveland special agent in charge, released a statement earlier this year, asking the public for new leads:
“We understand someone with information may be hesitant to come forward out of fear. Know that your identity can remain anonymous when sharing information with the FBI. We encourage anyone with information, no matter how long it has been, how insignificant you may think it is, or if there are details you may now remember, such as overhearing or recalling another person discussing Paige, seeing her with another person during or since the time she went missing, or knowing someone who may have information that we should talk to and think that person could be helpful in the investigation, to step up.”
The FBI recently offered a $10,000 reward for information on her whereabouts.
Illinois
Park City, Illinois, police officer charged with sexual abuse
Sexual abuse charges were filed this week against a Park City, Illinois, police officer.
On Jan. 28, the Park City Police Department requested an investigation by Illinois State Police after a civilian accused a part-time Park City officer, state police said.
State police said their special agents conducted several interviews and obtained search warrants.
On Tuesday of this week, the special agents presented the case to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office, who charged Officer Patrick Cacho, 29, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, with 10 felony counts. They were composed of four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, two of aggravated battery, two of official misconduct, and two of criminal sexual abuse.
Cacho was being held at the Lake County Jail Wednesday.
No further details were provided about what Cacho is accused of doing.
Park City is located in Lake County, adjacent to Waukegan and Gurnee.
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