Watchdog Bytes

Lawsuit accuses Burleson dentist of sexually harassing two employees

By Darren Barbee

dbarbee@star-telegram.com

A Burleson dentist is accused of sexually touching two employees at his practice and making sexual comments about them and patients, according to a discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In a brief phone interview, Dr. David Mikitka's wife said the accusations are baseless. He could not be reached for comment.

Mikitka, who has no record of disciplinary actions with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, is the lead dentist at Smile Brands of Texas, which does business as Monarch Dental Associates L.P. The company -- not Mikitka -- is named as the defendant in the EEOC's suit.

Mikitka began subjecting a female dental assistant to unwanted sexual conduct shortly after she began work in July 2007, the suit alleges. The conduct included incidents in which Mikitka directed unwanted sexual comments toward her, touched her in a sexual manner and made sexual comments about female patients, the suit says.

When the woman couldn't get him to stop, she complained to members of management about Mikitka's "harassment, but defendant failed to prevent or correct the unwelcome sexual harassment," the suit claims.

The suit also accuses Mikitka of subjecting a dental hygienist to unwanted sexual conduct shortly after she began working in the Burleson office in October 2008. The conduct included incidents in which Mikitka talked about sex, directed unwanted sexual comments toward her, touched her in a sexual manner, tried to kiss her and made sexual comments about female patients, the suit says. The hygienist repeatedly told Mikitka to stop the conduct, but he ignored her, according to the suit. She complained to managers, but the company failed to prevent or correct the harassment, the suit claims.

Devika Seth, senior trial attorney for the EEOC, said it is "disturbing" that "an educated professional would use his authority to subject women to such sexually offensive behavior."

A call to the company's human resources director was not returned. An office manager for the Burleson practice said it had received no documents about the suit.

 

Darren Barbee, 817-390-7126

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/28/2502606/lawsuit-accuses-burleson-dentist.html#tvg#ixzz10vtNXJNC

What really happened at Cenikor? Abuse, kissing and redaction

This week Watchdog is taking a moment to single out the Texas Department of State Health Services for its work in protecting patient privacy.

In the name of patient privacy, the department deleted a thing or two (meaning everything) about a substance abuse facility, Cenikor Foundation of Deer Park, when we asked for documents about a report of patient abuse there.
In fact, officials got out their black pen and went Richard Nixon on a "notice of violation" against the facility -- they blacked out large chunks of information in the name of patient privacy.
We blow you a metaphorical kiss, health department, for your stand for the patient.

Alas, the Texas Attorney General decided that the health department hadn't really been protecting patient privacy and that some information was, in fact, "not highly intimate or embarassing" -- at least, not to any patient.

The accusation was that a Cenikor business manager kissed a client on the cheek and hugged her after he had been warned about maintaining professionalism. The conduct supposedly went on from August 2008 to April 2009. 
The state health department had withheld those details.

The facility was told about the business manager's conduct on April 9 but didn't report the frisky business until April 22. The attorneys at the Texas Department of State Health Services apparently decided that the unnamed, unidentified patient would be deeply embarrassed and forever traumatized if word of the allegation got out.
-- Darren Barbee

Fort Worth and Arlington one big retirement community?

Is Arlington the new Arizona? Fort Worth the new Florida? The two Tarrant towns rank among the best places in the nation to retire, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Of the Best Affordable Places to Retire, Fort Worth is in the top 10 cities in the nation, the magazine says. Seniors seeking the Best Places to Downsize in Retirement could flock to Arlington, in the top 10 in that category.

Inexpensive housing and low living costs boost both cities in the list. Arlington also gets the nod for amenities seniors seek, including quality healthcare and its 70+ parks. Fort Worth is notable for its lively downtown nightlife.

So turn up the music in Bass Hall, slow down the traffic and get ready for shirtless 60-year-olds at Lake Arlington.

Check other cities’ rankings:

 

http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/best-places-to-retire

 

 

 

-- Lois Norder

And the Burro goes to... the morons you pay to run the federal government.

Imagine you commit a crime, plead guilty to a felony and two misdemeanor charges and pay a huge fine. Could you still get federal Medicare dollars for your company? You bet!
Let us turn in our hymnals to Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of New York City-based Forest Laboratories, Inc. According to federal sources, Forest has been ever so naughty.

Forest agreed to pay more than $313 million to resolve criminal fines and civil liability arising from its naughtiness, according to a Sept. 15 press release by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Get this, the company agreed to plead guilty to 1) a criminal felony count of obstructing justice 2) one criminal misdemeanor count of distributing an unapproved new drug in interstate commerce 3) one criminal misdemeanor count of distributing a misbranded drug in interstate commerce. The drugs at issue are Levothroid, Celexa, and Lexapro.
“This settlement is part of the United States Attorney’s Office ongoing emphasis on combating health care fraud,” the release states.
We know what you’re thinking: Good for the department of justice and other federal authorities. Way to get the jerks out of there.
Except they’re not out.
Forest Laboratories signed a Corporate Integrity Agreement¹ with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The agreement basically allows the company to continue receiving federal funds if they keep their noses clean for the next five years, an OIG official said. 
The agreement does mean some extra paperwork for Forest. But otherwsie, the integrity agreements says, trust them. They won't be naughty again. 
HEE-HAW!

_{1) To be fair, they do have to promise to be good this time}

-- Darren Barbee

More people found to be obese. Unrelatedly, more Texans contracting chlamydia

Get your snare drum and cymbal ready.
“Obesity is literally a spreading problem,” says U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Ira Dreyfuss of HHS HealthBeat.
Hey! Rim shot.
In 2009, nine states had a rate of 30 percent or greater obesity. In 2000, no state had a problem that large, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The massive report says the highest prevalence was found among non-Hispanic blacks overall, with a rate of 36.8 percent. Regionally, residents of the South and Midwest had the biggest rates, about 28 percent.
Watchdog was a little bit busy today and couldn't find state data for obesity. (If you have it, please send it here.) We did find out that so far this year Texas has diagnosed 79,341 cases of chlamydia, an increase of roughly 11 percent compared to 2009’s 71,649 cases. There is no established link between overeating and chlamydia¹.
For Watchdog, this is Darren Barbee.
_{1) At least, that's what we heard}

Military personnel KIA in August and early September

NAVY

Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Collin Thomas, 33, of Morehead, Ky., died Aug. 18 during a combat operation in eastern Afghanistan.  Thomas was assigned to an east coast-based SEAL team.

Petty Officer 3rd Class James M. Swink, 20, of Yucca Valley, Calif., died Aug. 27 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  Swink was a hospital corpsman assigned to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Forces.

MARINES

Cpl. Max W. Donahue, 23, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., died Aug. 7 of wounds received Aug. 4 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Sgt. Jose L. Saenz III, 30, of Pleasanton, Texas, died Aug. 9 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Cpl. Kristopher D. Greer, 25, of Ashland City, Tenn., died Aug. 8 of wounds received Aug. 6 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 4th Combat Engineering Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Knoxville, Tenn.

Lance Cpl. Kevin E. Oratowski, 23, of Wheaton, Ill., died Aug. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Cpl. Christopher J. Boyd, 22, of Palatine, Ill., died Aug. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, IMarine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. 

Lance Cpl. Cody S. Childers, 19, of Chesapeake, Va., died Aug. 20 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, IIMarine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Lance Cpl. Nathaniel J. A. Schultz, 19, of Safety Harbor, Fla., died Aug. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sgt. Jason D. Calo, 23, of Lexington, Ky., died Aug. 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sgt. Ronald A. Rodriguez, 26, of Falls Church, Va., died Aug. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Robert J. Newton, 21, of Creve Coeur, Ill., died Aug. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Master Sgt. Daniel L. Fedder, 34, of Pine City, Minn., died Aug. 27 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Gunnery Sgt. Floyd E. C. Holley, 36, of Casselberry, Fla., died Aug. 29 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia, 24, of Kenner, La., died Aug. 31 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Lance Cpl. Cody A. Roberts, 22, of Boise, Idaho, died Aug. 31 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Rodgers, 20, of Griffin, Ga., died Sept. 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Twigg, 21, of Indiana, Pa., died Sept. 2 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Lance Cpl. Ross S. Carver, 21, of Rocky Point, N.C., died Sept. 3 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Cpl.

Philip G. E. Charte, 22, of Goffstown, N.H., died Sept. 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sgt. Jesse M. Balthaser, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sept. 4 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Sgt. Jesse M. Balthaser, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sept. 4 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Cornelius, 20, of Ashtabula, Ohio, and   Pfc. Vincent E. Gammone III, 19, of Christiana, Tenn. died Aug. 7 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Cornelius and Gammone were assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sgt. Jesse M. Balthaser, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sept. 4 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Cpl. John C. Bishop, 25, of Columbus, Ind., died Sept. 8 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

ARMY

Spc. Faith R. Hinkley, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Aug. 7 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her unit in Iskandariya, Iraq.  She was assigned to the 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Pfc. Paul O. Cuzzupe, 23, of Plant City, Fla., died Aug. 8 in Akhtar-Mohammad-Khan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Pfc. John E. Andrade, 19, of San Antonio, Texas, died Aug. 7 at DE Khak Chupan Turah, Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Sgt. Christopher N. Karch, 23, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Aug. 11 in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Spc. Jamal M. Rhett, 24, of Palmyra, N.J., died Aug. 15 in Ba Qubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with grenades.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Staff Sgt. Derek J. Farley, 24, of Nassau, N.Y., died Aug. 17 at Bala Boluk, Farah, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated as he attempted to disarm it.  He was assigned to the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Sgt. 1st Class Edgar N. Roberts, 39, of Hinesville, Ga., died Aug. 17 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained June 26 at Sayed Abad, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to 810th Engineer Company (SAPPER), Swainsboro, Ga. 

Sgt. Martin A. Lugo, 24, of Tucson, Ariz., died Aug. 19 in Puli Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Air Field, Ga.

Spc. Christopher S. Wright, 23, of Tollesboro, Ky., died Aug. 19 in Pech, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Air Field, Ga.

Pfc. Alexis V. Maldonado, 20, of Wichita Falls, Texas, died Aug. 21 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire in Zhari province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Brandon E. Maggart, 24, of Kirksville, Mo., died Aug. 22 at Basrah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire.  He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Spc. Pedro A. Millet Meletiche, 20, of Elizabeth, N.J., died Aug. 22 at Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Pfc. Justin B. Shoecraft, 28, of Elkhart, Ind., died Aug. 24 at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device at Kakarak, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Spc. Justin B. Shoecraft, 28, of Elkhart, Ind., died Aug. 24 at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device at Kakarak, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Staff Sgt. James R. Ide, 32, of Festus, Mo., died Aug. 29 at Hyderabad, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 230th Military Police Company, 95th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Sembach, Germany.

Spc. James C. Robinson, 27, of Lebanon, Ohio, died Aug. 28 at Paktika, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Pfc. Diego M. Montoya, 20, of San Antonio, Texas, died Sept. 2 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire.  He was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

Capt. Jason T. McMahon, 35, of Mulvane, Kan., died Sept. 5 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire in Jalalabad.  He was assigned to the 184th Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. Andrew C. Nicol, 23, of Kensington, N.H. and Pfc. Bradley D. Rappuhn, 24, of Grand Ledge, Mich. died Aug. 8 at Zhari Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their unit using an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

Pfc. Benjamen G. Chisholm, 24, of Fort Worth, Texas. and Pvt. Charles M. High, IV, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M. died Aug. 17 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device caused a military vehicle roll-over. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. Steven J. Deluzio, 25, of South Glastonbury, Conn. and Spc. Tristan H. Southworth, 21, of West Danville, Vt. died Aug. 22 at Paktika, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their unit with small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire. They were assigned to the 172nd Infantry, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Jericho, Vt.

Pfc. Chad D. Coleman, 20, of Moreland, Ga. and Pvt. Adam J. Novak, 20, of Prairie du Sac, Wis. died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device Aug. 27 in Paktiya, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Capt. Ellery R. Wallace, 33, of Utah. and Pfc. Bryn T. Raver, 20, of Harrison, Ark., died Aug. 29 at Nangahar, Afghanistan, of wound sustained when their military vehicle was struck by rocket propelled grenade on Aug. 28 at Nangahar, Afghanistan. Wallace was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Raver was assigned to 1st Brigade Special Troop Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. Patrick K. Durham, 24, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Spc. Andrew J. Castro, 20, of Westlake Village, Calif., died Aug. 28 in Babur, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Durham was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Castro was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air ssault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Fve soldiers died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds: Capt. Dale A Goetz, 43, of White, S.D. was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante, 30, of Cypress, Texas, was assigned to the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Kessler, 32, of Canton, Ohio, was assigned to the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West, 36, of Conover, Wis., was assigned to the 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group. Pfc. Chad D. Clements, 26, of Huntington, Ind. was assigned to the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.  All were based at Fort Carson, Colo. 

Spc. Chad D. Coleman, 20, of Moreland, Ga., and Pvt. Adam J. Novak, 20, of Prairie du Sac, Wis., died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device Aug. 27 in Paktiya, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

2nd Lt. Mark A. Noziska, 24, of Papillon, Neb., and Staff Sgt. Casey J. Grochowiak, 34, of Lompoc, Calif.died Aug. 30 in Malajat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

1st Lt. Mark A. Noziska, 24, of Papillon, Neb. and Staff Sgt. Casey J. Grochowiak, 34, of Lompoc, Calif. died Aug. 30 in Malajat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Staff Sgt. Vinson B. Adkinson III, 26, of Harper, Kan., Sgt. Raymond C. Alcaraz, 20, of Redlands, Calif., Pfc. Matthew E. George, 22, of Gransboro, N.C., Pfc. James A. Page, 23, of Titusville, Fla. died Aug. 31 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Bamberg, Germany.

Sgt. Philip C. Jenkins, 26, of Decatur, Ind., and Pvt. James F. McClamrock, 22, of Huntersville, N.C, died Sept. 7 at Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire.  The incident is under investigation. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. 

-- Darren Barbee

Meat, blood and bones thrown at Muslims, EEOC says

Supervisors and coworkers at a meat packing plant threw blood, meat and bones at Muslim employees, according to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission press release.

The EEOC says JBS Swift & Company was bad to the bone when it discriminated against the Somali and Muslim employees. The company didn’t respond to an email requesting comment.
A suit filed in Colorado alleges that there was offensive graffiti in the restrooms, including “Somalis are disgusting” and the F-bomb before the words “...Somalians,” “...Muslims” and “...Mohammed.”
Supervisors and coworkers are also accused of saying to employees “lazy Somali” and “go back to your country,” according to another suit.
The complaints accuse JBS Swift of engaging in a pattern or practice of religious discrimination when it “failed to reasonably accommodate its Muslim employees by refusing to allow them to pray according to their religious tenets,” according to a press release.

Philosophical thought of the day: You know, this kind of accusation is just red meat for extremists.

-- Darren Barbee