State finds merit to Matanuska Creamery discrimination claims

According to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, the Alaska State Human Rights Commission has found merit to discrimination claims made by Kay Schaugaard and Amy Moore, two former employees of Matanuska Creamery. The commission's investigator concluded that the discrimination claims are supported by "substantial evidence." The two women complained to the commission that they were subjected to discrimination at the creamery because of their religion (both are Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Their complaint alleges that the company co-owner, Karen Olson, made disparaging remarks about members of her religion and said that she didn't want "any more (expletive) Mormons" working there, and further that co-owner Kyle Beus didn't take their discrimination claims seriously before they were fired. Olson says the claims are "completely without foundation," and Beus did not return a call for comment. The matter will now move from the commission to an Anchorage court. Read much, much, much more, including other allegations, here.