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LGBTQ Rights Restrictions

State legislatures and the Supreme Court restricting gender-affirming care, transgender rights, and federal investigations into hospitals

Two transgender teens withdraw New Hampshire sports lawsuit

Illustration accompanying article: Two transgender teens withdraw New Hampshire sports lawsuit
  • Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle have withdrawn their lawsuit challenging President Trump's executive order barring transgender girls from female school sports, according to their attorney.
  • The withdrawal followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month that upheld state bans on transgender athletes in girls' sports and found such bans do not violate Title IX.
  • A federal judge had previously granted a court order allowing the teens to play while the case proceeded.
  • Their attorney, Chris Erchull of GLAD Law, said the teenagers faced "extraordinary hostility" and cited personal hardships alongside the Supreme Court's decision.
 2026-07-10 · 3 MIN READ

Supreme Court ends term with rulings on citizenship, transgender athletes

Illustration accompanying article: Supreme Court ends term with rulings on citizenship, transgender athletes
  • The Supreme Court held that President Trump could not unilaterally end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily.
  • The court ruled that states may prohibit transgender women and girls from participating on female sports teams.
  • The court expanded the president's authority to fire government officials but carved out an exception for members of the Federal Reserve Board.
  • The court earlier in the term declared Trump's global tariffs illegal and sided with the administration over ending humanitarian protections for some immigrants.
  • Many decisions were split along ideological lines.
 2026-06-30 · 3 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: HHS reorganizes civil rights office around religious conscience protections

Licensed to Protect

2026-07-18

A state-issued child-protection license hung on the wall above a stack of cruelty citations — and the child stood in between.

Largest study finds mixed results for bell-to-bell school phone bans

2026-05-06

Teachers in schools that adopted bell-to-bell cellphone bans reported fewer distractions when students had to lock phones away during the school day, according to a new study using actual data from lockable-phone pouches. The research, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found little evidence that the bans quickly improved academic achievement or discipline overall, though some measures of student well-being and suspensions shifted after the first year.

Trial could change Meta apps and algorithms as New Mexico seeks safeguards

2026-05-03

New Mexico state prosecutors began a second phase of a landmark bench trial Monday, asking a judge to impose broad changes on Meta’s social media apps and algorithms to protect children. The trial follows a first-phase civil verdict that ordered $375 million in penalties against Meta over findings related to children’s mental health and concealment of what the state said the company knew about child sexual exploitation.

Meta says it could shut down social media platforms in New Mexico

2026-05-02

Meta is raising the prospect of shutting down its social media services in New Mexico, including Instagram, as New Mexico prosecutors seek court-ordered changes aimed at protecting children. The filing came as the state prepares for a bench trial next week on allegations that Meta created a public nuisance by harming children’s mental health and by concealing what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

Transgender Idaho residents sue over strict new bathroom ban

2026-05-01

Six transgender Idaho residents are suing the state in federal court, seeking to overturn a strict new law that bars people from using bathrooms, locker rooms or changing areas that do not match their sex assigned at birth. The law, set to take effect in July, carries misdemeanor penalties for first-time violations and felony exposure for repeat offenses.

Plaintiffs in New Mexico education lawsuit ask to rewrite reform plan

2026-04-29

Plaintiffs in New Mexico’s landmark Yazzie/Martinez education case have asked a judge to let them rewrite the state Public Education Department’s court-ordered reform plan. In a joint motion, the plaintiffs outlined a potentially eight-month process and said the department’s November plan lacks specific, enforceable steps and cost estimates. The request comes after a judge last spring ordered the department to develop a “comprehensive remedial action plan,” and the department defended its approach as too lengthy to prescribe every program detail at once.

“Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse gets life sentence

2026-04-29

A Nevada judge on Monday sentenced “Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse to life in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. The jury had convicted him of 13 charges tied to assaults of three women, and he will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years.

Bill seeks to screen California kindergartners for basic math skills

2026-04-29

California lawmakers are weighing Senate Bill 1067, which would require schools to screen all kindergartners and first- and second-graders for basic math skills and provide extra help for students who need it. The proposal comes as California confronts long-running gaps in math performance and as the state expands early learning options, including transitional kindergarten. Supporters and opponents disagree on whether screening will help children catch up or lead to additional testing without enough tutoring.

Tracy Sturdivant to lead Ms. Foundation as new president and CEO

2026-04-28

Tracy Sturdivant will succeed Teresa Younger as president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, the organization said after announcing her at its annual New York City gala. In interviews, Sturdivant said she wants to expand the coalition of funders and supporters focused on gender justice, while maintaining the foundation’s financial stability and commitment to women and girls of color.

Mexico artisan uses backstrap loom to resist LGBTQ+ discrimination

2026-04-25

Xaneri Merino, a transgender woman from San Pedro Jicayán in southern Mexico, has turned the backstrap loom—once punished in her Indigenous community—into a craft and workshop space for LGBTQ+ resistance, she and her students said. Merino said she learned the technique in secret from her grandmother, who passed down the portable weaving practice despite strict gender rules that largely barred men from weaving. In a recent class in Mexico City, Merino and participants described the loom as a way to teach, be seen and weave personal stories.

DeSantis signs Florida law banning local DEI funding; white men ‘disfavored’

2026-04-23

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation prohibiting counties and cities from funding or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, arguing at a news conference that such programs discriminate against white men. NAACP Gainesville President Evelyn Foxx said DeSantis’s remarks do not reflect what people experience and accused the governor of being out of touch.

California lawmakers seek to raise elderly parole age for sex offenders

2026-04-23

California lawmakers are pushing bills that would tighten “elderly parole” rules for some sex offenders after two men were found suitable for release in 2025. The proposals would raise the earliest parole age for inmates with life sentences and expand additional psychological screening requirements.

Trump administration flies 10-year-old back from Cuba amid custody fight

2026-04-23

President Donald Trump’s administration sent a government plane to Cuba to return a 10-year-old from Utah amid a custody dispute tied to the child’s gender identity, the Associated Press reported. Federal and state authorities had sought the child’s return after a family member raised concerns the child had been taken to Havana for gender-affirming surgery. The government plane carried the 10-year-old back to the child’s biological mother, federal prosecutors said.

Administration flies 10-year-old back from Cuba amid custody dispute

2026-04-22

President Donald Trump’s administration sent a government plane to Cuba to return a 10-year-old from Utah after a custody fight tied to the child’s gender identity, the Justice Department said. The child’s parent, Rose Inessa-Ethington, was arrested with her partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, and charged in federal court with international parental kidnapping.

California lawmakers rush to change elderly parole rules for sex offenders

2026-04-22

California lawmakers are moving to raise the minimum age for “elderly parole” eligibility for some sex offenders with life sentences after two men were found suitable for parole last year, including in the Sacramento region. Democratic Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen’s bill would increase the earliest eligibility age from 50 to 65 and add mental-health screening requirements. Supporters say the changes reflect the severity of the crimes, while some civil rights and prisoner advocacy groups warn they could weaken parole laws aimed at reducing California’s prison population.

DeSantis signs Florida law banning local DEI funding, says white men ‘disfavored’

2026-04-22

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Wednesday that bans counties and cities from funding or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, arguing that DEI programs have discriminated against white men. Speaking after the signing, DeSantis said white men have been “discriminated against” through what he called an “ideological construct” designed to promote a political agenda. The NAACP branch president in Gainesville, Evelyn Foxx, criticized the comments as out of touch.

Tennessee Senate votes 18-14 to expand school vouchers to 35,000

2026-04-17

The Tennessee Senate voted 18-14 on Thursday to expand the state's school voucher program to 35,000 vouchers for the 2026-27 academic year, nearly doubling the current enrollment. The expansion will direct approximately $260 million in public funds to private schools. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature after passing the House 52-43 earlier this week.

Roblox reaches $12 million settlement with Nevada over youth protections

2026-04-16

Roblox will implement increased protections for minors and pay more than $12 million to Nevada under a settlement announced April 15, resolving potential litigation over child safety on the gaming platform. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said the agreement would serve as a model for how online interactive platforms should safeguard young users.

Young men's religiosity surges, widening gender gap

2026-04-16

The percentage of men ages 18-29 who say religion is "very important" jumped to 42% from 28% in 2022-2023, surpassing young women for the first time in at least 25 years, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday. The gender reversal is driven almost entirely by rising religiosity among young Republican men, marking what political scientists describe as a potentially transformative shift in American religious life.

Roblox to pay Nevada $12 million, add youth safety protections

2026-04-15

Roblox will pay more than $12 million to Nevada and add new safety protections for minors after the Nevada attorney general reached a settlement this week with the popular gaming platform, the Associated Press reported. Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford said the agreement is intended to create safer conditions for children online. The settlement also comes amid lawsuits in other states accusing Roblox and other platforms of failing to protect children.

Judge temporarily reinstates Texas HUB rules for women, minority firms

2026-04-15

An Austin district judge on Monday ordered Texas’s Historically Underutilized Business Program rules to be temporarily reinstated, allowing women- and minority-owned businesses to qualify for the state’s HUB program again while a lawsuit proceeds. The move came after plaintiffs sued the state and the acting Texas comptroller, alleging emergency changes removed women and minorities from the program and stripped some businesses of HUB certifications.

Tennessee Senate passes amended transgender health care tracking bill

2026-04-15

Tennessee’s Senate on Monday passed an amended bill that would require certain health care providers and insurers to report transgender-related care to the state, according to the Associated Press. The vote came 24 to 7 after more than half an hour of debate, with Democrats and Sen. John Stevens voting against. The bill’s sponsors said the measure would provide transparency, while opponents and protesters argued it would expose non-cisgender people.

Texas Tech orders phaseout of courses centered on sexual orientation

2026-04-14

Texas Tech University System chancellor Brandon Creighton ordered campuses to phase out academic programs “centered on” sexual orientation and gender identity, and to freeze admissions and bar students from declaring majors in the affected programs. The memo also directs that graduate theses and dissertations may center on those topics only as a temporary exception for currently enrolled students.

Senegal court issues first conviction under new anti-homosexuality law

2026-04-14

A Senegal court in Pikine-Guédiawaye on Friday sentenced a 24-year-old laborer to six years in prison and fined him 2 million CFA ($3,300) under a new law that increases penalties for homosexual acts. The court convicted him of “acts against nature and public indecency,” after he was arrested earlier this month.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signs online sports betting bill run by tribes

2026-04-10

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill Thursday that legalizes online sports betting in the state, making Wisconsin the 33rd U.S. state to allow the practice, the Associated Press reported. Evers said the law’s implementation would require negotiations with the state’s 11 federally recognized tribes that would operate the bets.

Conservative activists sue to challenge Native Hawaiian health scholarship

2026-04-10

A Utah-based advocacy group, Do No Harm, filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The group argues the program is unconstitutional because it discriminates based on an applicant’s race and ethnicity, according to the complaint filed last week.

Greece to ban social media for kids 15 and under, Mitsotakis says

2026-04-10

Greece plans a ban on social media for children age 15 and under, the government said, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged European Union leaders to adopt an EU-wide framework. The proposal would require platforms to reverify users’ ages and exclude those who are 15 or younger, with penalties for noncompliance.

Turkish lawmakers begin debate on bill to limit social media for children

2026-04-08

Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday kicked off debate on a draft law package that would restrict children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, with requirements for age verification and parental control tools. The bill would also require platforms to rapidly respond to content deemed harmful, and it faces criticism from Turkey’s main opposition party, which argues children should be protected through rights-based policies.

Trump administration ends agreements protecting transgender students

2026-04-07

The U.S. Education Department said it has terminated federal civil-rights agreements with five school districts and Taft College that were designed to protect transgender students. The department said the move removes obligations negotiated under prior administrations, including requirements for staff training and bathroom access aligned with students’ gender identity.

Iowa appeals court lets state enforce K-6 LGBTQ book ban, curbs instruction

2026-04-07

Iowa’s Republican-backed law restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in kindergarten through sixth grade and banning some books in schools will be enforced for now after an appeals court decision on Monday. The ruling from a three-judge panel vacated a lower court’s temporary blocks on portions of the law, according to the Associated Press. Iowa’s attorneys had asked the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn earlier decisions by a federal judge, which had partially limited the state’s enforcement.

Moms for Liberty finds a receptive ally in the Trump administration

2026-04-05

President Donald Trump’s administration has elevated Moms for Liberty, a group that built its influence by challenging school content and pushing a parental-rights agenda, into a role where its co-founder, Tina Descovich, meets with White House officials and policy leaders. In interviews, Descovich said the group has a seat at the table on issues including transgender sports bans, artificial intelligence in education, and changes to federal education priorities.

Why Mormon influencers dominate social media feeds and TV screens

2026-04-04

LOS ANGELES—“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and a wider wave of Latter-day Saint social media creators have helped turn Mormonism into a recurring topic across U.S. pop culture, while also drawing criticism from church leaders and from some members who say portrayals can feel misleading.

Judge ends federal oversight of special education in New Orleans schools

2026-04-04

More than a decade of federal oversight of special education in New Orleans charter schools ended after a U.S. district judge terminated a sweeping consent judgment. The decision on March 31 by Judge Jay Zainey ended a court order that had been in place since early 2015, reached in a class-action lawsuit by parents alleging discrimination and inadequate services for students with disabilities.

Moms for Liberty finds a receptive ally in the Trump administration

2026-04-04

Moms for Liberty co-founder and CEO Tina Descovich has become a frequent presence at the White House since President Donald Trump returned to office, moving from local school-board activism to federal policy influence. In an interview, Descovich said the group has a “voice” in discussions over transgender sports bans, AI in education, dismantling the Education Department and ending diversity, equity and inclusion. Critics say the group is advancing an agenda they view as extreme through the administration.

Belarus lawmakers approve punishments for promoting LGBTQ+ causes

2026-04-03

Belarus’s parliament passed a bill on April 2 that would introduce penalties for people who promote LGBTQ+ causes, echoing Russia’s restrictions. The bill, approved by the upper house after passage in the lower house, will go to President Alexander Lukashenko for his expected signature. The legislation would punish what it describes as “propaganda of homosexual relations, gender charge, refusal to have children and pedophilia” with fines, community labor and up to 15 days in arrest.

Chile’s new President Kast brings openly religious views to changing country

2026-04-02

Chile’s new President José Antonio Kast, who took office March 11, brings openly religious views shaped by his Catholic faith and his membership in the Schoenstatt movement. As he prepares to govern after pledging to crack down on crime and deport immigrants without legal status, advocates for abortion rights and LGBTQ rights say his background could make progress on those issues harder. Supporters say his faith-inspired values give them confidence that the country needs a plan.

New York lawyer’s airport ad fight ends with bigger billboard

2026-04-02

A lawyer who sued an upstate New York airport after it rejected her small ad for a sexual-harassment law firm said the message is now displayed at Syracuse Hancock International Airport in a much larger format. Megan Thomas, who argued the refusal violated her First Amendment rights, said a federal judge ruled against the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority and the parties later reached a confidential settlement.

Tennessee librarian fired for refusing to move LGBTQ books to adult section

2026-04-01

The Rutherford County Library Board in Tennessee fired the county’s library system director, Luanne James, after she refused to comply with the board’s vote to move more than 100 LGBTQ books from children’s shelves to the adult section. The board voted 8-3 on Monday, according to a decision announced after a meeting that included cheers and boos, and James’ attorney read a statement saying the firing was unlawful viewpoint discrimination.

Supreme Court rejects Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ kids

2026-04-01

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday against a Colorado law that banned “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ minors, saying the measure violates free-speech protections. Writing for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the law “censors speech based on viewpoint” and sent the case back to determine whether the statute meets a legal standard that few laws pass.

Trump Justice Department sues Minnesota over transgender athletes in girls sports

2026-03-31

The Justice Department sued Minnesota and the Minnesota State High School League on Monday, arguing the state violates Title IX by allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports and by requiring girls to face biological males. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the administration is challenging “flawed state policies” that undermine girls, and Minnesota’s Democratic attorney general said the case is a bid for attention.

Gianforte signs Montana bill defining sex as binary for state law

2026-03-31

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 437, a Montana measure that defines sex as male or female based on a person’s reproductive system and updates the state’s legal definitions of “male,” “female,” “sex” and “gender.” The bill, signed nearly a year after it passed the Legislature, follows earlier versions that were struck down in court.

Idaho Legislature passes transgender bathroom ban with jail penalties

2026-03-29

Idaho lawmakers passed a sweeping bill barring transgender people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity, including in privately owned businesses, the Associated Press reported. The bill makes violations a crime punishable by a misdemeanor with up to a year in jail for a first offense and a felony with up to five years for a second offense, AP said. Republican Gov. Brad Little’s signature would determine when the new penalties take effect.

Montana to expand eligibility for American Indian college tuition waivers

2026-03-28

Starting July 1, Montana will expand eligibility for an American Indian tuition waiver administered through the Montana University System, dropping a blood-quantum requirement and adding unenrolled “descendants.” The changes could make higher education more affordable for thousands, but some tribal leaders and lawmakers have raised concerns about consultation and the policy’s federal-law backdrop.

Idaho Legislature advances bill to expand prison sex abuse law

2026-03-28

Idaho lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that would broaden the state’s criminal law covering sexual contact by prison and jail staff with inmates, making it easier for prosecutors to bring charges. The measure, House Bill 696, now awaits final approval from Gov. Brad Little.

César Chavez Day events canceled or renamed amid sexual abuse allegations

2026-03-27

Many events and holidays honoring César Chavez are being canceled or renamed after farmworker labor leader César Chavez faced allegations of sexual abuse of women and girls while he led the United Farm Workers. States and cities are changing how they mark March 31, with officials also shifting to honoring Dolores Huerta, his longtime labor partner. The developments follow revelations that Huerta was among people who said they were abused by Chavez.

Justice Department probes California, Maine over housing transgender women

2026-03-27

The U.S. Justice Department said it is investigating whether California and Maine violate the rights of female inmates by housing transgender women with women in prison. The investigation targets the California Institution for Women in San Bernardino County and the Central California Women’s Facility in Madera County, and the Maine Correctional Center in Windham.

DOJ sues SeaWorld parent over ban on wheeled walkers with seats

2026-03-27

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the parent company of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks on Thursday, alleging the company’s ban on wheeled walkers with seats violates federal disability civil-rights law. The department asked a federal judge in Orlando to set a jury trial to determine whether United Parks & Resorts must change its policy and pay damages for visitors allegedly blocked since the ban began last November.

Trump administration investigates race in admissions at 3 medical schools

2026-03-27

The Justice Department opened investigations into how race is considered in admissions at Stanford University’s medical school, Ohio State University and the University of California, San Diego, according to Harmeet Dhillon. The probes seek documents and applicant-level data going back to the incoming class that started in 2019, as the Trump administration expands pressure on universities amid a Supreme Court decision barring affirmative action in admissions.

Idaho Senate debates bill criminalizing transgender bathroom use in private businesses

2026-03-26

Idaho’s Republican‑controlled Senate is set to vote this week on a sweeping bill that would criminalize transgender people using bathrooms that match their gender identity in any public accommodation, including privately owned businesses. Senate Republican Ben Toews framed the measure as a matter of safety and decency, proposing up to a year in jail for a misdemeanor first offense or up to five years for a felony second offense. Law‑enforcement groups warn the proposal would force officers to visually determine a person’s biological sex, while transgender advocates argue it would bar trans residents from everyday places.

Social media firms await more legal decisions after Meta child-safety verdict

2026-03-26

A New Mexico jury found Meta platforms harmful to children’s mental health and imposed a $375 million penalty, while other social media child-safety cases move through trial and pretrial phases. The New Mexico Attorney General said the case followed investigations that posed as children and documented sexual solicitations and Meta’s responses, and Meta said it will appeal.

Teens get probation after creating AI-generated fake nude images of classmates

2026-03-26

Two teenage boys who used artificial intelligence to create fake nude images of classmates in Pennsylvania received probation on Wednesday after dozens of victims described the images’ impact on them. Authorities said the boys used school and social media photos from 2023 and 2024 and morphed them with images depicting nudity or sexual activity.

Teens in Pennsylvania get probation for AI-made fake nude classmates

2026-03-25

Two 14-year-old boys in Pennsylvania were sentenced to probation after admitting they used artificial intelligence to create fake nude images of classmates, prosecutors said. Lancaster County Day School students and families described how having to identify their faces in the images affected them. Judge Leonard Brown ordered 60 hours of community service, no contact with the victims and restitution, with the case potentially expunged after two years if no further legal trouble arises.

Montana administration reverses weekend rally permit guidelines for Capitol

2026-03-25

The Montana Department of Administration has reversed its guidelines that had prohibited permits for weekend rallies at the state Capitol, according to the General Services Division website. The change follows public pushback and a commitment by Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles to revisit the rule after initially dismissing the dispute as “no big deal.”

Montana reverses ban on most weekend Capitol rallies after review

2026-03-24

Montana’s Department of Administration reversed guidelines that had restricted permits for most weekend rallies at the state Capitol, allowing organizers to seek approval for Saturday events. The change followed public pushback and after the department director said she would revisit the permit rule.

Students sue University of Alabama over suspension of campus magazines

2026-03-24

Students at the University of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the suspension of two student-run magazines, alleging censorship and viewpoint-based discrimination by university officials. The lawsuit says the magazines—Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice—were stopped in December after administrators determined they had a “perceived target audience,” citing guidance related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. University of Alabama spokesman Alex House said the school has no plans to comment on the pending litigation.

University of North Texas cuts more than 70 programs, minors amid deficit

2026-03-24

The University of North Texas said it will cut or consolidate more than 70 academic programs, minors and certificates as it works to close a projected $45 million budget shortfall. UNT President Harrison Keller and Provost Michael McPherson said the changes include phasing out all linguistics degree programs and eliminating a women’s and gender studies master’s program.

Senate blocks transgender athletes amendment during voting bill debate

2026-03-22

The U.S. Senate on Saturday blocked an amendment that would bar transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports while lawmakers debated a broad voting bill, Reuters reported. The amendment lost 49-41 during a rare weekend session as Republican President Donald Trump pressed Congress to act.

Connecticut homeschool reporting requirements bill advances despite opposition

2026-03-21

Connecticut lawmakers advanced a bill that would create new reporting requirements for families removing children from public school to homeschool or enroll in private schools. The measure, House Bill 5468, cleared the Education Committee on Wednesday despite broad opposition from Republicans and four Democrats. Proponents said the bill targets a blind spot in child-welfare oversight; opponents said it would intrude on homeschool rights and divert attention from safety problems in public schools.

Chicago Transit Authority sues to restore $2B federal rail funding

2026-03-21

The Chicago Transit Authority has filed a federal lawsuit seeking restoration of $2 billion in commuter rail expansion funding that President Donald Trump’s administration halted last fall. The agency says the pause was imposed arbitrarily to restrict race- and gender-based contracting, which it argues is unconstitutional.

César Chavez memorial sites face renaming after sexual abuse allegations

2026-03-21

Across the United States, institutions and cities are moving to remove or rename places honoring labor leader César Chavez after explosive sexual abuse allegations, according to officials. The changes followed actions by California State University, Fresno, where Chavez’s statue was covered and is expected to come down. Officials in places including Denver, Phoenix and San Francisco State University said they are reviewing names tied to Chavez as communities also consider shifting observances like César Chavez Day.

Judge rules U.S. overreached with transgender health care declaration

2026-03-21

A federal judge in Oregon ruled the federal government overreached when it issued a declaration warning that treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries are unsafe and ineffective for young people with gender dysphoria. The ruling said the Health secretary did not follow proper administrative procedures in issuing the declaration in December. The judge granted preliminary relief for health professionals who provide the treatments and denied the government’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Brazilian law takes effect to limit addictive and harmful content for minors

2026-03-20

A Brazilian law designed to protect minors from addictive, violent and pornographic online content took effect this week, requiring children under 16 to link social media accounts to a legal guardian and placing limits on platform “addictive features.” The law, signed into law by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva last month, also requires digital services to use age-verification measures beyond users’ self-declarations.

States rethink César Chavez Day amid allegations of abuse

2026-03-19

Events and observances honoring César Chávez, including César Chávez Day, are being renamed, postponed or canceled after allegations that he sexually abused women and girls while leading the United Farm Workers. The fallout has included decisions by state governments and local cities, as well as announcements that labor groups will not participate in events named after the former union leader.

Pulse nightclub demolition begins in Florida, paving way for memorial

2026-03-18

Orlando city crews began demolishing the long-shuttered Pulse nightclub on Wednesday to make way for a permanent memorial honoring the 49 people killed in the club’s 2016 mass shooting. The city purchased the property in 2023 and plans to open a $12 million memorial in 2027. The demolition comes amid broader disputes over LGBTQ+ symbols in public space.

Wisconsin lawmakers approve bill to let tribes offer online sports betting

2026-03-18

Wisconsin lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would allow the state’s tribal gambling sites to offer online sports betting to people anywhere in Wisconsin, if Gov. Tony Evers signs it. The measure would be contingent on new negotiations with the state’s American Indian tribes, and it would not take effect until those deals are completed.

Duval school board urged to stop prayer at meetings, legal groups say

2026-03-18

Two national church-state advocacy groups are urging the Duval County School Board in Florida to stop opening board meetings with prayer, citing a First Amendment violation. One group sent a letter after receiving a citizen complaint, while the other said it had also received a complaint about invited clergy leading prayers. The board chair, Charlotte Joyce, has opened meetings with evangelical Christian prayers since becoming chair in December 2024, according to the groups.

Hawaii bill would ease charging of weekend school trespassers

2026-03-15

Lawmakers in Hawaii are weighing a bill that would make it easier to charge people who enter school grounds on weekends or holidays without a prior warning, potentially affecting parents seeking after-hours access to playgrounds and fields. The measure, Senate Bill 2611, is awaiting a House hearing after passing the Senate, and supporters say it would improve safety and reduce harassment of school staff.

University of Florida deactivates College Republicans over antisemitism

2026-03-15

The University of Florida said it is deactivating the campus College Republicans as a registered student group after being notified that some members engaged in antisemitism. The school said the Florida Federation of College Republicans disbanded the local chapter after determining members violated the federation’s rules and values.

Connecticut lawmakers question Gov. Lamont’s DCF nominee Susan Hamilton

2026-03-14

Connecticut lawmakers on Thursday questioned Gov. Ned Lamont’s nominee to lead the Department of Children and Families about whether the state is doing enough to protect children and provide care when they enter the foster system. The hearing focused on caseworker turnover, mental health support, homeschooling, and two high-profile cases tied to the agency’s involvement.

17 state attorneys general sue Trump administration over race data rule

2026-03-13

BOSTON — Seventeen Democratic state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging a Trump administration policy requiring higher education institutions to collect data on whether they consider race in admissions. The plaintiffs argued the data-collection effort is rushed, could produce unreliable results, and jeopardizes student privacy, while the Education Department defended the requirement as an expansion of a transparency tool.

Montana bars permits for most weekend Capitol rallies, complicating “No Kings”

2026-03-13

Montana’s General Services Division has revised permitting rules that bar public events requiring permits on weekends at the Capitol Complex in Helena, according to the Montana.gov update. Organizers of an upcoming March 28 “No Kings” rally say the change would violate their First Amendment rights, and say they will move the planned stage setup off the Capitol plaza if they cannot obtain a permit.

“Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse to be sentenced March 18

2026-03-12

Nathan Chasing Horse, the former actor known for “Dances With Wolves,” was convicted in Nevada of sexual assault of Indigenous women and girls, and a judge has delayed his sentencing by a week. Judge Jessica Peterson agreed on Wednesday to move the hearing to March 18, according to the Associated Press.

Harvard transfers early photos of enslaved people to South Carolina museum

2026-03-12

Descendants of people depicted in early photographs of enslaved residents from 1850 said they are relieved after Harvard University turned the images over to a museum in Charleston, South Carolina, following a seven-year legal fight. The International African American Museum announced the transfer on Wednesday.

New Iowa law bars local gender identity protections after civil rights rollback

2026-03-12

Iowa’s new state law bars cities and counties from adopting nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity that go beyond what Iowa code allows. The measure took effect Tuesday after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it, making Iowa the first state to rollback its civil rights code last year. Supporters said the preemption law will prevent conflicting local ordinances; opponents called it an “extreme overreach.”

Senegal parliament approves bill to toughen punishments for homosexual acts

2026-03-11

Senegal’s parliament has approved a bill that toughens punishments for homosexual acts, doubling prison terms from 1 to 5 years to 5 to 10 years. Introduced by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, the bill also raises fines and targets what it calls the “promotion” or “financing” of homosexuality. The changes still require presidential assent before becoming law.

Connecticut lawmakers weigh statewide bell-to-bell cellphone bans in schools

2026-03-10

Connecticut lawmakers are considering whether to make bell-to-bell cellphone bans in schools statewide policy, after districts including Meriden adopted tighter rules aimed at improving focus. At a Feb. 20 public hearing, Education Committee members and residents argued over local control, classroom technology access, and safety concerns if phones are restricted. Supporters cite concerns about social media’s effects on young people, while opponents say policies can be tailored without an all-day ban.

Uber expands women-only driver matching option nationwide in U.S.

2026-03-09

Uber launched Monday a feature that lets women riders and women drivers be matched with other women across the U.S., rolling out nationwide despite an ongoing California lawsuit challenging the policy. The company said the option is designed to address safety concerns tied to its ride-hailing platform.

Rhode Island clergy abuse report brings vindication and renewed calls for accountability

2026-03-05

A report released this week by Rhode Island’s attorney general detailing decades of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Providence is giving survivors a sense of vindication while renewing demands for accountability and support. In interviews and statements, survivors described long-delayed recognition of harm and said the case also underscores barriers they faced when they tried to be believed.

States step up school civil rights enforcement as federal office stalls under Trump

2026-03-05

State legislators and civil rights advocates in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts are moving to assume school discrimination enforcement duties that the Trump administration has largely abandoned, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Mass layoffs at the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights — which closed entire offices in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and elsewhere — have left thousands of complaints unresolved, with families saying they have nowhere else to turn.

Idaho bill would broaden prison sex abuse law after investigation found accountability gap

2026-03-05

The Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee voted unanimously on Feb. 27 to advance legislation that would expand the state's "sexual contact with a prisoner" law, sending House Bill 696 to the full House for a vote expected this week. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Marco Erickson, R-Idaho Falls, would broaden the law's definition of prohibited contact beyond genital touching to cover any willful physical contact made with sexual intent — a change lawmakers said is needed to hold correctional officers accountable for a range of abusive conduct the current statute does not reach.

New York AG orders NYU Langone to resume gender-affirming care

2026-03-04

New York Attorney General Letitia James has ordered NYU Langone, one of Manhattan’s largest hospitals, to resume gender-affirming care for transgender youth after the hospital ended such treatment for patients under 19. In a letter dated Feb. 25 but released this week, James said NYU Langone’s decision violated New York anti-discrimination laws by jeopardizing access to medically necessary health care for transgender youth.

Russia bans Coming Out LGBTQ group as extremist, deepening Putin crackdown

2026-03-04

A Russian court on Tuesday designated the Coming Out LGBTQ+ rights group as an extremist organization, according to the group and a court hearing in St. Petersburg. The ruling adds to legal and public pressure on Russia’s LGBTQ community that has intensified in recent years under President Vladimir Putin.

Connecticut education chief says FERPA bars homeschool-withdrawal alerts to DCF

2026-03-04

Connecticut's education commissioner said Tuesday that a proposed state law requiring school districts to alert the child welfare agency when families withdraw children to homeschool them would violate federal privacy law and put millions of dollars in federal education funding at risk. Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, in written testimony to a legislative committee, said the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prevents her department from disclosing student information without parental consent except for narrow research purposes. The measure is part of Senate Bill 6, an omnibus child welfare package drafted in part after two Connecticut cases in which parents allegedly used homeschooling to conceal prolonged abuse.

U-M ends ties with PhD Project after U.S. civil rights office action

2026-03-02

The University of Michigan said it has ended its partnership with the nonprofit PhD Project after an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, according to federal officials. The federal office said the PhD Project “unlawfully limits eligibility based on race,” and that U-M and other universities violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by partnering with a race-discriminating organization.

EEOC rejects transgender Army worker’s bid to use women’s bathroom

2026-02-28

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that federal agencies may bar transgender employees from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity, rejecting an appeal by a transgender woman who worked for the U.S. Army. The 2-1 decision held that the Army’s choice did not violate Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination.

Kansas faces lawsuit over law invalidating some trans residents’ IDs

2026-02-28

Two transgender men sued Kansas in federal district court after a new state law invalidated their driver’s licenses and thousands of others, arguing the measure violates rights under the Kansas Constitution. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Douglas County, also challenges the law’s enforcement provisions tied to a 3-year-old policy restricting transgender people from using public restrooms and other single-sex facilities.

New study traces Neanderthal-human mating patterns by X chromosome

2026-02-28

Humans and Neanderthals mated tens of thousands of years ago when they overlapped geographically, but researchers have long struggled to determine who paired with whom and under what conditions. A new genetic analysis published in Science points to a pattern in which female modern humans more often paired with male Neanderthals than the reverse.

Pentagon to bar troops from Columbia, Yale, Brown and more

2026-02-28

The Pentagon will forbid members of the U.S. military from attending Columbia, Yale, Brown and other universities starting next school year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. The ban is part of a campaign to cut ties with schools he described as “factories of anti-American resentment,” and it was announced in a video posted on social media.

Appeals court clears way for Texas drag ban to take effect in March

2026-02-27

Texas’ drag ban will take effect March 18 after a federal appeals court denied the plaintiffs’ request for rehearing and reissued its ruling, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said Wednesday. The court said most of the plaintiffs failed to show they intended to conduct a “sexually oriented performance” under Senate Bill 12, which would restrict certain public drag acts.

Judge lets Nevada trans athlete ballot initiative proceed, but orders wording changes

2026-02-27

Carson City District Judge Jason Woodbury dismissed a legal challenge to a proposed Nevada ballot initiative that would require school sports overseers to classify athletes by sex assigned at birth. The judge said supporters must change the ballot’s “description of effect” wording to say the measure would carve out an exception to Nevada’s equal-rights guarantee.

Senegal increases prison sentence for homosexuality to 5 years

2026-02-24

Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko introduced legislation in parliament Tuesday that would increase the minimum prison sentence for homosexuality to five years, up from the current one-year minimum. The bill also seeks to broaden the legal definition of "unnatural acts" under a law that has criminalized homosexuality since Senegal's independence from France in 1960.

New Mexico to investigate forced sterilization of Native women

2026-02-21

New Mexico legislators have approved an investigation into forced and coerced sterilizations of Native American women tied to the U.S. Indian Health Service, with findings due to the governor by the end of 2027. The effort will be led by the state Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women, after a history that advocates say has left lasting harm for generations. The AP’s Savannah Peters reports.

California moves to tighten privacy protections for student data

2026-02-21

Assemblymember Dawn Addis, a San Luis Obispo Democrat, is carrying Assembly Bill 1159 to strengthen privacy protections for California students' data as technology companies increasingly collect information through school sports apps, learning platforms, and other services. The bill would restrict how artificial intelligence companies use student data and create new protections for college students.

Colleges cut ties with PhD Project after Trump administration pressure

2026-02-20

Colleges and universities across the U.S. have cut ties with the nonprofit The PhD Project after the U.S. Department of Education opened a civil-rights investigation, the department’s Office for Civil Rights said Thursday. The department said the nonprofit “unlawfully limits eligibility based on the race of participants” and that institutions partnering with it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

South Carolina pushes to keep college athlete payment deals secret

2026-02-20

South Carolina lawmakers are moving to limit public access to information about payments made to college athletes, following a Senate vote that sets up final action before the state’s 2026 legislative session ends in May. The proposal would keep details of Name, Image and Likeness deals and other payment terms from going into public records, supporters said, while opponents argued it would deprive athletes and the public of transparency. The issue has spread to multiple states as the NCAA has not adopted nationwide rules on what can be disclosed.

UT regents approve rule requiring “broad and balanced” teaching of controversial topics

2026-02-20

The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents unanimously approved a rule Thursday requiring the system’s universities to help ensure students can graduate without studying “unnecessarily controversial subjects.” The policy also requires faculty to disclose planned course topics in syllabi and says instructors must use a “broad and balanced approach” when courses include controversial issues.

EEOC sues Coca-Cola bottler over excluding men from women’s forum

2026-02-20

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a Coca-Cola bottler in New Hampshire court, alleging sex discrimination after the company excluded men from a company-sponsored networking trip for women at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. The agency, which says it tried and failed to reach a conciliation agreement, filed the case on behalf of a male employee and seeks monetary compensation for a class of men. Coca-Cola Northeast disputes the EEOC’s account and says it looks forward to presenting its case in court.

Trials test whether social media companies deliberately harmed children

2026-02-20

Trials are now underway against Meta, YouTube and other social media platforms over allegations that they deliberately designed addictive features and failed to protect children from sexual predators and harmful content. The lawsuits, filed in Los Angeles, New Mexico and other jurisdictions, represent the largest legal reckoning yet with the tech industry over its effects on minors' mental health — a comparison plaintiffs draw to tobacco and opioid litigation. Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg testified in the Los Angeles trial on Wednesday.

Colleges cut ties with PhD Project after Trump administration pressure

2026-02-19

The Trump administration said it pressured universities to end partnerships with The PhD Project, a nonprofit that helps racial minorities earn doctorate degrees. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights said 31 universities agreed to end partnerships after an investigation opened in March 2025, with negotiations continuing with 14 more schools. The department said the group “unlawfully limits eligibility based on the race of participants,” citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

South Carolina lawmakers push to keep college athlete payments secret

2026-02-19

South Carolina lawmakers advanced a bill that would keep the amounts paid to college athletes and teams under name, image and likeness, as well as related payments, out of public records. At the Statehouse, senators debated the measure amid calls for the NCAA to set national rules and concerns raised in a lawsuit that prompted the state’s faster timeline.

EEOC sues Coca-Cola bottler, alleging men barred from women’s forum

2026-02-19

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast on Tuesday, alleging the regional bottler excluded men from a company-sponsored networking trip for about 250 women at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Hampshire, says the bottler’s approach violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

University of Texas regents approve limits on “unnecessarily controversial” subjects

2026-02-19

The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents on Thursday unanimously approved a rule aimed at ensuring students can graduate without studying “unnecessary controversial subjects.” The policy would require faculty to list in syllabi which topics they plan to cover, and it calls for instructors to use a “broad and balanced approach” when courses address controversial issues.

Michigan panel to hear why shelved tribal boarding school report wasn’t released

2026-02-18

Michigan lawmakers scheduled a Feb. 27 hearing on a $1.1 million, 300-page report about tribal boarding schools in the state that was completed in September but never released. The report, first reported by Bridge Michigan and distributed through The Associated Press, recommended an apology for Michigan’s role in deaths and abuse of Native American children. Rep. Tom Kuhn, R-Troy, said the state spent more than $1 million and then “threw the report in the garbage can,” while the Department of Civil Rights has declined to testify.

Hawaii bill would turn students into published authors at Kalihi schools

2026-02-18

The Hawaii Senate Education Committee advanced a proposed pilot program that would have fifth-graders at select schools research, write and publish their own books as part of literacy instruction. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Donna Kim, who said she wants to bring a project-based model she saw on Kaua‘i to Kalihi Waena Elementary and other communities.

Lawsuit challenges Trump-era changes to exhibits at national parks

2026-02-18

In two lawsuits filed Tuesday, conservation and LGBTQ+ advocates sued the Trump administration over National Park Service policies they say remove or censor history and science from federal sites. One case in Boston targets changes to exhibits that discuss slavery and climate change, while another seeks to reverse the removal of a Pride flag at Stonewall National Monument in New York.

Women's Sports Media Outlets Expand Coverage at Olympics and Beyond

2026-02-17

Women's sports media outlets are growing rapidly and expanding their coverage, including at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, as they fill a void left by mainstream sports media. These outlets are focused on providing women's sports with the same intensity and seriousness as men's sports.

Twins with profound autism fuel debate over separate diagnosis

2026-02-16

In Ayer, Massachusetts, Matthew and Andrea Murphy say their 9-year-old twins, Connor and Ronan, require around-the-clock support because they have profound autism-level needs. Their experience is part of a growing debate over whether “profound autism” should be separated from the broader autism spectrum diagnosis, a move advocates say could help secure services while critics warn it could reduce attention to other families’ needs.

State Department orders nonprofit libraries to stop passport services

2026-02-16

The U.S. State Department has ordered some nonprofit public libraries nationwide to stop processing passport applications, disrupting a service that librarians say communities have relied on for years. The agency said the change took effect Friday for libraries no longer authorized under the Passport Acceptance Facility program, while it said the affected libraries are less than 1% of the overall network.

Nevada sex workers seek union, challenging brothel’s contract terms

2026-02-13

Sex workers at Sheri’s Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada, have filed with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize under the name United Brothel Workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America, seeking a safer and more respectful workplace. Workers say a new December independent-contractor agreement would give the brothel control of their likeness and intellectual property without permission.

UT-Austin to consolidate race, gender and ethnic studies into new departments

2026-02-13

The University of Texas at Austin will consolidate race, ethnic and gender study departments into new, broader units, college leaders told department heads, a move that faculty and student groups say reflects growing political pressure over how universities teach those subjects. UT-Austin President Jim Davis said the reorganization responds to a review that found “some significant inconsistencies and fragmentation” across the college’s departments.

Samba school in Rio plans parade honoring sex workers and seeking stigma shift

2026-02-13

In Rio de Janeiro, samba school Porto da Pedra will kick off its Carnival parade with a theme that spotlights sex workers and aims to dismantle stigma around the profession. The school, based in Sao Goncalo, will stage the parade Saturday at Rio’s Sambodrome, featuring Barreto, her life story, and sex workers of all genders, organizers said.

BYU says Parker Kingston is no longer enrolled after felony rape charge

2026-02-13

BYU said Parker Kingston, a standout wide receiver, is no longer enrolled at the school after he was arrested this week on a first-degree felony rape charge. Kingston, 21, made an initial court appearance in St. George on Friday, where prosecutors said a woman told officers he assaulted her at her home last February.

Nevada women’s rights group sues to block Lombardo sports ballot measure

2026-02-13

A women’s rights group is suing to keep a proposed Nevada ballot initiative off the 2026 ballot that would limit transgender female student athletes to sports teams based on sex assigned at birth. The suit, filed Jan. 29 by Sue Burtch, executive director of the Nevada chapter of the National Organization for Women, challenges the initiative’s description as allegedly noncompliant with Nevada statute. A hearing is scheduled Feb. 20 in Carson City.

New York politicians raise rainbow flag at Stonewall, rebuking Trump

2026-02-13

New York politicians raised a rainbow pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument on Thursday in a public display aimed at the Trump administration’s decision to remove the symbol from the LGBTQ landmark, according to the Associated Press. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal helped raise the flag as a crowd chanted outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs smartphone ban for Michigan school classrooms

2026-02-12

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a new Michigan law that bans smartphones during classroom instruction starting this fall, a step meant to keep the devices out of learning time. Speaking at Waverly High School before the bill signing on Tuesday, Whitmer said phones are a “disruptive distraction” in classrooms and that teachers struggle to compete with social media.

Striking NYC nurses approve new contracts at 2 of 3 hospital systems

2026-02-12

New York State Nurses Association members on strike at Montefiore and Mount Sinai have approved new three-year contract deals, the union said Wednesday. Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian rejected the mediator-backed proposal, meaning the monthlong walkout is set to continue for those nurses at some of the city’s major hospital systems.

Trump administration removes rainbow flag from Stonewall National Monument

2026-02-11

The Trump administration stopped flying a rainbow flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York, according to the National Park Service. The removal angered LGBTQ+ activists who view it as a symbolic swipe at the nation’s first monument to LGBTQ+ history. The park service said it was complying with guidance that restricts which flags may be flown on the property.

NYC nurses strike drags on at NewYork-Presbyterian as talks stall

2026-02-11

A nearly monthslong strike by New York City nurses at the NewYork-Presbyterian system has left some patients and families worried as negotiations remain unresolved. Logan Coyle, a 9-year-old child being treated for advanced liver cancer, and his family say changes in staffing during the walkout have affected his care.

Former Pitt women’s players sue coach Tory Verdi over alleged abuse

2026-02-11

Six former players on the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team sued coach Tory Verdi and the school, alleging abusive coaching and retaliation-like threats tied to scholarships and academics. The lawsuit was filed Friday and detailed examples including what their lawyers said were degrading remarks and efforts to push players into the transfer portal, according to an Associated Press report. Pitt said in a Tuesday statement that the allegations are without merit and will be defended.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson’s final two civil lawsuits over massages dismissed

2026-02-10

Two of the last civil lawsuits against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson brought by women who accused him of sexual misconduct during massage appointments were dismissed, according to court records. The dismissals clear Watson of legal cases he had faced since 2021, when nearly 30 women sued him in Texas civil court over allegations including unwanted kissing and touching.

Butler to launch deaf education master’s draws concerns from Deaf community

2026-02-10

Butler University plans to launch an online master’s program in deaf education this fall, funded through a $1.25-million U.S. Department of Education grant, but Deaf community members say the curriculum emphasizes spoken language over American Sign Language. In comments relayed through interpreters, educators and advocates said they want more ASL coursework required for future teachers. Program director Jenna Voss said the degree is designed to prepare teachers to support families with different communication options and that it does not bar ASL learning.

“This action will gut this agency”: ASDB board votes on Oro Valley move

2026-02-07

The Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind board voted Thursday to move the Tucson campus to Oro Valley next school year, setting in motion changes that school families and staff say would disrupt education for students who are visually impaired. The board vote was 5-2, with two objections from Tucson resident William Koehler, while a separate vote to lay off about 70 people was 5-1 with Phoenix-based member Earl Terry abstaining.

California county, ChildNet agree to $13.5M settlement for Turpin siblings

2026-02-06

Riverside County and ChildNet agreed to a $13.5 million settlement with six siblings who say they were placed in an abusive home after being rescued from their parents’ situation in 2018. The agreement has Riverside County pay $2.25 million to six of the Turpin children and ChildNet pay $11.25 million, according to a copy of the settlement. The county and the agency denied wrongdoing.

Texas A&M professor sues after firing over gender identity lesson controversy

2026-02-05

A Texas A&M University professor who was fired after a controversy involving a classroom video about a gender identity lesson sued the school on Wednesday in federal court in Houston. Melissa McCoul alleges the university violated her constitutional rights to free speech and due process by firing her after political pressure, according to her lawsuit. The Texas A&M University System said it is aware of the case but has not reviewed the complaint and plans to defend itself.

Uber ordered to pay $8.5 million after jury finds it liable in assault

2026-02-05

A federal jury in Arizona found Uber legally responsible in a 2023 sexual assault case involving a rideshare trip, ordering the company to pay $8.5 million to the woman who sued. The verdict, reached Thursday, hinges on a finding that the driver was Uber’s “apparent agent,” according to attorneys. Uber said it plans to appeal and argued the jury did not find it negligent or that its safety systems were defective.

Plastic surgeons urge delaying gender-affirming surgery for minors until 19

2026-02-05

Plastic surgeons’ main U.S. organization said it found “insufficient evidence” that benefits of chest, genital and facial surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria outweigh risks, recommending delays until patients turn 19. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons said the position statement is not a clinical guideline and cited two heavily debated reviews, including England’s Cass Review and a 2025 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report.

US rabbis see growing diversity with more women and LGBTQ rabbis

2026-02-02

More women and LGBTQ people are entering the U.S. rabbinate and rabbinical schools, reshaping who Jewish communities see as spiritual leaders, an Associated Press report says. Women rabbis and students described both progress since earlier cohorts and ongoing obstacles in hiring, inclusion, and workplace expectations.

“Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse convicted of sexual assault

2026-02-02

A Nevada jury convicted actor Nathan Chasing Horse of sexual assault involving Indigenous women and girls, finding him guilty of 13 of 21 charges, according to prosecutors. The jury’s verdict came in Las Vegas, where victims and supporters cried and hugged in the hallway as the decision was read. Chasing Horse, 49, faces a minimum prison term of 25 years and is scheduled to be sentenced March 11.

Texas A&M ends women’s studies program amid policy on race and gender

2026-01-30

Texas A&M University will end its women’s and gender studies program and change or cancel parts of hundreds of courses under a new policy limiting how professors can discuss some race and gender topics, the school said Friday. The announcement came after campus unrest that followed a viral video of a student confrontation with an instructor, and after the university reviewed 5,400 courses.

Mississippi lawmakers advance bills to restrict cellphone use in schools

2026-01-30

Mississippi lawmakers advanced competing bills that would require local school boards to restrict or prohibit cellphone use during the school day, as supporters cite concerns about student mental health and school engagement. Rep. Sam Creekmore told a House committee the policy aims to set boundaries while addressing how teens use phones and social media. The Senate Education Committee also approved a similar measure, setting up further action by the Mississippi Legislature.

Texas board delays vote on required books over religious themes, diversity gaps

2026-01-30

The Texas State Board of Education on Wednesday delayed a vote on a proposed K-12 required reading list after hours of discussion that focused on the list’s religious content and a perceived lack of racial, ethnic and gender diversity. The board voted 13-1 to postpone consideration until its April meetings. Texas Education Agency officials said the list is based on teacher input and books used in other states, while critics said the religious emphasis conflicts with the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause.

Trump administration says San Jose State violated Title IX over transgender athlete

2026-01-29

The Trump administration concluded that San Jose State University discriminated against women by allowing a transgender volleyball player to compete on the women’s team, the U.S. Education Department said Wednesday. The department offered the California school a deal that would require it to adopt the administration’s definition of “male” and “female,” restore records and titles the officials said were misappropriated, and issue apologies to affected women athletes.

California lawmakers advance community college bachelor's degree bill

2026-01-28

California lawmakers advanced Assembly Bill 664 on Jan. 26, clearing the state Assembly with a 69-1 vote. The measure would allow community colleges to offer more bachelor's degrees, setting up another clash with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has vetoed three similar bills in the past two years despite supporting increased access to four-year degrees.

Texas plans takeover of four districts over persistently low test scores

2026-01-27

The Texas Education Agency announced plans to take over four school districts and replace their elected school boards with state-appointed leaders, citing five consecutive years of failing grades at six campuses. The districts — Fort Worth, Beaumont, Connally, and Lake Worth — serve predominantly low-income Black and Hispanic students in circumstances that critics say reflect systemic inequity schools cannot solve alone.

DOJ withdraws subpoenas seeking records of trans youth patients in L.A.

2026-01-27

The U.S. Justice Department agreed to withdraw subpoenas seeking patient and medical records from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles tied to gender-affirming care for minors, according to a settlement filed in federal court Thursday. The agreement ends the Justice Department’s effort to obtain information identifying patients and their families through 2029.

DOJ drops effort to obtain transgender patients' records

2026-01-26

The U.S. Department of Justice agreed on January 26 to withdraw subpoenas seeking medical records of more than 3,000 transgender patients from Children's Hospital Los Angeles, ending a monthslong legal battle by families fighting the government's effort to access their children's medical information. Under the settlement filed in federal court Thursday, the department will withdraw requests for documents that identify patients or their families through 2029.

988 suicide hotline drops LGBTQ+ services, straining Texas crisis centers

2026-01-24

The Trump administration removed specialized LGBTQ+ youth services from the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline earlier this year, citing budget constraints. The change is now straining already-overburdened crisis centers in Texas and raising questions from mental health advocates about whether the removal puts young people at higher risk.

988 removes LGBTQ+ services, straining Texas crisis centers

2026-01-23

The Trump administration's decision to remove specialized LGBTQ+ services from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is straining crisis centers in Texas, which are already operating at a $7 million funding deficit. The "Press 3 option" that connected callers to trained counselors with lived LGBTQ+ experience was eliminated in 2025, the administration said, because the specialized subnetwork exceeded its initial $33 million pilot budget.

Education Department says Native American mascot ban violates civil rights law

2026-01-23

The U.S. Department of Education said Thursday that New York state's ban on Native American school mascots violates federal civil rights law, arguing the regulation applies different standards to different ethnic groups. The federal finding centers on the Long Island school district of Connetquot, which changed its team name from the "Thunderbirds" to the "T-Birds" to comply with state regulations banning the use of Native American mascots and team names in public schools.

Workplace rights agency scraps anti-harassment guidance, citing Trump's orders

2026-01-22

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted Thursday to rescind a 190-page workplace anti-harassment guidance document, marking a significant shift in federal civil rights enforcement under President Donald Trump's second administration. The Republican-controlled agency's vote, led by Chair Andrea Lucas and Commissioner Brittany Panuccio, was justified by Trump's executive order declaring there are "two immutable sexes, male and female." The guidance had been designed to help employers comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and included specific protections for transgender workers. Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal, the commission's lone Democrat, voted against the rescission.

Missouri rejects NCAA request to ban college athlete prop bets

2026-01-22

Missouri's gaming commission rejected an NCAA request Thursday to restrict bets on individual college athlete performance, saying the state needs more data about how its newly approved sports betting market operates. The rejection came about one week after federal authorities indicted more than two dozen people in what the NCAA describes as a college basketball gambling scheme involving payments to athletes to rig games.

Trump administration expands foreign aid ban to DEI and gender identity

2026-01-22

The Trump administration is expanding its ban on U.S. foreign aid to organizations promoting gender identity and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The State Department will release final rules on Friday that broaden the existing "Mexico City" policy, which has restricted assistance to international groups providing abortion-related services. The expansion applies to more than $30 billion in annual foreign aid.

Federal judge upholds West Texas A&M drag show ban

2026-01-21

A federal judge has upheld West Texas A&M's ban on a drag show by a student group, ruling Saturday that the university did not violate the First Amendment by blocking the event. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk found that Spectrum WT, the student organization, failed to demonstrate the 2023 drag show conveyed a specific message protected by the Constitution. The ruling effectively terminated a legal challenge set for appellate review later this week.

Nebraska plans to move boys from troubled Kearney youth center to Omaha

2026-01-21

Nebraska state leaders plan to move all boys from a youth treatment center in Kearney to a currently underutilized facility in Omaha, following multiple allegations of sexual abuse at the Kearney site. The boys would be relocated to what is now a youth prison operated by the state Department of Correctional Services, as part of a broader reshuffling of the state's in-custody juvenile population. State officials say the plan will improve living conditions and save approximately $4 million annually, but the Douglas County public defender and state employee union have raised questions about implementation readiness and impacts on youth programming.

Conservative group sues LA schools over desegregation policy

2026-01-21

The 1776 Project Foundation filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a Los Angeles schools policy intended to address segregation, alleging that the policy discriminates against white students. The challenge comes as Trump administration officials push to overturn decades-old desegregation court orders.

Prosecutors seek to drop child abuse charges against Atlantic City schools chief

2026-01-20

Atlantic County prosecutors announced Friday they will ask a state court to drop child abuse charges against La'Quetta Small, the superintendent of Atlantic City schools, after the couple's daughter — who turned 18 earlier this month — said she no longer wanted the prosecution to proceed. The announcement came weeks after a jury acquitted Small's husband, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., on related charges.

Opening statements begin in Chasing Horse trial

2026-01-20

Prosecutors alleged that Nathan Chasing Horse, best known for his role in the 1990 film "Dances With Wolves," used his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and girls, while his defense attorney said the actor is being falsely accused in opening statements Tuesday at his trial in Las Vegas.

Education Department opens fewer sexual violence investigations

2026-01-17

The U.S. Education Department’s civil rights office, Office for Civil Rights, has opened far fewer sexual-violence investigations since staff cuts that began last year, according to internal data obtained by The Associated Press. The office’s workload backlog has left schools and students with fewer options short of lawsuits, advocates and lawyers said. The department’s spokesperson disputed that picture, saying the office is working through its caseload.

Texas A&M cancels graduate ethics course after professor declines syllabus review

2026-01-16

Texas A&M University canceled a graduate-level public administration ethics course three days into the spring semester after Professor Leonard Bright declined to specify which class sessions would address race, gender or sexual orientation — information administrators said they needed to evaluate the course under a new Texas A&M System policy. Bush School Dean John Sherman announced the cancellation in a schoolwide email Wednesday, saying Bright had refused repeated requests to provide the required information. Bright, who has taught the course since 2018, disputed that characterization, saying he told administrators the topics would arise throughout every class meeting rather than on identifiable days.

Jury selection begins in Las Vegas trial of 'Dances with Wolves' actor on sex abuse charges

2026-01-13

Jury selection began Tuesday in the Las Vegas trial of Nathan Chasing Horse, the former "Dances with Wolves" actor accused of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls over two decades. Prosecutors allege Chasing Horse used his reputation as a spiritual leader and healer to exploit his victims, and that he filmed himself abusing at least one of them. Chasing Horse, who was present in the courtroom, has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges.

Michigan's vanity plate ban list tops 30,000 after adding 2,000 rejections in 2025

2026-01-13

Michigan's list of banned personalized license plates surpassed 30,000 entries for the first time last year, with the state adding roughly 2,000 new rejections in 2025, according to records obtained by Bridge Michigan through a public records request under the state Freedom of Information Act. The disclosure shows how a quietly growing state screening operation — staffed by more than two dozen volunteers — has kept pace with drivers' increasingly creative attempts to sneak profanity and other prohibited content past reviewers.

Claudette Colvin, civil rights pioneer who refused Montgomery bus seat in 1955, dies at 86

2026-01-13

Claudette Colvin, who at age 15 was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama, bus — nine months before Rosa Parks' more widely recognized act of defiance — died Tuesday at 86. Her death was announced by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation; Ashley D. Roseboro of the organization confirmed she died of natural causes in Texas.

Supreme Court appears set to uphold state bans on transgender athletes

2026-01-13

The Supreme Court's conservative majority appeared ready Tuesday to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from competing on school athletic teams, signaling during more than three hours of oral arguments that such bans do not violate either the Constitution or Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education.

Trevor Project receives $45M from MacKenzie Scott after federal funding cuts

2026-01-12

The Trevor Project, which operates a crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ young people, received a $45 million gift from MacKenzie Scott at the end of 2025, the organization announced Monday. The donation is the largest in the nonprofit's history and arrives after the organization lost $25 million in federal funding and weathered years of leadership turmoil and repeated layoffs.

Maine universities call foul on F grades for reading teacher preparation

2026-01-12

Three Maine public universities received failing grades from a national education think tank for how they prepare teachers to teach reading, a finding the universities strongly disputed as methodologically flawed. The National Council on Teacher Quality gave the University of Maine in Orono, the University of Southern Maine, and the University of Maine at Farmington failing marks as part of its 2023 review of 702 elementary teacher preparation programs at 580 institutions nationwide.

Supreme Court appears poised to uphold state bans on trans athletes

2026-01-12

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared Tuesday to be ready to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school sports teams, in a fight tied to federal education civil-rights law. During more than three hours of arguments, justices from the court’s conservative majority signaled the bans likely do not violate the Constitution or Title IX.

Supreme Court hears arguments on transgender athlete bans from West Virginia, Idaho

2026-01-11

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Tuesday in two cases testing whether state laws banning transgender girls and women from female sports competitions violate the Constitution or Title IX, the landmark federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. The West Virginia case centers on Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old sophomore who competes in discus and shot put, while the Idaho case involves college student Lindsay Hecox. Decisions are expected by early summer.

Trevor Project gets $45M from MacKenzie Scott after funding cuts

2026-01-11

The Trevor Project said it received a $45 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott at the end of 2025, after years that included management turmoil and federal funding losses. The donation, the organization said Monday, is its largest ever and is intended to help it continue and expand mental health support for LGBTQ+ young people.

Albuquerque police seek arrest of actor Timothy Busfield on child sex abuse charges

2026-01-10

Albuquerque police filed a criminal complaint and obtained a judge-signed arrest warrant Friday for actor and director Timothy Busfield on two counts of alleged criminal sexual contact of a minor, according to court documents. The charges allege Busfield touched a child inappropriately on the set of *The Cleaning Lady*, a Fox television series Busfield directed and acted in. The child's mother reported the alleged abuse to Child Protective Services as having occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said. Busfield's attorney and agent did not respond to emails seeking comment as of Friday evening.

Supreme Court to hear cases on transgender athletes and Title IX bans

2026-01-10

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in two cases challenging state bans on transgender girls and women competing in school and college sports, including one case brought by a college student in Idaho. The rulings are expected by early summer. (AP)

Newsom proposes shifting oversight of California schools; Thurmond says he’s blindsided

2026-01-10

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed shifting oversight of the state Department of Education from the elected superintendent to the appointed State Board of Education, narrowing the future role of Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Thurmond said he was blindsided by the plan and questioned how it would benefit students and families.

Newsom proposes reducing California superintendent role; Thurmond says blindsided

2026-01-09

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed in his State of the State address on Thursday to shift oversight of California’s Department of Education from the state superintendent to the State Board of Education, curtailing the superintendent’s duties. Tony Thurmond, the elected state superintendent, said he was blindsided by the proposal and questioned how it would benefit students and families.

Texas A&M policy puts 200 courses under review, cancels race and ethnicity class

2026-01-08

A Texas A&M University System policy restricting classroom discussion of race and gender has put roughly 200 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences under review, administrators told faculty this week, with one introductory course already canceled and a philosophy professor directed to remove Plato readings days before the spring semester begins Jan. 12.

Nevada governor launches ballot drive to ban transgender athletes from women's sports

2026-01-08

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo announced Wednesday that he is leading a petition drive to amend the state constitution to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, even though bans are already in place at both the state and national level. The Protect Girls' Sports In Nevada PAC filed its ballot initiative language Wednesday and must collect at least 148,788 valid signatures by June 24 to qualify the measure for the ballot.

Nevada Gov. Lombardo leads 2026 ballot push on transgender athletes

2026-01-07

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo is leading a petition effort to amend the Nevada Constitution in 2026 to bar transgender students from girls’ and women’s sports, even though the state already has bans in place at the state and national level. Lombardo announced Wednesday that he is leading a ballot initiative, filed by a political action committee, with the petition process requiring signatures across Nevada’s four congressional districts.

Former 'Dances with Wolves' actor removed from court ahead of sex abuse trial

2026-01-05

Nathan Chasing Horse, the former "Dances with Wolves" actor facing trial on sexual abuse charges, was removed from a Las Vegas courtroom Monday after he disrupted proceedings by demanding to replace his defense attorney days before trial. Judge Jessica Peterson ordered him out of court after he spoke over her, then confirmed the jury trial would proceed as scheduled beginning Jan. 12.

Federal workers file complaint over Trump’s gender-affirming care insurance ban

2026-01-03

The Trump administration is facing a new legal complaint from federal employees challenging a policy that, starting Thursday, would eliminate insurance coverage for gender-affirming care in federal health plans. The complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of affected workers, according to the Human Rights Campaign, and seeks rescission of the Office of Personnel Management rule. The group says the change is sex-based discrimination.

New “American Abenaki” curriculum for Vermont schools faces Quebec nations

2026-01-03

Vermont officials announced a statewide school curriculum focused on Abenaki communities, but it has drawn sharp rebuke from Abenaki nations based in Quebec. The Quebec-based governments say the materials wrongly exclude them and amount to a “rewriting of history.” A bill is also set to be introduced in the Vermont Legislature that would require consultation and endorsement by Odanak and Wolinak before similar curriculum is used in schools.

State audit exposes deep financial failures at Texas Southern University

2026-01-02

A Texas state audit released this week found sweeping financial control failures at Texas Southern University, including vendor records that were wrong or missing in 97 percent of checked cases and no physical inventory of university assets since 2019. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the findings "beyond disturbing" on Wednesday and announced that he, Gov. Greg Abbott, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have halted all TSU contract spending except ongoing expenses needed to keep the school open.

Federal employees file complaint over Trump health care ban for gender care

2026-01-01

A group of federal employees filed a legal complaint Thursday challenging a Trump administration policy that will eliminate coverage for gender-affirming care in federal health insurance programs. The complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and seeks rescission of the policy issued by the Office of Personnel Management.