District

Florida School District Faces Lawsuit Over Removal of Books on Race and LGBTQ+ Identities, Judge Rules

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PENSACOLA, Fla. – A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit can proceed against a Florida Panhandle school district for removing books about race and LGBTQ+ identities from library shelves. U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II, based in Pensacola, made the ruling on Wednesday, granting standing to the writers’ group PEN America, publisher Penguin Random House, banned authors, and parents to pursue their claims under the First Amendment’s free speech protections. However, the judge denied a claim under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. “We are gratified that the Judge recognized that books cannot … Read more

Hays County District Clerk Held in Contempt Over Failed Jury Summons Delivery

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HAYS COUNTY, Texas (AP) – The Hays County District Clerk was held in contempt of court Tuesday following issues with the delivery of jury summons, according to an attorney present at the hearing. Hays County District Clerk Avrey Anderson Sr. disclosed on Jan. 4 a mistake made by a vendor that affected over 6,000 jury notices across multiple county offices. As a result, Hays County officials had to hand deliver the summons to potential jurors. Hays County Judge Tanner Neidhardt summoned Anderson to explain the issues with the deliveries. However, Anderson’s explanation was not satisfactory … Read more

Lawsuit Exposes Racial Discrimination and ‘Hostile Environment’ Within Davis School District

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FARMINGTON, Utah – A federal lawsuit has been filed against the Davis School District, alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment. The lawsuit was brought by a woman who was hired by the district to investigate racial harassment. The plaintiff, who is Black, claims she was subjected to a hostile work environment and treated differently than her lighter-skinned non-Black colleagues. The lawsuit also accuses the district of failing to address discrimination against both students and employees. According to the lawsuit, one incident involved a district coordinator allegedly giving the plaintiff a handful of garbage … Read more

Cypress City Council Set to Vote on Switching to District Elections Amid Lawsuit Alleging Asian American Voter Disenfranchisement

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CYPRESS, California – The city of Cypress is considering a switch to a district election system after facing a lawsuit alleging that the current at-large system disenfranchises Asian American voters. This move is part of a larger trend in California, where voting rights groups have been advocating for local governments to transition away from at-large systems that they argue disproportionately impact voters of color. While many cities have complied with legal threats and lawsuits, Cypress, along with the city of Brea, initially resisted the change. However, the Cypress City Council is expected to vote on … Read more