West
Track coach who sued Oregon school district explains why transgender division is necessary
John Parks, a high school track coach in Oregon who has sued his former school district over alleged First Amendment infractions, explained why a separate division for transgender athletes was necessary in his eyes.
Parks was fired from Lake Oswego High School after he sent a letter to state officials and asked them to reconsider state rules regarding transgender athletes. Parks raised concerns over laws that offer protections for athletes who seek to compete against the gender they personally identify. He told Fox News Digital he filed the lawsuit because he felt like he did nothing wrong.
Former Oregon high school track coach John Parks (OutKick)
On Monday, Parks appeared on “OutKick The Morning” with Charly Arnolt and explained why he believed there should be a separate division for transgender athletes. He recalled one transgender girl getting booed by fans after winning a race. He also noted physical advantages.
“By having a separate division, you empower more transgender athletes to feel comfortable to come out, because right now, I think a lot would feel like, ‘Well, I don’t want to do so to disadvantage, because I do have a physical advantage.’ That’s been proven by the scientific studies done by the IOC and other international sport federations like World Athletes, World Aquatics, etc.,” Parks said.
“They got these policies in place, and the concern at the high school level is, ‘Well, not all kids develop at the same age.’ Well, we still have separate divisions for a reason, and the transgender athletes are fully aware that if they’ve gone through puberty they have an advantage. They have higher testosterone levels, and that’s where they have this advantage they can’t undo,” he continued.
“Those are the things I mentioned because it’s what should be addressed, so the kids are cheered and celebrated for their accomplishments and not booed – it’s not what sports is about.”
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John Parks coached girls track and field at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. (Fox News)
Parks previously told KATU that he addressed two letters to a high-ranking official with the Oregon Student Activities Association. He also sent letters to state Sen. Rob Wagner, including one last month after Oregon’s state championships. In the letters, Parks said the state’s laws, as currently constructed, do a disservice to girls’ sports.
Parks appeared to reference the International Olympic Committee’s hormone testing mandates. The requirements for hormone testing vary across different sports leagues, committees and organizations.
“The OSAA competition rules need to be aligned with what the rest of the world competes under,” Parks wrote in the letter addressed to Wagner. “My proposal to encourage transgender participation is to offer an open division that is so named so it doesn’t identify or discriminate but offers an opportunity to participate.”
Parks told Arnolt he was still a bit stunned over the school district’s decision to terminate him.
“I’m still mystified as to why they took this path,” he said. “It’s damaged the reputation of the leadership that made this decision. … Hundreds of parents have come up to me and said, ‘We’re behind you, we’re fighting for you, stick it to the district.’ All these kinds of comments.
People wave a Transgender Pride flag as they attend the LA Pride Parade on June 11, 2023, in Hollywood, California. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
“It goes back to coaches in the building at Lake Oswego who still support me 100%, and the more they’ve heard, the angrier they have gotten with the decision made. So, it’s divided the school.”
The Liberty Justice Center filed the lawsuit on Parks’ behalf.
Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.
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Nevada
One dead, four hospitalized after head-on crash on I-15 in Clark County
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 15 near mile marker 94 Sunday evening.
The crash was reported at 6:43 p.m. on June 28.
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A passenger sedan and a pickup truck were involved in the crash. One vehicle was traveling southbound, lost control, crossed through the median, and struck the other vehicle head-on in the northbound travel lane.
One adult male died at the scene. Two people were transported by ground ambulance, and two others were transported by life flight to a local hospital.
Road closures
All northbound I-15 travel lanes were closed at mile marker 94, but have since opened as of Sunday night.
Nevada Highway Patrol said further information will be provided following the preliminary investigation.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
New Mexico
Search operation continues to close area in Cochiti Lake
COCHITI LAKE, N.M. — Emergency responders are still conducting an active search operation Sunday night for a person who went missing in Cochiti Lake.
The Pueblo de Cochiti, Cochiti Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established a unified command to coordinate all search and response operations. The pueblo and Army Corps issued a closure order for the affected area which remains in effect Sunday night.
“We respectfully ask all members of the public to honor this closure and avoid entering the restricted area. Keeping the area clear allows emergency personnel to operate safely and efficiently and helps ensure the best possible conditions for the ongoing search,” the Cochiti Fire Department stated.
The fire department encouraged everyone to avoid the area and not interfere with emergency operations.
Details are limited. However, the department stated the area will be closed until further notice and a statement will be issued when it is reopened.
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