West
DOJ intervening in California trans athlete controversy as Trump monitors girls' track and field championship
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Attorney General Pam Bondi and the U.S. Department of Justice have turned their eye west in President Donald Trump’s battle to counter a wave of trans athletes competing in girls’ high school sports.
The DOJ announced an investigation into California’s high school sports league, the CIF, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, to determine whether the state has violated Title IX by enabling trans athletes to compete in girls’ sports since 2014.
“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education. It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement. “This Division will aggressively defend women’s hard-fought rights to equal educational opportunities.”
California high school girls’ athletes wear ‘Protect Girls Sports’ shirts at a postseason track meet at Yorba Linda High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Courtesy of Reese Hogan)
The office of United States Attorney Bill Essayli, who previously served as a California state lawmaker and fought on the ground to support families opposing trans athletes in girls’ sports, is also involved in the investigation.
“The law is clear: Discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal and immoral,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office and the rest of the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect girls’ sports and stop anyone – public officials included – from violating women’s civil rights.”
The announcement cites a current lawsuit filed by the families of two girls’ high school athletes at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California. The announcement did not identify the plaintiffs by name.
The lawsuit, which was filed by the families of Taylor Starling and Kaitlyn Slavin, alleged the school’s cross-country team dropped Starling from her varsity spot in favor of a trans athlete, and that school administrators compared their “Save Girls Sports” t-shirts to swastikas, Fox News Digital has previously reported.
TEEN GIRLS OPEN UP ON TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL THAT TURNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL INTO A CULTURE WAR BATTLEGROUND
Starling even testified before the house legislature supporting a pair of bills that would have reversed California’s girls’ sports eligibility policy on April 1. Both bills failed to pass due to opposition from the Democrat Majority. But now, the lawsuit is being cited in a federal investigation.
Trump’s Department of Justice has already shown itself willing to sue a state for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls’ sports. Bondi announced a lawsuit against Maine on April 16 after weeks of warnings and tension, that included multiple federal funding pauses, which have been restored, and a public spat between Trump and Governor Janet Mills.
Starling’s father, Ryan Starling, previously told Fox News Digital that he supported Trump’s funding cuts to Maine, and would support similar sanctions against his state for allowing trans athletes in girls’ sports.
“Good,” Ryan Starling said in response to seeing the situation in Maine, knowing the same could soon play out in his state. “That’s the only thing they answer to, is when their funding is cut and when it actually affects their pocketbooks, that’s the only thing that will get it to change.
MAINE GIRL INVOLVED IN TRANS ATHLETE BATTLE REVEALS HOW STATE’S POLICIES HURT HER CHILDHOOD AND SPORTS CAREER
The situation in Maine was prompted heavily by news of a trans athlete who won a girls’ pole vault competition after previously competing in the boys’ category.
Now, California faces a potential similar outcome in its state track and field championship.
The upcoming girls’ state title meet will feature a trans athlete competing in girls’ long jump and triple jump. The athlete, AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School, has dominated the girls’ postseason so far, taking first place in both events in the sectional final on May 17.
Trump’s Department of Education previously sent a warning to California and Jurupa Valley High School via an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital on May 15.
The high school has defended letting Hernandez compete in the girls’ category, as to follow current state law.
“JUSD continues to follow both California law and CIF policy regarding school athletics. Both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be permitted to participate in athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records. JUSD remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of the students we serve, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws,” the district said in a previous statement provided to Fox News Digital.
Trump himself got in on the debate when he sent a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning, warning the state and Governor Gavin Newsom of potential funding cuts, and orders to local authorities to prevent a trans athlete from competing in the girls’ category on Saturday.
Just hours later, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced it would make a slight rule change for this weekend’s championship. The change allows biologically female athletes who fell just shy of qualifying for the championship behind a trans athlete a chance to compete for the title this weekend.
Newsom’s office provided a statement to Fox News Digital supporting the CIF’s decision.
This change will result in at least two competitors qualifying to compete for the state title after falling just shy of the typical qualification threshold on Saturday.
“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing. The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach,” the statement read.
Newsom previously admitted he thought biological males competing in girls’ sports was “deeply unfair,” during an episode of his podcast in March.
Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) where Jurupa Valley High School is based, was included in the DOJ’s list of recipients of a letter informing of the incoming investigation, in the department’s official announcement on Tuesday. However, the school district claims it has not received any letter of complaint, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
The DOJ has confirmed to Fox News Digital that the JUSD is named in the letter.
Bonta’s office has responded to investigation in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“We remain committed to defending and upholding California laws and all additional laws which ensure the rights of students, including transgender students, to be free from discrimination and harassment. We will continue to closely monitor the Trump Administration’s actions in this space,” the statement said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the CIF and Riverside Unified School District for a response.
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Ovation Development Corp. and its affiliate, Heirloom by Ovation, a Las Vegas-based developer of multifamily housing and one of Nevada’s largest private developers of affordable senior housing, hosted a ribbon-cutting and welcome-home ceremony for residents of its newest senior affordable housing community, Heirloom at Rome, at 4850 W. Rome Blvd. in the northwest valley.
The demand for senior affordable housing is reflected in Heirloom at Rome already having more than 182 occupied units, just months after it opened.
The $78 million Heirloom at Rome community, which was funded in part by Clark County Community Housing Funds and Nevada Housing Division’s Home Means Nevada Initiative, brings 276 new affordable housing units to market, including 38 tiny homes. The community’s tiny homes offer 400 square feet of living space, while apartments that range from 664 square feet to 891 square feet offer from one to two bedrooms.
Heirloom at Rome sits on a nearly 9.5-acre site within three separate buildings totaling 243,100 square feet. Of its 276 units, 180 are available to seniors making less than 49 percent of Area Median Income, and 96 units are available to seniors making less than 59 percent of AMI.
The community sits on land once owned by the federal government and granted to the city of Las Vegas for purposes of affordable housing. Ovation was awarded the project through a competitive request for proposal process, furthering the city’s prioritization of affordable housing construction.
On-site amenities include a fitness room, movement studio, screening room, game lounge, great room, business center, wellness room and a one-story clubhouse by the tiny home village. Outdoor amenities include a community garden, pet park, extensive xeriscape landscaping, picnic tables and carport parking for residents.
Heirloom at Rome was designed and built to achieve LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and has successfully received its certification. The community features high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment including Energy Star appliances, low-E vinyl thermal pane windows, and high R-value wall and attic insulation. Additional sustainable building practices include the use of low- or no-VOC paints, adhesives and formaldehyde-free particleboard. Water conservation measures will include low-flow fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping.
As one of Nevada’s largest and leading apartment developers of both market-rate and affordable housing for low-income seniors and working families, Ovation ensures its affordable housing communities maintain the exceptional quality associated with its market-rate projects.
Through its partnership with nonprofit Coordinated Living of Southern Nevada, Ovation provides residents of its affordable housing properties with life-enhancing wraparound services and recreational amenities that create a rich social infrastructure and high quality of life. This includes transportation assistance to medical appointments and shopping, health and wellness programs, food assistance as well as social outings and events.
According to Alan Molasky, chairman and founder of Ovation, “collaboration is key to solving for challenging issues like affordable housing, and we couldn’t do it without critical support from government and agency partners who share our passion,” he said.
“We have long believed that everyone, regardless of income, deserves a quality home that helps to strengthen individuals, families and community. Providing a beautiful, dignified and comfortable place to live is key to ensuring seniors, particularly those on low or fixed incomes, can continue to thrive in a clean and beautiful environment during their golden years.”
To date, Ovation has completed 18 income- and rent-restricted communities totaling more than 2,795 units. The company will complete five more multifamily affordable communities with more than 1,300 units in Southern Nevada by 2028, providing much needed relief for low-income seniors, individuals and families.
Coming soon to the Heirloom by Ovation portfolio is Heirloom at Torrey Pines, at 6540 W. Arby Ave.
For leasing and qualifying information on Heirloom at Rome and other Heirloom by Ovation communities, visit HeirloomByOvation.com.
Ovation Development Corp. is a Las Vegas-based development company founded by Alan Molasky, a prolific developer of multifamily, resort-style housing in Southern Nevada for 40-plus years. The largest private multifamily developer in the Las Vegas Valley, Ovation has built nearly 10,000 units. In addition to luxury multifamily communities, Ovation is committed to the development of a portfolio of affordable housing for low-income seniors, known as Heirloom by Ovation, based on the belief that quality homes are foundational to strengthening individuals, families and community. Ovation and its affiliates employ more than 300 individuals representing all facets of design, construction and property management. For information, visit ovationco.com.
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Updated: May 2, 2026, 2:24 pm EDTPublished: May 2, 2026, 2:24 pm EDT
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