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Growing wave of Minnesota school officials urge state to protect girls’ sports as Trump’s deadline arrives

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Growing wave of Minnesota school officials urge state to protect girls’ sports as Trump’s deadline arrives

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The list of Minnesota school board members who have signed a letter urging state agencies to protect girls’ sports from trans athletes has multiplied since it launched earlier this week. 

As of Friday afternoon, the number of school board members to sign the letter was 245, spanning 104 school districts across the state. The same list had just around 40 signatures on Tuesday.

The added signatures come as the state faces a Friday deadline from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to amend its policies to keep biological males out of girls’ sports. The DOE determined the state violated Title IX with its current policies at the end of September. 

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The letter is addressed to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Commissioner Willie Jett, Minnesota State High School League Executive (MHSSL) Director Erich Martens and board President Brett Schimek, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Gov. Tim Walz is copied on the letter.

“Compliance with Title IX is not only a legal obligation but also essential to maintaining the integrity of our educational and athletic programs,” the letter reads. 

“Protecting fairness in women’s sports is paramount. The federal determination highlights how permitting males to compete on female teams displaces female athletes from podiums, denies them advancement opportunities, and diminishes their visibility and recognition in competitions. 

“Female students in our districts and across Minnesota deserve equal chances to excel in sports, free from unfair physical advantages that biological differences confer. By entering into the resolution agreement, MDE and MSHSL can ensure equal treatment and foster an environment where female athletes can thrive.”

Ellison responded to the letter, insisting that letting males in girls’ sports, “doesn’t harm anyone.”

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“School sports aren’t just a good way to get exercise, they help kids build friendships, make them feel like they belong, and teach them important life lessons, like how to work as a team, how to treat their competition with respect, and how to win with grace and lose with dignity,”  Ellison said. “Letting the very small number of transgender students in Minnesota play on their school sports teams doesn’t harm anyone, but segregating them does. Exclusion is a violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which has protected the rights of trans kids to participate in all extracurricular activities for decades.

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“I, too, am concerned about the Trump administration’s threats to cut education funding for kids across Minnesota, but this matter is before the court right now,” he added. “The federal government’s threats violate the U.S. Constitution, Minnesota law, and Title IX itself. I’m fighting to prevent these harmful cuts, stop the Administration’s bullying of transgender kids who just want to live their lives in peace, and protect the rights and freedoms of all our students in Minnesota.”

Ellison’s response comes despite the fact multiple girls’ high school student-athletes in his state have spoken out about how the experience of facing trans athletes has impacted them, while some have even filed a lawsuit over the issue. 

Three anonymous girls filed a lawsuit against the state’s education agencies in the spring after having to compete against a transgender softball pitcher. 

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One of the plaintiffs previously told Fox News Digital about what it was like playing against the trans pitcher.

“This issue has affected me in ways that I never imagined. It’s simply unfair, and I hate that nothing is happening to change that,” the player said. “Boys should not be able to take girls’ spots on teams just because they are capable of doing so. I hope that more girls affected by this issue will stand up against this.”

Another anonymous player directly called out Ellison for supporting the policies that have allowed the trans pitcher to play against females.

“It’s really upsetting to know that [Ellison] isn’t taking the rights of girls and women seriously. He is allowing boys to compete with girls, and it is not safe and completely unfair,” the player previously told Fox News Digital. “To know that AG Ellison is in complete support of letting boys and men take advantage of females in sports is absolutely disgusting and wrong.”

Former White Bear Lake High School softball player Kendall Kotzmacher previously told Fox News Digital that losing to a trans pitcher in the state tournament left her in tears.

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“How do you acknowledge that you lost to a biological male? How do you process those events that happened? And that was something that entire night, I still couldn’t do it. … We lost to a biological male in a female state tournament,” Kotzmacher said.

Kotzmacher also pointed out Walz’s history as a high school football coach, and seeing the physical prowess of male high school athletes up close. 

“As a coach, you should see the differences and the vast difference that there are between biological males and biological females,” Kotzmacher told Fox News Digital. 

If Minnesota’s state agencies do not agree to an amendment with the Trump administration by the end of Friday, it will likely result in a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

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The DOJ has already filed similar lawsuits against Maine and California over the issue. 

The MDE and MSHSSL did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



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Detroit, MI

Fired Detroit TV anchor Taryn Asher files sex discrimination lawsuit against old station, claims new GM protected men

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Fired Detroit TV anchor Taryn Asher files sex discrimination lawsuit against old station, claims new GM protected men


A fired Detroit TV news anchor blasted her former station, and their parent company, for letting her male colleagues’ bad behavior slide and then axing her when she complained about the unfair treatment, a new lawsuit claims.

Taryn Asher filed the federal sexual discrimination lawsuit on Wednesday against Fox Television Stations and her former workplace, WJBK TV, known as Fox 2 Detroit, in connection with her sudden termination in November.

Taryn Asher filed a federal lawsuit against her former station, Fox 2 Detroit, for sexual discrimination. Linkedin / Taryn Asher

The station went downhill after Fox 2 hired Paul McGonagle as their general manager —  sparking a slew of female firings, while men, including Asher’s co-anchor Roop Raj, were offered more perks, the 26-page complaint obtained by The Post alleged.

“If Asher had not been female, she would not have been treated in the same discriminatory manner,” the filing, first reported by Deadline Detroit, said.

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Raj was treated “more favorably” and offered “more guest interview segment opportunities on the evening news,” as well as scheduling adjustments, Asher claimed.

In one example, Asher alleged the station refused to let her adjust her schedule to host a show called “Let it Rip,” though Raj was given the leeway to host his show, “The Pulse.”

The suit also alleged that WJBK allowed him to “circumvent and undermine” Asher’s work responsibilities.

She later emailed McGonagle about the situation, writing, “I’m concerned about the lack of balance and equity, particularly compared to my co-anchor who holds the same responsibilities but has a more accommodating schedule.”

Asher alleged her co-anchor, Roop Raj, was offered more guest interview segment opportunities and schedule accommodations. Facebook / Roop Raj¿

McGonagle met with Asher to tell her she would not be adjusting the schedule, and her new program would be put on hold, according to court papers.

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An Emmy award-winning veteran broadcast journalist, Asher claimed that Raj had also been assigned all of the guest interviews they were supposed to split for Election Day, court documents said.

After complaining to management to no avail, Asher decided to speak with the co-anchor about her concerns that he was receiving “preferable treatment.”

The lawsuit denied that Asher had any “outbursts” that warranted her to be fired. Linkedin / Taryn Asher

The next day, Raj contacted human resources and “offensively labeled Asher as ‘jealous,’ and grossly mischaracterized Asher’s complaints of sex-based discrimination as Asher ‘[having] an issue with men vs. women,” court papers claim.

Shortly after, Asher was placed on leave “pending an investigation into alleged complaints of ‘egregious behavior’” with her Fox colleagues — and fired after a two-week probe for “outbursts” in the newsroom, the lawsuit said.

Asher denied having any such “outbursts” that warranted her to be fired, according to court papers.

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Several male employees at the station had also exhibited “unprofessional behavior and misconduct” with lesser consequences, the filing alleged.

Among the examples, Raj was allegedly “merely suspended” for two weeks after being arrested for driving under the influence in 2012, and McGonagle was also allegedly promoted after a DUI arrest at a different Fox station.

Asher is seeking unspecified damages from Fox Television Stations and WJBK TV.

The action followed the longtime Detroit anchor’s complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that was subjected to “less favorable treatment” than male employees.

Neither Fox, McGonagle, nor Raj responded to The Post’s request for comment.

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Milwaukee, WI

Friends, family gather to remember gunshot victim Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.

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Friends, family gather to remember gunshot victim Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.


Tears, prayers, songs and memories filled the Lancaster Elementary School parking lot June 2 as family, friends and fellow members of S.I.G. Youth Fraternity, Inc. gathered at a Blackout Community memorial to honor Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.

Sikisi-Belle, 22, was killed May 30 during a birthday party for his son at Center Street Park in Milwaukee. During the private memorial, loved ones shared stories of the Milwaukee man, who was known within the fraternity as “House Party.”

‘He was the life of the party’

The memorial was emceed by fellow S.I.G. Youth Fraternity member Juanie Johnson, who said he had known Sikisi-Belle, a father of three, since he was a freshman.

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“I actually pledged him into [S.I.G. Youth Fraternity], so I’ve had the opportunity to work with Pepe since he was in ninth grade,” Johnson said. “Like we said, we’re here to celebrate his life. This is what we do when one of our members passes. Just remember that although he’s gone, he will forever live in our hearts.”

Several fraternity brothers remembered Sikisi-Belle as the ‘life of the party’ who regularly checked on friends and family.

Speakers said Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity name, “House Party,” reflected not only his outgoing personality but also the comfort he provided to others. One fraternity member described him as a sincere soul who was always there for those around him, while others recalled his playful side and said he was known for teasing and trolling his friends.

One of Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity line brothers was too emotional to speak during the memorial, so Johnson spoke on his behalf.

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“They were like two peas in a pod. They gave me a headache,” Johnson said. “They used to always get in trouble together, but to know Pepe is to love Pepe. He was always the life of the party, the spirit of the party, and he used to call me every morning just to be like, ‘You good, bro?’”

Sikisi-Belle’s parents also attended the memorial and shared remarks about their son.

“I miss my son,” said Marissa Bopilo, Sikisi-Belle’s mother. “I know that he loves y’all very, very much, and he’ll live on with us for the rest of our lives.”

Bopilo said she hopes those responsible for her son’s death are brought to justice.

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“He was the life of the party, and he was definitely loved by many,” Bopilo said after the memorial. “I’m hoping things move forward with the situation. I’m hoping that we get justice.”

Members of the organization blew out candles one by one in honor of Sikisi-Belle before closing the memorial with a song.

Sikisi-Belle died from multiple gunshot wounds

At 6:47 p.m. May 30, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Center Street Park, 420 W. Clarke St., for reports of a shooting.

When authorities arrived, they found Sikisi-Belle dead from at least two gunshot wounds to his upper torso, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

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A 25-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested at the scene in connection with the shooting. MCSO said the woman knew Sikisi-Belle and was found with two firearms in her possession.

As of June 3, no criminal charges had been filed in the case.

Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.



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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis leaders split over ShotSpotter contract

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Minneapolis leaders split over ShotSpotter contract


Minneapolis leaders are divided over whether to keep paying for ShotSpotter as the city weighs a new contract for the gunfire detection system.

A public hearing at City Hall focused on the technology as Minneapolis negotiates a new contract with SoundThinking, the company that provides ShotSpotter. Deputy Chief of Investigations Travis Riddle told the council the system supports gun violence strategies and can alert police no later than 60 seconds after shots are fired.

Critics at the hearing said the technology is not proven enough and argued the money could be spent in other ways. The proposed deal would cost $3.7 million through 2029 and would expand ShotSpotter into new areas of Minneapolis.

“We have actually had a contract with SoundThinking for their ShotSpotter services since 2014, and even with this technology for over 12 years now, MPD’s solve rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings were some of the worst in the country,” Council member Robin Wonsley said.

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Council members pushed back on the long-term proposal and said they want a one-year deal instead. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw disagreed with concerns raised by her colleague during the debate.

“In my opinion, and in folks I’ve heard from the North Side who have shown up here time and time again to say that we want this technology, we believe that ShotSpotter is a tool that the police use to save lives,” LaTrisha Vetaw said

City Council is set to take up the issue again on June 17. Minneapolis police are expected to return with a one-year contract instead of the three-year contract brought forward at the hearing.



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