Midwest
Illinois district where faculty celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death exposed over racial ‘segregation’ plan
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FIRST ON FOX: An Illinois school district filled with faculty who celebrated and hoped for the death of Charlie Kirk was exposed for their 2026 equity framework plan the district “aspires to” that includes hiring and retaining staff with “diverse backgrounds” and mandated DEI training sessions for faculty and students.
Defending Education uncovered Oswego District 308’s equity roadmap through several Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, which brought to light an annual report summary on DEI as well as the district’s DEI plan for 2026.
One FOIA request detailing an equity report showed that a middle school in the district divided students by racial background, without notifying parents, as part of equity training sessions for staff in 2025.
The equity director wrote after the session, which was held during “Student Support Time,” that she identified the “challenges with being discriminated against based on color” and that her next session would be with “those who identify as White.”
An Illinois school district is under scrutiny after FOIA requests revealed a 2026 equity framework promoting DEI hiring, mandatory training and race-based student sessions held without parental notification. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital that the district’s move to divide students into races could be considered “segregation.”
“Calling it a racial affinity group is just a nicer way of saying racial segregation—these equity assemblies that divide up students by their skin color are without justification, not to mention illegal,” Sanzi explained. “Regardless of the intention, the ideology behind race-based programs and activities in schools is destructive and needs to be rooted out.”
The equity report also showed that high school departments held “specific content/equity” trainings, where students could engage in opportunities like a lunch and learn about “LGBTQ+, Migroaggressions, Ramadan.”
Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a report from the Kendall County Times revealed that Jadon A. Waller, the district’s superintendent of equity and engagement of grades K-8, posted to Facebook referring to Kirk as a “modern day Klans man.”
“I’m seeing a lot of Black folks on here interjecting themselves into the death of a modern day Klans man… and I have to say I’m confused and disappointed. Who are you trying to make comfortable? Cause it’s making me uncomfortable.”
Waller posted under the name Ashley Jadon on Facebook, according to the report.
Newly uncovered records show an Illinois district implementing race-focused equity trainings, diversity hiring priorities and DEI conferences, while a senior administrator drew outrage for social media posts about Charlie Kirk. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Per the school district’s website, Waller is still employed at Oswego District 308.
Waller did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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As for the 2026 outlook, the report showed plans for DEI training in elementary and middle schools and a DEI Design Team to “analyze and address inequities within student academic achievement” and student discipline.
In an “indicators of success” rubric where results will be reflected in the following year’s report, the district calls for elementary and junior high school’s teacher leaders and administrators to “facilitate at least two of their own DEI trainings by the end of the year.”
The Illinois school district also plans to “partner with surrounding districts and Waubonsee Community College to host our 1st DEI Conference called ASCEND!”
One equity statement says the district “will acknowledge the existence of racism in our schools and community,” and “we will address injustices that lead to racial inequities and work to educate and change behaviors” to promote inclusivity.
In addition to pushing DEI in the classroom, the recruitment and retention portion of the plan pushes the district to “prioritize” diverse hires.
Oswego District 308 faces backlash after reports that staff celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death and documents exposed equity initiatives, including racial affinity groups and expanded DEI programming. (Getty Images/iStock)
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“We will prioritize the recruitment, retention, and advancement of administrators and staff with diverse backgrounds to ensure our team of educators reflects our student body,” the framework reads.
A job posting for a high school principal in the school district obtained by Defending Education says “the right candidate” should be “prioritizing equity and rightful presence… across the district.”
Oswego District 308’s commitment to DEI doesn’t stop there. The district proposed a $75,000 grant to the Board of Education to establish a partnership with an organization for a residency program that “recruits and retains new teachers who reflect the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of the communities we serve.”
From October 2023 to March 2024, during a previous partnership between the district and a separate organization, the school district spent taxpayer dollars on DEI supplies, including pride parade stickers and a pride parade fee to participate.
The school district spent funds to participate in a pride parade along with stickers and materials. (Joshua Stanyer/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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The previous partnership held training sessions for district personnel and students where participants were asked to read “How Privileged Am I” and rank themselves on how privileged they are.
“Generate a privilege list related to P-12 settings for the student and adult educator group assigned to your team by listing ways students and adults may experience systems of advantages or rights that are available to them solely based on their social identities,” the training instructions read.
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While these training sessions were held in the Illinois school district, the organization carries out similar exercises through partnerships with state and local educational agencies across the country.
Oswego District 308 did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News. Story tips can be sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston
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Minnesota
Minnesota cannabis store owners lament testing backlog: “It’s getting frustrating for everyone involved”
One of five cannabis testing sites in Minnesota is shutting down, citing exorbitant costs as the reason.
William Drexler is moving product he has around as he waits patiently for more. He says customers who come into Grey Area, on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, are looking for adult-use items, which he says are being held up by a backlog in testing.
“We haven’t had problems with drinks or edibles yet, but for the adult-use products that where we’ve seen the delays, like your pre-rolls, your flowers, we haven’t even gotten pens in yet,” Drexler said.
He says getting cannabis products in his store has been an issue since he got his license to sell them a few months ago.
“I’ve heard pretty much from every vendor that it’s testing that we are waiting on. That’s been the normal thing to hear, and week by week they may say, ‘it’s next week,’ and that can delay into the following week. So at this point I don’t think many of them are giving a date,” he said.
He anticipates getting those products will take even longer now that one of the testing sites is no longer testing.
In a statement, Legends Technical Services said, “under the current regulatory framework, we do not foresee an ability to continue to meet our client expectations in an economically viable manner. “
“We’ve already seen testing delays from the get go, so vendors aren’t really giving us time frames because they are probably hearing different time frames themselves,” Drexler said. “It’s getting frustrating for everyone involved.”
For now, Drexler contacts growers to see how long before his shelves are in full bloom.
“These companies here, it’s the same story kind of from them when we contact them. ‘Hey, we need more product. We’re hoping for new [product] soon, but it’s coming out of testing soon,’” he said.
WCCO has reached out to Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management for comment on the backlog.
Nebraska
Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture proposes ban on food and beverages containing any amount of THC
LINCOLN, Neb. — A public hearing Thursday drew strong opposition to proposed rules that would label food adulterated and illegal if it contains any amount of THC and its derivatives, potentially decimating Nebraska’s hemp and CBD industry.
The regulations would affect products like gummies, beverages and oral tinctures. Over 490 people wrote in opposition to the new regulations, while only three supported them.
The rule changes stem from an executive order issued by Gov. Jim Pillen in January requiring state agencies to review laws regarding the use of synthetic THC in food and beverages. The order was made to align with federal law coming in November 2026, which bans synthetic THC products and limits total THC concentrations in hemp products to not exceed 0.4 milligrams per container.
The proposed Nebraska rule goes beyond that federal standard.
“I would say it’d be similar other than it does say no THC. It is zero THC,” said Andrew Bish, chief operating officer of Bish Enterprises. “It’s not we are deferring to the federal government standard and aligning with the federal government standard. It is, in fact, a different standard.”
Fifteen speakers testified during the hearing, with many calling for the Department of Agriculture to regulate the industry rather than enforce outright bans.
“I respectfully urge the department to pursue a balanced science-based approach that protects public safety, targets specific problems, strengths and standards where necessary and holds bad actors accountable without unnecessarily eliminating access to products that may Nebraskans find valuable and beneficial,” said Dr. Andrea Holmes, a professor of chemistry at Doane University.
Many who testified were shop owners who said the regulations would result in major business losses and reduced state revenue.
“In 2025, we pay over $1 million in sales tax. We expect to be over $1.3 million in 2026,” one speaker from The Cannabis Factory said. “We’re not opposed to regulation, or oversight, or even additional taxation.”
The Department of Agriculture will review comments and decide if any changes need to be made. If not, the regulations go to the attorney general and the governor for approval.
The regulations include a carve out for the medical cannabis acts, meaning people with medical cannabis cards could get prescriptions that would not be affected by this proposed regulation change.
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