Midwest

Illinois district where faculty celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death exposed over racial ‘segregation’ plan

Published

2 weeks ago

February 18, 2026

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

Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news.

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Midwest

Ilhan Omar doesn’t have any regrets for her ‘unavoidable’ outburst at State of the Union

Published

2 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Ilhan Omar doesn’t have any regrets for her ‘unavoidable’ outburst at State of the Union

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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., spoke candidly on Wednesday, defending her outbursts during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

Omar, along with colleague Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who was seated next to her, appeared on video repeatedly interrupting and gesturing toward Trump several times throughout his speech.

Omar appeared to shout “You are a murderer” and “You’re a liar.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar, right, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib at her side, spoke at a news conference at the State Capitol. (Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

When appearing on CNN, Omar was pressed by host Wolf Blitzer, who noted that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., asked members of his caucus to either sit in silence or to not attend at all.

“Should you have just boycotted the address? And do you think you violated the guidelines set out by your own leader?” he asked.

“No, I think it was really unavoidable. The president talked about protecting Americans, and I just had to remind him that his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents,” Omar responded.

“Do you have any regrets at all about the interaction we played between you and President Trump just last night?” Blitzer asked.

“I do not, and I think many people look at that moment when the president says, ‘It is our responsibility to protect Americans,’ and he does not acknowledge the fact that two Americans, two of my constituents, two of our neighbors, were killed,” she said. “And it was important for me to just remind the American people that the president and his administration was responsible for killing two American citizens.”

Blitzer proceeded to ask, with hindsight in mind, whether she still thinks she made the right choice by showing up.

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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., left, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., shout at President Donald Trump as he delivers his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“I brought four Minnesotans up as guests for the Minnesota delegation. It was important for us to be there, to bear witness, to hold space for our constituents that have lived through an occupation from federal law enforcement, that have been terrorized, that have seen our neighbors been killed and traumatized in so many ways and, so, no. I think it was really important for my constituents to see me there,” she said.

“It was really important to my constituents to hear that. I was reminding the president that Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed under this administration.”

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Democrats have rallied around the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good as a means to criticize ICE and immigration enforcement efforts. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

It responded with a Truth Social post from Trump in which he called for critics like Omar and Tlaib to be put on a boat and “send them back from where they came.”

Fox News’ Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Alexander Hall is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Alexander.hall@fox.com.

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Detroit, MI

Rex Satterfield’s 1956 Bel Air takes 2026 Ridler Award in Detroit

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Rex Satterfield’s 1956 Bel Air takes 2026 Ridler Award in Detroit

Rex Satterfield hoped to see his 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible snag one of the BASF Great 8 finalist spots at this year’s Detroit Autorama. But winning the Ridler Award — one of the highest honors in the custom car business — was something he didn’t foresee.

“It’s just overwhelming right now,” said the man from Russellville, Tennessee, as he left a ballroom at downtown’s Huntington Place and made his way back to the show floor on Sunday, March 1. “We weren’t expecting this.”

Getting a car recognized as one of the BASF Great 8 vehicles is a win in and of itself as they are considered the “absolute pinnacle of custom automotive craftsmanship worldwide,” according to the show. The cars undergo an intensive judging process.

And this effort had an unexpected and emotional complication with the passing in December 2024 of the original builder, Jeff Wolfenbarger, who was battling cancer even as he continued working on the car named “Elegant Lady.”

Kevin Riffey of Kevin Riffey’s Hot Rods and Restorations in Knoxville stepped in to finish the work Wolfenbarger started. He’d had two other cars in the past make the Great 8. He said the goal with this vehicle was straightforward, calling it a “purpose-built show car.”

From its prominent spot at the front of the show floor, “Elegant Lady” sported a creamy exterior, dubbed Light Coffee. The car carries a 1,000 horsepower Don Hardy race engine. The gauges, wheels and gas tank are custom, and the dash is from a 1956 Pontiac.

Satterfield plans to show the car around some and enjoy the moment with it. He said he’s been a car guy since he was a little kid.

The Ridler Award, named in honor of Detroit Autorama’s first publicist, Don Ridler, comes with a $10,000 prize. It was awarded on the final day of this year’s Detroit Autorama, which ran Friday, Feb. 27-Sunday, March 1. This was the event’s 73rd year.

Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Send your tips and suggestions about cool automotive stuff to elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Weather – Frosty and cold morning, sunny day ahead

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels

Frosty Monday morning with temps in the teens inland to low 20s near the lake.
Mostly sunny to sunny skies on Monday. Highs in the mid-40s inland, upper 30s near the lake.
A total lunar eclipse will happen Tuesday morning, total eclipse from 5-6am. It may be tough to see due to increasing clouds.
Increasing clouds on Tuesday with highs in the low 40s. Chance of rain and storms possible Wednesday through Friday with warming temperatures.

Today: 39 Lake. Mostly sunny.
High: 44°
Wind: SE 5-10

Tonight: Partly cloudy this evening, mostly clear overnight.
Low: 27°
Wind: SE 5

Tuesday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy.
High: 43°
Wind: E 5-10

Wednesday:41 Lake. Chance for scattered showers and t-storms.
AM Low: 32° High: 45°
Wind: E 5-10

Thursday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy. Chance storms.
AM Low: 37° High: 42°
Wind: NE 5-10

Friday: Chance for showers and t-storms Warmer. Warming at night.
AM Low: 37° High: 57°
Wind: SE 5-15

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with AM rain showers. Blustery with falling afternoon temperatures.
AM Low: 47° High: 53°
Wind: NE 5-10

6-day planner

FOX6 Weather Extras

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:

FOX6 Storm Center app

FOX LOCAL Mobile app

FOX Weather app

FOX Weather

Big picture view:

Maps and radar

We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.

School and business closings

When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.