Midwest
These six states banned or limited DEI at colleges and universities in 2024
Six states, including one with a Democratic governor, have either banned or prohibited the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public colleges and universities this year.
The practice of DEI in higher educational institutions has been controversial for several years, most frequently opposed by Republicans and described by critics, such as civil rights attorney Devon Westhill, as an “industry that pushes a left-wing, far-left ideological orthodoxy in essentially every area of American life.”
In 2024 alone, Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas and Utah either banned or limited the use of such teaching or use in the application process in their state’s education system.
In January, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, signed legislation to prohibit institutions from engaging in “discriminatory practices” such as “that an individual, by virtue of the individual’s personal identity characteristics, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other individuals with the same personal identity characteristics.”
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The University of Utah campus is viewed from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Rick Bowmer)
The anti-DEI law also banned schools from having any policy, procedure, practice, program, office, initiative, or required training that is referred to or called “diversity, equity and inclusion.”
In March, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama signed SB 129 into law. It prohibits certain DEI offices, as well as the “promotion, endorsement, and affirmation of certain divisive concepts in certain public settings.”
The bill bans “divisive concepts,” such as “that any individual should accept, acknowledge, affirm, or assent to a sense of guilt, complicity, or a need to apologize on the basis of his or her race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin” and “that meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist.”
The legislation also required that restrooms be used on the basis of biological sex rather than gender identity, and that public institutions of higher education “authorize certain penalties for violation.”
Gov. Kay Ivey takes questions from reporters during a press conference at the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery, Ala. (Reuters)
Also in March, Indiana adopted legislation to amend the duties of state educational institutions’ diversity committees and increase “intellectual diversity.” Additionally, the Indiana House introduced legislation to further prohibit DEI teachings in schools by mandating that educators “shall not promote in any course certain concepts related to race or sex.”
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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, allowed legislation prohibiting postsecondary educational institutions from engaging in certain DEI-related actions to become law without her signature. The bill, passed in April, imposes a $10,000 fine on any public institution that employs DEI practices in faculty hiring or student enrollment processes.
“While I have concerns about this legislation, I don’t believe that the conduct targeted in this legislation occurs in our universities,” Kelly wrote in her passage of the bill.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, another Republican, signed an education-funding bill in May that contained provisions to limit DEI in schools, just months after the state’s board of education began to scale back on such practices in higher education.
University of Iowa spring campus scene in Iowa City. (Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group)
The bill prohibits “any effort to promote, as the official position of the public institution of higher education, a particular, widely contested opinion referencing unconscious or implicit bias, cultural appropriation, allyship, transgender ideology, microaggressions, group marginalization, antiracism, systemic oppression, social justice, intersectionality, nee-pronouns, heteronormativity, disparate impact, gender theory, racial privilege, sexual privilege, or any related formulation of these concepts.”
Idaho became the latest state to determine that institutions may not “require specific structures or activities related to DEI.”
In December, the Idaho Board of Education unanimously agreed on a resolution requiring that institutions “ensure that no central offices, policies, procedures, or initiatives are dedicated to DEI ideology” and “ensure that no employee or student is required to declare gender identity or preferred pronouns.”
Other states, such as Florida, Texas and Tennessee, have all previously banned the practice of DEI in higher education.
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Midwest
Six Ohio suspects accused of torturing man in weeklong hotel kidnapping: 'Extremely disturbing'
Six people are behind bars after a man was allegedly kidnapped and tortured using a metal bat in an Ohio hotel room in a case prosecutors are describing as “extremely disturbing.”
A grand jury has indicted Martina Esqueda Jones 28; Michael Esqueda, 28; Aaron Bradshaw, 49; Austin Bradshaw, 23; Chance Johnston, 27; and David Cessna, 26, on felony kidnapping to terrorize or inflict serious physical harm charges, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
The six defendants allegedly began holding a man against his will on March 14 and proceeded to torture him at a Red Roof Inn in Maumee, Ohio, according to an arrest warrant.
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Top row, from left, Aaron Bradshaw, Martina Esqueda Jones and Austin Bradshaw, and, bottom row, from left, Chance Johnston, David Cessna and Michael Esqueda are facing felony kidnapping to terrorize or inflict serious physical harm in Lucas County, Ohio. (Lucas County Sheriff’s Office; iStock)
The nightmare lasted for one week as the group restrained the man while beating him with a metal bat and depriving him of food and water, according to court documents.
The Maumee Police Department and Red Roof Inn did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional information.
“He was being essentially tortured, assaulted, over the timeframe of a week,” Maumee Chief of Police Josh Sprow said in an interview with 13 Action News. “His injuries were results of being struck with a baseball bat, struck with fists, elbows, stomping on him when he was on the ground, which over time resulted in multiple fractured bones.”
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PHOTOS: See the six defendants’ mugshots
The arrest warrant details how the man was forced to “stand for extended periods of time” and “only slept for 10 hours during a seven-day period.” When law enforcement found the victim, he “had injuries all over his body,” with some injuries believed to be serious.
On March 21, the victim was allowed to leave the hotel to go to a local Speedway, where he was able to get in contact with authorities, according to 13 Action News.
“The totality of those injuries has not been determined,” Assistant City Prosecutor Andy Lastra told the court last week, according to the Toledo Blade. Lastra went on to describe the case as “extremely disturbing.”
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The Toledo County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Jones is reportedly in a polygamous relationship with Johnston, Cessna and Austin Bradshaw, while also married to Esqueda, according to the Kansas City Star.
However, three of the defendants – Martina Jones, Michael Esqueda and David Cessna – are facing additional charges in Maumee Municipal Court. Jones is charged with second-degree felonious assault and domestic violence to a household member, Esqueda is charged with second-degree felonious assault and Cessna is charged with second-degree domestic violence.
The six defendants are expected to be arraigned on felony charges on April 3 and are currently being held without bond, according to the Lucas County Clerk of Courts.
Attorneys for five out of six of the defendants did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. An attorney for one defendant said his client had been indicted but declined to comment further.
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Here are six takeaways from Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, who spoke to reporters Thursday morning for his annual pre-draft media session.
Detroit’s front office has been steadfast in their approach and will not change it based on what supporters or pundits believe the team should do.
Holmes indicated the team will not reach for any players and again reiterated the goal is to select the best player who fits what the coaching staff and front office is trying to accomplish.
Holmes noted, “So, we’re not going to reach on players just to fill a position. That’s what we don’t do.”
Among the few criticisms Holmes has faced has been his willingness to select developmental prospects in the draft.
With the Lions being where they are in their pursuit of a Super Bowl, it has become increasingly difficult for developmental players to reach the standard required of them to make the roster.
While the Lions still want to have players capable of growing in their pipeline, they also acknowledge that with the talent on their roster already, it will be difficult for these types of talents to ultimately break camp with the team.
“We don’t really go into like, ‘Man we’ve got to get high floor, ready to go but the ceiling might be a little lower.’ Or, ‘We’re just going to take developmental guys.’ There’s no problem taking a developmental guy,” Holmes said. “Like I said, some of these guys, man you can take a late-round pick and it’s got to be the right guy or it’s going to be hard to make the roster.”
Holmes is aligned with head coach Dan Campbell in the desire to get younger in the wide receivers room.
“The only thing about receiver is I always felt like receiver is one of the more voluminous positions in each draft, said Holmes. “It’s probably more of those guys that are veteran free agents that are available after the draft as well. But yeah, just to add one, just to continue to add youth. We’re happy with the guys we have. Very happy with the guys that we have, but obviously it’d be great to get younger.”
The Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars have recently made the decision to cease conducting official top-30 visits with draft prospects.
Even though his mentor Les Snead is doing away with meetings, Holmes still finds value in learning more than just about what a player can bring to the football field. Snead’s approach has been carried by new Jaguars GM James Gladstone, who worked under him with the Rams prior to taking his new position.
Detroit’s general manager noted prospects are human beings and pre-draft meetings allow the coaching staff and front office a chance to “dig deeper” about the human being, not just the athlete who is expected to perform.
The team agrees the class of defensive ends is fairly solid and could even have enough depth to allow for a trade down in the draft.
Detroit is open to every option available, but the class of defensive lineman available this year should have enough depth to allow Holmes the flexibility to select another position on Day 1 of the draft.
“It might be an opportunity to trade back if that position is there,” said Holmes. “But yeah, there’s some good football players there.”
Holmes brought up some frustrations he has felt wondering why fans want to know so much about what the team’s plans are.
He used an analogy of fans attending movies as a way to express that he desired for a slight decline in the intense desire for fans and media to know each and every detail regarding the team’s plans.
Rather than the intense analysis that often accompanies the lead-up to the big event, Holmes called for a more exciting approach.
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Department of Public Works will be modifying certain operations due to Good Friday and Easter. Here’s a list of changes that residents need to know.
Garbage and recycling
- There will be no garbage and recycling pick-up on Friday, April 18.
- Drop-Off Centers will be closed on Friday, April 18 and Sunday, April 20.
- Drop-Off Centers will remain open on Saturday, April 19 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Collection days shift forward after each city holiday; review the collection schedule on the city’s website.
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Parking enforcement and towing
- No overnight parking enforcement on Saturday night into Sunday morning, April 20 from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
- Overnight parking enforcement resumes on Sunday night into Monday morning, April 21 from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
- Vehicles still must be legally parked and not in violation of any posted parking regulations.
- Tow Lot will be open on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tow Lot will be closed on Sunday, April 20.
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Milwaukee Water Works
- The Water Works Customer Service Center at 841 N. Broadway will be closed on Friday, April 18 for in-person and live telephone assistance.
- Automated account information and bill payment will remain available by calling 414-286-2830.
- Customers can pay their Municipal Services Bill and check account balances online anytime.
- Questions concerning billing or making payments can be emailed or by calling customer service the following business day.
- For water emergencies, customers are asked to call the 24-hour Control Center at 414-286-3710.
For other requests, schedules, and information, residents should call 414-286-CITY, visit the DPW website or enter service requests online.
The Source: The Milwaukee Department of Public Works released information for this report.
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