Midwest
Walz abortion record is 'on par with China and North Korea,' says parental rights advocate
MINNEAPOLIS — A parental rights advocate in Minneapolis is warning that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s policies on issues like abortion and gender ideology are far from “moderate” and says that under his watch, Minnesota has become one of the most progressive states in the country.
“I was pretty surprised that the claim for his pick was that he is a moderate, that he shares Minnesota values,” Renee Carlson, General Counsel of True North Legal, a legal initiative of the Minnesota Family Council, told Fox News Digital.
“A lot of people in Minnesota are astounded by the policies that have been passed in Minnesota, specifically policies that affect families flourishing. They’re disappointed and certainly not in line with his progressive ideology.”
Carlson told Fox News Digital that one of the key areas Walz’s leadership has let down her community is on the issue of abortion.
MINNESOTA LAWMAKER SOUNDS ALARM ON GOV WALZ’S ‘RADICAL AGENDA’ AHEAD OF ELECTION: ‘SO HEINOUS’
True North Legal’s Renee Carlson spoke to Fox News Digital about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s record.
“From our perspective at True North Legal, we were very disappointed with the administration’s governance on matters of protecting life and also protecting not only these preborn children, but protecting women,” Carlson said. “He has some of the most extreme policies, not only in the United States, but in the world, on par with China and North Korea.”
“The reality of it is, most Minnesotans did not agree with his policy of abortion up to birth with no limitations,” she continued. “This is for anybody, this includes minors. There is also a repeal that partners with that fundamental right of nearly all protective guardrails for women and girls seeking an abortion. This means the removal of hospital-only law, of physician-only laws, of the 24-hour waiting period. A woman’s right to know, which simply provides them information about what happens to their bodies when they get an abortion.”
Carlson explained that legislation in Minnesota was amended to remove protections for babies born alive after surviving an abortion and that now they only receive “comfort care” as opposed to “life-saving care.”
HARRIS VP PICK SPENT YEARS PROMOTING RESEARCH FACILITY THAT COLLABORATED WITH ‘CHINESE MILITARY COMPANY’
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appear at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 22. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“We’re talking about an administration that thinks that it’s okay to let preborn children who survive an abortion die on a cold metal table,” Carlson said. “Cattle and reptiles in Minnesota now have more rights than Minnesota’s women and preborn children when it comes to abortion.”
When it comes to religious freedom under Gov. Walz, Carlson says that he has missed the mark.
“Very disappointed and not a moderate position at all,” she said. “I mean, a brazen attack on our fundamental freedoms and First Amendment rights.”
“The Minnesota Human Rights Act, like many states, has anti-discrimination provisions, based on specific categories. One of those is gender identity, and that is at times in conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs of religious people in Minnesota. And that’s about half the population,” Carlson said. “Well, a special exemption back in the ’90s was put in when sexual orientation was added as a protected class to the Minnesota Human Rights Act. I mean, and that was a wonderful demonstration of pluralism. If that legislation was going to be added, at least there were protections for religious organizations within this exemption. Well, that exemption, like I said, was removed last year.”
FORMER TEACHER REVEALS WHICH STUDENTS SUFFERED ‘THE MOST’ UNDER WALZ’S PANDEMIC-ERA GUIDELINES
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to an audience at the International Association of Fire Fighters convention in Boston on Wednesday.
“These are brazen policies. They are not moderate,” she added.
Walz, who has been nicknamed by some Republicans in the state as “Tampon Tim” for allowing menstrual products to be placed in some boys’ school bathrooms, has also earned a failing grade from Carlson when it comes to gender ideology.
“With respect to gender ideology, Minnesota is — quite surprisingly, though it’s in the Midwest — emerging as one of the most progressive states when it comes to gender policies,” she said. “Essentially, their policies reflect a sentiment that they would like gender ideology to be the superseding category.”
Carlson told Fox News Digital that the Walz administration has “not proven to be a moderate administration at all” and “they’ve passed some of the most extreme progressive policies.”
“Their state agencies have enforced some of the most extreme progressive laws, and that is disappointing,” she said.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz reacts during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
“That has been a struggle for many, many Minnesotans, and if that’s happening in Minnesota, imagine what could happen to the fabric of our country. We are fighting for our freedoms. I mean, something as simple as religious freedom was on the chopping blocks in Minnesota. If that’s happening in Minnesota, just imagine what could happen across the country. I think people need to take a closer look at Minnesota and what policies have been passed. And again, in my firsthand experience, this is not a moderate administration. These are some of the most progressive, extreme policies that we’ve seen across the country.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris-Walz campaign for comment but did not receive a response.
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Illinois
Delavan police officer resigns after arrest on stalking charges in Illinois
DELAVAN, Wis. — A Delavan police officer has resigned immediately following his arrest on stalking charges in Illinois.
Joshua Bittner faces charges stemming from contacting a woman against the orders of the Winnebago County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office. The woman detailed a long pattern of harassment in court documents obtained by TMJ4.
Before being hired by the Delavan Police Department in 2023, Bittner was an officer in Beloit. He resigned from that position while the police department investigated his behavior.
Bittner’s resignation takes effect immediately.
Watch: Delavan police officer resigns after arrest on stalking charges in Illinois
Delavan police officer resigns following arrest
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Indiana
Central Indiana Top Workplaces: Here’s the list of 2026 honorees
These employers were recognized by the annual Top Workplaces employee survey conducted by Energage, working in partnership with IndyStar.
Top large companies
- Progressive Insurance
- Eight Eleven Family of Companies
- Shepherd Insurance
- LEL Home Services
- Merchants Bank / Merchants Capital
- Tendercare Home Health Services
- Rohrman Automotive Group
- Team Rehabilitation
- Wabash Center, Inc.
- Brighton Hospice
- Mainscape
- The Indianapolis Public Library
- Greenix
- Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
- Indiana Members Credit Union
- Celigo
- Round Room LLC
- Freedom Mortgage
- Thompson Thrift
- Kirby Risk
- Ren
- Morgan Properties
- American Specialty Health, Incorporated
- Towne Properties
- New Palestine Community Schools
- Planes Companies
- Panda Restaurant Group
- Fifth Third Bank
- Flaherty & Collins Properties
- Indiana Department of Revenue
- Republic Airways
- RCI
- Cox Enterprises
- PERFICIENT
- Grand Appliance
- PT Solutions
- Centerstone
- Peterman Brothers
- Groundworks
- Damar Services
- Kloeckner Metals
- CBIZ
- Graybar
- Resultant
Top midsize companies
- Paradigm Health
- SEP
- New Hope of Indiana
- Scopelitis Law Firm (Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary)
- Bath Experts, LLC
- Opportunities for Positive Growth
- Hensley Legal Group, PC
- TBC Hotels
- The BAM Companies
- BSA
- Northview Church
- Northwestern Mutual
- Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine
- Dauby O’Connor & Zaleski, LLC
- Quality Plumbing & Heating
- Meyer Najem
- The Garrett Companies
- Commonwealth Engineers, Inc.
- Family Express
- GVC Mortgage
- Hays + Sons
- InPwr Inc.
- Kinetic Advantage
- Schahet Hotels, Inc.
- LER TechForce
- Envelop Group
- Unified Group Services, Inc.
- Knowledge Services
- Key Benefit Administrators
- Reynolds Farm Equipment, LLC
- ARBOR HOMES
- Total Quality Logistics – TQL
- North Mechanical Contracting & Service
- Indiana Donor Network
- Royal United Mortgage
- Perfection Group
- Eye Surgeons of Indiana
- ALOM
Top small companies
- Bailey & Wood Financial Group
- Indesign, LLC
- Children’s Therapy Connection
- Vaco Indianapolis
- The Peterson Company
- Express Employment Professionals
- ProKids
- Pension Fund of the Christian Church
- Mission Mechanical
- Robert Dietrick Co., Inc.
- Loren Wood Builders
- PulteGroup-IN
- BGBC, a Springline company
- NCW
- Visit Indy
- WorldTrips
- Aerocore Technologies LLC
- Vikan North America
- ready-2-xecute
- DirectEmployers
- USI Consultants
- SJCA, Inc.
- Indy Auto Man
- Kirkpatrick Management Company
- Indiana Biosciences Research Institute
- Engaging Solutions, LLC
- Exos
- Indiana Health Information Exchange
- Patterson-Horth
- Office360
- Netfor
- Haggard & Stocking Assoicates
- National Trade Supply
- Fairchild Communication Systems
- Adelta Logis, Inc.
- EMC Precision
Special Awards
APPRECIATION
Criteria: I feel genuinely appreciated at this company.
Winner: Scopelitis Law Firm (Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary)
BENEFITS PACKAGE
Criteria: I am very satisfied with my benefits package.
Winner: PulteGroup-IN
CLUED IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Criteria: Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company.
Winner: Indesign, LLC
COMMUNICATION
Criteria: I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company.
Winner: New Hope of Indiana
DIRECTION
Criteria: I believe this company is going in the right direction.
Winner: Paradigm Health
DOERS
Criteria: At this company, we do things efficiently and well.
Winner: Children’s Therapy Connection
LEADERSHIP
Criteria: I have confidence in the leadership team of this company.
Winner: Quinn Shepherd, Shepherd Insurance
LEADERSHIP
Criteria: I have confidence in the leadership team of this company.
Winner: Mike Wood, Bailey & Wood Financial Group
LEADERSHIP
Criteria: I have confidence in the leadership team of this company.
Winner: Andrea Schwartz, Opportunities for Positive Growth
MANAGERS
Criteria: My manager helps me learn and grow. My manager cares about my concerns.
Winner: REN
MEANINGFULNESS
Criteria: My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful.
Winner: LEL Home Services
NEW IDEAS
Criteria: New ideas are encouraged at this company.
Winner: Progressive Insurance
VALUES
Criteria: This company operates by strong values.
Winner: BSA
WELL-BEING
Criteria: This company does a great job of prioritizing employee well-being.
Winner: The Peterson Company
WORK/LIFE FLEXIBILITY
Criteria: I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life.
Winner: Merchants Bank / Merchants Capital
Iowa
Bennett Stirtz named University of Iowa Men’s Athlete of the Year
After a spectacular senior year with Iowa basketball, point guard Bennett Stirtz won Iowa Athletics’ men’s Athlete of the Year and men’s Hawkeye of the Year awards at the athletic department’s 10th annual Golden Herky awards ceremony.
Stirtz, who made stops at Northwest Missouri State and Drake before his lone season at Iowa, finished with a career Division I average of 19.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on 48.7% field goal shooting, 37.2% 3-point shooting, and 82% from the free-throw line.
This past season, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Liberty, Missouri, averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game on 47.7% field goal shooting and 35.8% 3-point shooting, to accompany 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals through approximately 37:44 of action in his 37 games played.
At the end of the season, Stirtz’s play earned him AP and USBWA honorable-mention All-America honors, first-team All-Big Ten recognition, and the winner of the prestigious Chris Street Award.
In addition to Stirtz’s men’s Athlete of the Year award, Iowa’s men’s basketball team took home four additional Golden Herkys.
Redshirt freshman Cooper Koch was named men’s Breakthrough Athlete, freshman Tate Sage was named men’s Freshman of the Year, and the team earned the awards for men’s Outstanding Team and Best Moment for defeating No. 1 seed Florida to advance to the Sweet 16 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
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