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Track coach files lawsuit after being fired for suggesting changes to trans athlete laws: 'I'm in the right'

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Track coach files lawsuit after being fired for suggesting changes to trans athlete laws: 'I'm in the right'

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Former track and field coach John Parks is taking a legal stand after allegedly being fired from Lake Oswego High School for sending a letter to Oregon state officials concerning laws related to transgender athletes.

The Liberty Justice Center revealed in a press release on Thursday that it has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Lake Oswego School District and the Lake Oswego School Board for unfairly terminating Parks last month for expressing his opinion on transgender athlete policies.

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Parks remained defiant, telling Fox News Digital, “I’m in the right here.” 

Senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center Buck Dougherty said in a statement, “Coach Parks was retaliated against, falsely accused of discriminatory behavior, denied an appeal, and fired—just for exercising his constitutional right to free speech as a private citizen.” 

Former Oregon high school track and field coach John Parks is suing his former school district after it fired him last month. (Fox News)

Dougherty added, “His proposal was a common-sense solution to a growing national debate. We are proud to stand up for his constitutional rights through this lawsuit, and we look forward to holding the District and the Board accountable for this egregious violation of free speech and due process.”

HIGH SCHOOL COACH FIRED AFTER PUSHING TO CHANGE STATE TRANS ATHLETE LAW: ‘VILIFIED’ FOR STANDING UP FOR GIRLS

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In May, Parks wrote a letter to the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) encouraging the state to adopt a transgender athlete policy similar to World Aquatics by creating an open division where “all sex and gender identities” are welcome to compete. 

The Liberty Justice Center said that Parks was then accused of violating the district’s harassment policy when OSAA member Marshall Haskins filed a complaint accusing him of discriminating against a transgender student.

After an investigation, the school district ruled that the policy was violated and terminated Parks’ contract. He was also denied a request for an appeal.

The lawsuit will be seeking money damages, restoration of Parks’ old position and a declaration saying that the school district violated his First Amendment rights.

John Parks and Riley Gaines on OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls Podcast” discussing his termination after sending a letter to OSAA regarding transgender athletes. (OutKick)

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FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD COACH JOHN PARKS TALKS FIRING AMID PUSH FOR TRANSGENDER ATHLETE LAW CHANGE

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Parks emphasized the harm and unfairness of allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ events for both the female and transgender runners.

“It puts [trans athletes] in a position where they can’t feel fully celebrated because they know that they’re impacting the female athletes in a way that the female athletes often and mostly do resent. And so that has to be spared. For them to be able to compete, there should be a separate category so that they can be celebrated and not vilified and not booed,” Parks said.

He added to Fox News Digital, “I want them to not have to face that. I want them to be able to enjoy the love of running without the stress of having to be competing in that division where they’re going to face that.”

Parks argued that the current policy is unfair to girls, with a large number of people agreeing.

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Parks is seeking the restoration of his old job at Lake Oswego High School. (Getty Images)

“Everybody that I have spoken to has been 100% supportive. There’s been no negative reaction from anybody anywhere regarding my statements at all. There seems to be a general consensus that I’m in the right here,” Parks said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Lake Oswego School District for comment, but did not immediately hear back. 

Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

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Hawaii

What’s Cooking: Celebrating Lunar New Year with Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood

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What’s Cooking: Celebrating Lunar New Year with Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A family-run Chinese restaurant in Honolulu’s Chinatown is gearing up for Lunar New Year festivities.

Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood Restaurant owner Karen Tam and her son Kirave Liang joined HNN’s Sunrise to showcase their dim sum and Chinese specialties.

Lunar New Year specials include a special jai with 18 vegetarian ingredients and the sweet, sticky, steamed rice cake gau in brown sugar and coconut flavors, which symbolize good fortune and prosperity.

”We eat food with a lucky meaning to start the great year,” Tam said. “We have jin dui (sesame balls) every day.“

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Feb. 17 marks the start of the year of the Fire Horse, when families gather to celebrate with big meals and auspicious dishes. Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood will offer set party menus and special orders for foods not commonly found in Honolulu, such as whole stuffed duck, braised abalone in oyster sauce, and basin meal.

“It’s the biggest fest of the year. We celebrate Chinese New Year by eating with family in a round table,“ Tam said.

Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood also has private rooms with karaoke systems and a banquet hall to accommodate small family gatherings to large parties.

Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood is located on 111 N. King St. and is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, There is street parking and paid parking behind the restaurant on Nimitz and Maunakea.

For more information, visit hawaiidimsumseafood.com or follow on Instagram @hawaiidimsumseafood.

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Idaho

Interstate 84 near Mountain Home back open after utility work

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Interstate 84 near Mountain Home back open after utility work


MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Interstate 84 near Mountain Home is back open after crews closed the freeway due to utility work.

Crews closed westbound and eastbound lanes on Saturday morning from milepost 90 to milepost 95 due to Idaho Power working on power lines in the area, according to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office. All lanes are now back open in both directions.

The sheriff’s office and the Mountain Home Police Department apologized for the inconvenience, saying they were just informed of the closure on Saturday morning.

More information regarding road closures and traffic conditions can be found at the Idaho Transportation Department’s 511 map.

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Montana

Service door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says

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Service door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says


The French owner of the Swiss bar where 40 people died in a fire during new year celebrations has told investigators a service door had been locked from the inside.

Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the Constellation bar in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, was taken into custody on Friday, as prosecutors investigated the tragedy.

Most of the 40 people who died were teenagers, and another 116 people were injured.

Moretti told the Valais public prosecutor’s office that he had found out about the locked door just after the deadly fire.

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When he arrived at the scene, he forced open the door, according to excerpts from police reports published by several French and Swiss media outlets confirmed to AFP by a source close to the case.

Moretti said he had found several people lying behind the door after opening it.

Initial findings suggest the fire was caused by sparklers coming into contact with soundproofing foam installed on the ceiling of the establishment’s basement.

Questions are also being raised regarding the presence and accessibility of fire extinguishers, and whether the bar’s exits were in compliance with regulations.

No safety inspections at site of Swiss bar fire for past five years, mayor says

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“We always add a sparkler candle when we serve a bottle of wine in the dining room,” said his wife and co-owner, Jessica, who was released after Friday’s hearing.

Moretti told investigators he had carried out tests and the candles were not powerful enough to ignite the acoustic foam.

He said he bought the foam in a DIY store and installed it himself during renovations carried out after buying the establishment in 2015.

Regarding the presence of numerous underage kids in the bar at the time of the tragedy, Moretti said the establishment prohibited anyone under the age of 16 and that customers aged 16 to 18 had to be accompanied by an adult.

He said he had given these “instructions” to the security staff, but acknowledged that “it is possible that there was a lapse in protocol”.

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The couple is suspected of “negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson”.



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