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Washington school board fights 'radical' state education chief defying Trump's transgender athlete ban

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Washington school board fights 'radical' state education chief defying Trump's transgender athlete ban

A pair of school board officials in deep blue Washington State are fighting back as the state’s education chief remains committed to defying President Donald Trump’s executive order barring transgender athletes from women’s sports.

“It’s an absolute joke,” Kennewick School Board Vice President Micah Valentine said Monday on “Fox & Friends First.”

“He has been promoting his radical leftist ideology since we’ve been on the board…. Grades are dropping under his watch. Meanwhile, he’s promoting LGBTQIA+ things…”

STATE EDUCATION CHIEF SAYS IT’S ‘INACCURATE’ TO SAY THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS, IN DEFENSE OF TRANS ATHLETES

Kennewick School Board President Gabe Galbraith and Vice President Micah Valentine criticized state guidance on President Donald Trump’s executive order barring biological males from participating in girls’ sports. (Fox & Friends First/Screengrab)

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The Kennewick School Board filed a Title IX complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights against Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal last week, seeking federal intervention over the state’s refusal to comply with Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order.

Reykdal defended transgender athletes in girls’ sports in an address last month, claiming it was “inaccurate” to say “biologically” there are only two genders. 

“There’s a continuum. There’s a science to this. There are children who are born intersex. There are children whose hormones and whose chromosomes are not consistent with their sex at birth,” he said.

SCHOOL BOARD PLEADS WITH TRUMP ADMIN TO FORCE STATE BAN ON TRANSGENDERS IN GIRLS SPORTS AS DEMOCRATS REFUSE

Washington state's Chris Reykdal

Washington state’s Chris Reykdal argued that it is “inaccurate” to say “biologically” there are only two genders. (Fox & Friends First/Screengrab)

“That’s not a debate we’re going to have today. I just want to remind you of our civil rights obligations. Our state laws make clear that children get to identify and participate based on the gender in which they identify. We’re going to uphold that law.”

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With mixed directives from the federal and state levels, the district is concerned not only about jeopardizing the well-being of female student athletes but also about putting lower-income students at risk if they lose federal funding because of the mix-up.

Kennewick School Board President Gabe Galbraith told Fox News that the district is seeking federal intervention to ensure the order will eventually be honored.

“There’s boys participating in girls’ sports. There’s boys in girls’ locker rooms. It’s unfair. It’s not safe, and we’re asking the federal government to just step in and put an end to this and ensure that the state is following President Trump’s statements,” he said.

Reykdal said his office “has continued to advise Washington’s school districts to stay in compliance with state law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity” in a statement to the Washington State Standard.

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He also argued that Trump’s order “attempts to override the authority of states and local school districts by requiring educational institutions to agree to discriminate against trans female athletes in order to continue receiving federal funds.”

“An executive order is not law, and it does not override state law. OSPI will enforce our current laws as we are required to do in a constitutional democracy until Congress changes the law and/or federal courts invalidate Washington state’s laws,” he added.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Utah

Gamers flock to Utah stores as Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches

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Gamers flock to Utah stores as Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches


SALT LAKE CITY — The wait is finally over for gaming fans.  As of 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is officially on sale — and it’s flying off the shelves.

At a Best Buy store in West Jordan, a line of people wrapped around the building.

People line up outside of a Best Buy in West Jordan to get a Nintendo Switch 2 on June 4, 2025. (Nathaniel Gillis, KSL TV)

“I’ve been here since one o’clock,” said one excited gamer to KSL TV.

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At the GameStop in Taylorsville, eager fans enjoyed a little pre launch party outside the store were employees dressed up like Mario characters. For these gamers, this is the best day ever. It’s been eight years since the original Nintendo Switch was released, and this moment has been a long time coming.

People line up outside of a GameStop in Taylorsville to get a Nintendo Switch 2 on June 4, 2025.

People line up outside of a GameStop in Taylorsville to get a Nintendo Switch 2 on June 4, 2025. (Nathaniel Gillis, KSL TV)

“I’m super excited for it,” said CJ Raulli. “This one is supposed to be a lot more powerful, like a PlayStation in your hand.”

Earlier in the day Damir Krizanovic, managed to make it inside the store to snag the very last pre order.

“We stopped everything we were doing,” Krizanovic said. “We had one goal in mind — and it was to get a Switch 2.”

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What’s new with the Switch 2?

The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be a major upgrade over its predecessor. Gamers are especially excited about its enhanced performance and redesigned controllers.

“Eight years is a huge gap, the specs and everything are much better than they were before. The controllers were always too small and fragile. These are better — bigger and fit in your hand nicely,” said Krizanovic.

Price Tag and What’s Next

The console, bundled with the new Mario Kart game, will set buyers back around $600. Additional games are priced at $80 each.

“Absolutely, I got work off tomorrow,” one gamer laughed, ready to spend the night immersed in the new system.

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Washington

WorldPride gathers in Washington as Trump rolls back LGBTQ+ rights

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WorldPride gathers in Washington as Trump rolls back LGBTQ+ rights


LGBTQ+ people from around the world gather in Washington this week for a parade, a political rally and cultural performances marking WorldPride to channel joy in sexual and gender diversity as well as outrage over the Trump administration’s rollback of their rights.



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Wyoming

They Have No Basis: Rock Springs City Attorney Fires on Unfounded Corruption Claims – SweetwaterNOW

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They Have No Basis: Rock Springs City Attorney Fires on Unfounded Corruption Claims – SweetwaterNOW






The Rock Springs City Council. File photo.

ROCK SPRINGS — The Rock Springs City Attorney has become annoyed with continued, baseless allegations of corruption within the city.

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“I, along with these other individuals, swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and uphold the law, which I have done,” City Attorney Richard Beckwith said at Tuesday night’s Rock Springs City Council meeting. “And I would be more than happy to sit down in a court of law and swear to that under oath. Anytime.”

Discussion initially started when Shirley Cukale, a resident who often approaches the Council during the public comments portion of its meetings, questioned the Council about the city’s request for proposal process works. Cukale has alleged corruption occurring within the city, though hasn’t brought forward any information to the Council supporting her allegations. 

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“Nobody has given me evidence,” Mayor Max Mickelson said Wednesday morning. “If someone had evidence and didn’t bring it forward to me … I would be frustrated.”

Cukale alleged former Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo had gotten some city contracts and claimed Councilwoman Jeannie Demas did not abstain from votes involving Kaumo as she had previously served with him on the Council during Kaumo’s most-recent period as mayor. Mickelson immediately responded to Cukale, saying Kaumo has retired and no longer works for JFC Engineering. Cukale doubled down on her allegations involving the former mayor, even claiming she spoke with an unnamed prosecuting attorney about charging him and alleging nothing came of that discussion. 

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Sweetwater County Attorney Daniel Erramouspe told SweetwaterNOW he does not recall speaking with Cukale regarding corruption allegations but if there was a specific allegation that had some validity, he would contact the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. He said people claiming corruption happens and isn’t new to him. If he receives a claim about specific incidents, he contacts law enforcement for an investigation.

“When I heard about the Kaumo bid allegations, I contacted DCI to investigate,” Erramouspe said 

Kaumo and the city were investigated by the Wyoming DCI and the FBI in a corruption probe near the end of Kaumo’s third term as mayor, which led to him initially being charged with six misdemeanor counts of official misconduct and one misdemeanor count of conflict of interests in 2022. Kaumo pled guilty to one count of official misconduct and one charge of conflict of interest in 2023 and was ordered to pay $5,000 in fines. 

Mickelson said the city’s processes were investigated as part of that probe, to which Cukale shook her head in disagreement.

“That’s not true,” she claimed.

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“It is true,” Mickelson responded.

Cukale continued making accusations against Kaumo and JFC Engineering’s contracts until Mickelson cut her off again.

“You’re certainly entitled to your opinion,” Mickelson said.

Not only the city, but all of the citizens of Rock Springs deserve much more than what you are giving them with these false accusations of corruption. They have no basis. You have no evidence and I am personally sick of it.

Richard Beckwith, Rock Springs City Attorney

Beckwith then spoke and addressed Cukale and Councilman Rick Milonas and recent claims of corruption. Near the start of the year, comments Milonas allegedly made about city employees while at a local grocery store were publicly questioned by Mickelson, with Milonas publicly saying he wasn’t sure if city employees were corrupt or not. 

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Beckwith said the FBI and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation thoroughly investigated the city’s procurement process and didn’t find evidence of wrongdoing by the committee in that investigation. Beckwith said he fully cooperated with and participated in the investigation.

“I, myself, was personally questioned for several hours, as were the other two individuals sitting with me at this table right now,” Beckwith said. “I would ask (Cukale) and I would ask Mr. Milonas, that if you have any evidence at all that any one of us three have been involved with any corruption at all, we’d like to hear it now. Or if you have any evidence at all that the procurement process was legally fouled in any way at any time by any one.”

Beckwith further said unless Milonas and Cukale are willing to appear in court and swear under oath, that they stop wasting the city’s time with the allegations.

“Not only the city, but all of the citizens of Rock Springs deserve much more than what you are giving them with these false accusations of corruption. They have no basis. You have no evidence and I am personally sick of it,” Beckwith said.

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