Deb Haaland is set to become the first Native American woman governor of a U.S. state. But some women in Haaland's home community of Laguna Pueblo say they are swimming upstream in tribal politics. In some of the 19 pueblos in New Mexico, including Laguna, tribal law and customs do not allow women to hold top government positions. Former tribal leader Ashley Sarracino says she was ousted from her position as Laguna Pueblo tribal secretary after raising an alarm over gender pay discrimination. The pueblo has denied those allegations and said Sarracino abandoned her post.
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A final court of appeals in England has struck down a centuries-old gay sex ban in Trinidad and Tobago in a ruling that activists are celebrating. Tuesday's ruling ends a nearly 10-year battle for gay rights in the twin-island nation. It cannot be appealed. In 2017, Jason Jones filed the case, arguing that so-called “buggery” laws dating from when Trinidad and Tobago was a British colony are unconstitutional. The laws that call for up to five years in prison have not been enforced in recent history, but critics say they still send a message. Jones left Trinidad and Tobago in 1996 because of what he described as homophobic violence and discrimination.
Democrats in Congress are gearing up to challenge President Donald Trump's education policies, including the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department. With upcoming majorities in both houses of Congress, Democrats plan to use their oversight and appropriations powers to push back. However, Trump's veto power could limit their efforts to launching investigations and leveraging federal funding. Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee are considering adding conditions to spending bills to curb Trump's education agenda. Despite their new power, there's little optimism they can override Trump's veto on major education bills.
AP
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha is finding that sport and religion don’t mix when it comes to his club Borussia Dortmund’s professed values of tolerance and respect. Nmecha, a devout Christian, has been criticized by the club’s official supporters’ group for goal celebrations associated with an evangelical network that has been accused of labeling homosexuality as a sin. Dortmund tells the Bild tabloid that it understands the fans’ concerns and will speak to the player. The club says, “We expect all employees and players to ensure that their behavior and conduct align with the legal requirements and core values of Borussia Dortmund. These values include respect, diversity, equality, and a clear rejection of any form of discrimination.”
Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar face new challenges in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that does not legally recognize refugees. Some face discrimination at local mosques, while others avoid them for fear of immigration detention. Many also struggle with limited access to education, healthcare and employment, as well as family separation and loss. Refugee advocates seek better protections while families work to preserve their faith and pass religious traditions on to younger generations.
Lockheed Martin to pay $29.5 million to settle federal claims it discriminated against white workers
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin has agreed to pay $29.5 million to settle claims by President Donald Trump’s administration that it discriminated against white workers through its efforts to promote diversity and equity in an internal bonus program. Lockheed Martin will pay $22 million to the U.S. government to resolve claims that it failed to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in its federal contracts, according to the settlement announced Wednesday by the by the Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In addition, Lockheed Martin will pay $7.5 million to more than 1,000 affected employees as part of a settlement with the EEOC.
The Trump administration has urged the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling allowing a state-funded preschool program in Colorado to exclude Roman Catholic schools if they don’t comply with equal-opportunity requirements. Tuesday's case is the latest religious-rights issue before the conservative-majority court. President Donald Trump's administration supports the challenge by the Archdiocese of Denver. A win could narrow a 1990 Supreme Court decision on religious exemptions. The Colorado program was created in 2020 and funds preschools chosen by parents. The Catholic preschools say their enrollment has dropped since the program began.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Harvard University over its alleged failure to provide admissions records that the Justice Department demanded to ensure the Ivy League school stopped using affirmative action in admissions. The Justice Department said Harvard thwarted its efforts to investigate potential discrimination. The department accused Harvard of refusing to comply with a federal investigation and asked a judge to order the university to turn over the records. But U.S. District Judge Myong Joun concluded the department didn't take the necessary procedural steps to get the data before filing the lawsuit.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case about race in middle school admissions. This comes three years after it struck down affirmative action in college admissions. The case involves four selective middle schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. A parent group claims the district's policy boosts Black and Latino admissions while disadvantaging Asian American students. The court will decide if there's enough evidence of discrimination for the case to proceed. The court is expected to hear arguments in the coming months.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday it reached a settlement forcing reforms for a Mississippi city and its police department, which the DOJ found discriminated against Black people, used excessive force and retaliated against critics. The settlement comes after a scathing 2024 DOJ report said the Lexington Police Department routinely violated citizens’ civil rights in the rural, poor, majority-Black city. The out-of-court settlement requires the City of Lexington and its police department to reform their practices on a number of issues — from fines and bail to stops, searches and use of force — and bring them into compliance with state and federal law.