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Texas high school to revert back to its original name
Texas high school to revert back to its original name originally appeared on The Sporting News In recent years, several high schools across America have changed its name, or even its mascot, in order to eliminate connotations to the Confederacy. But on Tuesday night, one high school in Texas is going back to its original name, which is associated with arguably the most important person during that Civil War period. The Midland Independent School District, at a special meeting, elected to change the name of Midland Legacy High School back to Robert E. Lee High School, which goes into effect for the 2026-27 school year. That vote was 4-3. By doing so, Midland ISD became the first school district in Texas to bring back a high school name which is connected to the Confederacy, in this case Robert E. Lee, who was the Confederate general during the Civil War. Midland Lee was the original name of the school when it opened in 1961. However, in 2020, in the wake of nationwide protests against racial injustice largely spurred on by the George Floyd incident in Minnesota, the Midland ISD voted to change the name of the school from Lee to Legacy. But recently, there has been a movement in the West Texas city to bring back the high school's original name. In fact, the Midland Reporter-Telegram conducted a survey in which 75 percent of those who voted wanted the school to go back to being called Midland Lee. Also, in a statement last month per Midland TV station KMID from Josh Guinn, the Midland ISD vice president, he noted the name of Lee honors the 'patriotic legacy that binds us.' When the school was called Midland Lee, it boasted one of the top football programs in the region. Lee won three straight state titles from 1998-2000 with one of its key players running back Cedric Benson, who later starred at the University of Texas and the NFL's Chicago Bears. Midland Lee was also perhaps best known as a major rival of Odessa Permian, which gained nationwide fame from the book 'Friday Night Lights,' which was later turned into a movie and TV series. In fact, in the 'Friday Night Lights' movie, a Lee-Permian game played a prominent role. Legacy and Permian remain rivals, and both compete in District 2-6A. Although the school changed from Lee to Legacy, its mascot remained the Rebels, which several other schools also switched from due to the Confederacy ties. Last season, Legacy finished with a 6-6 record, reaching the area round of the UIL 6A Division I playoffs. The Rebels open their 2025 season on Aug. 29 with a game at Dallas-Fort Worth "Metroplex" power Allen. MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS Here are the top 20 quarterbacks to watch in South Texas for '25 season Here are the top 20 quarterbacks to watch in East Texas for '25 season These are the top 20 North Texas returning quarterbacks for 2025 season Top 20 Dallas/Fort Worth (Texas) quarterbacks returning for 2025 football season Top Texas 2026 high school football standout chooses Oregon Top Texas '26 tight end prospect decides to stay close to home, commits to TCU Texas Tech football lands commitment from East Texas 4-star 2026 cornerback Standout tailback from East Texas decides to stay in-state after making college commitment ESPN's "SportsCenter" program to be on location at Texas high school football scrimmage Who made the covers of popular Texas football preseason magazine? Texas UIL football championship games to be broadcast for free via a new broadcast agreement
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Human rights ‘worsened' in UK over the past year, says US
A Trump administration report has accused the UK of backsliding on human rights over the past year, citing increased antisemitic violence and growing restrictions on free speech. The annual US State Department assessment, which analyses human rights conditions worldwide, flagged what it described as 'serious restrictions' on freedom of expression in the UK. 'The government sometimes took credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, but prosecution and punishment for such abuses was inconsistent,' the report read. The report specifically said laws limiting speech around abortion clinics, pointing to 'safe access zones' curbed expression, including silent protests and prayer. 'These restrictions on freedom of speech could include prohibitions on efforts to influence others when inside a restricted area, even through prayer or silent protests,' the report read. In the wake of the 2024 Southport attack, the report said government officials 'repeatedly intervened to chill speech'. Criticism over the handling of free speech was also directed at the governments of Germany and France. A UK government spokesperson told the BBC: 'Free speech is vital for democracy around the world, including here in the UK and we are proud to uphold freedoms whilst keeping our citizens safe.' Sentiments echoed those previously made by vice president JD Vance. In February, Mr Vance criticised the UK over a legal case in which a former serviceman who silently prayed outside an abortion clinic was convicted of breaching the safe zone around the centre. In a wider attack on what he suggested is a shift away from democratic values across Europe, Mr Vance claimed the 'basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular' are under threat. He referred to the conviction of Adam Smith-Connor, 51, who had denied doing so but was found guilty last year of failing to comply with a public space protection order at the centre in Bournemouth in November 2022. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Vance said that the US' 'very dear friends the United Kingdom' appeared to have seen a 'backslide in conscience rights'. 'A little over two years ago, the British government charged Adam Smith-Connor, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and an Army veteran, with the heinous crime of standing 50 metres from an abortion clinic and silently praying for three minutes, not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own,' he said. The report also said the Government 'effectively' enforced laws around freedom of association and the rights of workers. The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Putin hold phone call to reaffirm alignment over Ukraine
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call to discuss their deepening ties and war efforts against Ukraine, the countries' state media said Wednesday. The phone call comes as Putin gets set to meet with US President Donald Trump in the US west coast state of Alaska this Friday to discuss a ceasefire proposal on Moscow's war in Ukraine. According to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Putin praised the 'bravery, heroism and self-sacrificing spirit' displayed by North Korean troops as they fought with Russian forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border region, during the call. Putin also shared with Kim information about his upcoming talks with Trump, scheduled to take place Friday in Alaska, according to Russia's TASS news agency, citing the Kremlin. The North Korean reports did not mention the Trump meeting. Kim told Putin that Pyongyang will fully support 'all measures to be taken by the Russian leadership in the future, too,' as they discussed advancing ties in 'all fields' under a strategic partnership agreement they signed during a summit last year, KCNA said. North Korea's deepening ties with Moscow In recent years, Russia and North Korea have developed stronger ties, with Pyongyang providing Russia's military operations in Ukraine with personnel and munitions. A mutual defense deal was struck between the two nations during Putin's visit to the isolated state last year. And since Russia invaded Ukraine, Kim has made Moscow the priority of his foreign policy as he aims to break out of diplomatic isolation and expand relations with countries confronting Washington. His government has dismissed Washington and Seoul's stated desires to restart diplomacy aimed at defusing the North's nuclear program, which derailed in 2019 following a collapsed summit with Trump during his first term. Related Russia's diplomatic circle of friends: Taliban and North Korea in, Azerbaijan and Armenia out Russia launches first commercial passenger flights to North Korea in decades In April this year, Pyongyang acknowledged for the first time that it sent a group of its soldiers to the Ukrainian front line with Russian troops. According to South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia since last fall and also supplied large quantities of military equipment, including artillery and ballistic missiles, in support of Putin's war efforts against Ukraine. Kim has also agreed to send thousands of military construction workers and deminers to Russia's Kursk region, a deployment South Korean intelligence believes could happen soon.
