Ohio teachers retirement board reverses decision on Target lawsuit
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN) – The board of the Ohio State Teachers Retirement System has agreed to join a lawsuit against Target and DEI policies Attorney General David Yost said tanked the retailer's stock and ultimately impacted investors, including STRS.
STRS had initially decided not to pursue the lawsuit and said it could still have benefitted from the class action lawsuit filed in Florida as an impacted party.
STRS changed its course following a letter from Yost several days ago admonishing the board for declining his advice to be a lead plaintiff.
Yost claims that Target's DEI policies violated securities rules and cost the STRS fund $5 million. The class action claims that Target violated federal securities laws when it 'misled' investors with false claims and misleading statements about its environment, social and governance (ESG), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates.
Yost added that national retailer engaged in several DEI and LBGTQ+initiatives that resulted in disastrous 'Pride Month' marketing that led to widespread customer boycotts that severely impacted Target and its stock price, 'wiping out an estimated $25 billion in market capitalization.' He also said that Target downplayed those market concerns to investors.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Here's Where Consumer Purchase Data Shows Walmart Prices Rising
Walmart prices haven't risen dramatically across the board, but they're showing in some categories, according to Consumer Edge, a data and insights firm. Consumer Edge noted particularly high price increases in products including pet food, toothpaste and body wash. Industry experts have cautioned that any price actions Walmart takes could lead other retailers to do the warned that higher prices were on the way. Fresh data indicates that they're here. Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon said in May that the giant retailer was trying its 'best to keep our prices as low as possible. But given the magnitude of the tariffs... we aren't able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins. The higher tariffs will result in higher prices.' Prices aren't rising dramatically across the board, but they're showing in some categories, according to Consumer Edge, a data and insights firm that analyzes daily shopper purchase data on packaged consumer goods. Industry experts have cautioned that any price actions Walmart takes could lead other retailers to do the same. According to the latest Basketview data from Consumer Edge, prices for some products are notably higher at both Walmart and Target (TGT), said Michael Gunther, the firm's head of insights. Between the 'Liberation Day' tariff announcements and June 1, according to Consumer Edge, the price of wet dog food was up 8%, rising alongside other varieties of dog and cat food. Gunther also noted higher prices at both chains for products including toothpaste and body wash. Earlier measures taken in May showed higher prices of liquid laundry detergent and crackers. Consumer Edge began to watch consumer packaged goods prices at Walmart and Target after McMillon's comments, according to Gunther, who said prices on everything from ingredients to packaging—as well as 'opportunistic' price hikes by retailers—could be increasing price tags. 'We didn't see any significant change initially—and then we did,' he said. In the week ended May 25, Gunther said, the prices started to tick up. Walmart declined to comment for this story. Target did not respond to Investopedia's request for comment in time for publication. Target executives said last month that tariffs weighed on its first-quarter sales. Best Buy (BBY) also recently said the company would consider price increases to soften the impact of tariffs on the business. Read the original article on Investopedia Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Returnships for Moms: Top Companies and How They Work
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported in 1989 that 86% of mothers cited home and family care as the leading reason for exiting the workforce. In 2021, 79% reported the same reason. No working mother decides to step away from the workforce lightly. Unfortunately, women overwhelmingly represent spouses who do not participate in the labor force to provide care. Yet whether driven by childcare needs, elder caregiving responsibilities, or mental health, time away from a career can often lead to one of the most daunting question, 'If I want to go back, how do I return?' The answer: a returnship. A growing trend reshaping how companies welcome back professionals who've taken a career pause, returnships give working mothers a chance to brush up on skills and ease back into a full-time job without having to start from scratch. A background gap is viewed as part of the returnee's unique story. Returnships should not be mistaken for charitable initiatives; they are strategic investments in experienced talent. They are often recognized as a DEI initiative and talent pipeline driver, particularly for mothers seeking to reenter the workplace with dignity, support, and a clear path forward. Unlike internships targeting early-career candidates, returnships are tailored for individuals with prior professional experience. They have higher expectations and more tailored support, but competition for these roles can be fierce. Returnships are a structured, short-term paid program (usually lasting between 12 and 24 weeks) with specific eligibility criteria and application timelines. Participants are assigned real projects, receive mentorship from senior leaders, and are offered training to refresh technical and soft skills. They are more common in specific fields, such as tech, finance, and consulting. Goldman Sachs pioneered the concept with its Returnship program, which launched in 2008. Not all returnships guarantee a full-time position, but many programs are designed as 'try-before-you-hire' experiences that often result in permanent offers. While many are paid, the compensation may not match a full-time role. Some programs lack flexibility in hours, which can still be challenging for caregivers. For example, Goldman Sachs states that exceptional performance during their program may lead to consideration for full-time roles, depending on business needs and individual qualifications. For global companies, they're often available in multiple regions. Working mothers who feel disconnected from their previous industries, lack current references, or feel overwhelmed by technological change are prime candidates. Eligibility requirements vary by company, but returnships typically target individuals with a career break of two or more years. Some programs focus exclusively on mothers, while others are open to any caregiver or mid-career professional who stepped away for personal reasons. Companies often look for candidates with prior industry experience, transferable skills, and the willingness to learn and adapt. Over 100 companies work with Path Forward, a nonprofit that partners with employers to create mid-career return-to-work opportunities. These partnerships include major employers such as Walmart, Netflix, Audible, Amazon, Meta, Apple, PayPal, and SAP. They provide a Returnship Builder tool to assist companies in planning and implementing these programs effectively. Path Forward also helps the working mother returning to work restart their career after taking time off for family responsibilities. They provide resources like career advice, success stories, and the Returnship Matcher tool to help individuals find opportunities that fit their backgrounds and goals. Career coaches advise applicants to tailor their résumés to highlight skills over chronology, emphasize volunteer or caregiving experience, and demonstrate a growth mindset. Several Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders have established returnship programs in recent years, reflecting a broader shift toward inclusive hiring practices. Some of the most well-known include: For mothers reentering the workforce, returnships offer substantial benefits. While foundational skills may have been acquired through college or previous roles, even a short absence from the workforce can necessitate a skill refresh. Industries such as finance and healthcare are dynamic, with frequent updates to automation tools, data dashboards, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) programs. Additionally, regulations and compliance expectations in these sectors evolve regularly due to technological advancements, political shifts, and changes in consumer protection laws. Returnships provide structured opportunities to update these skills and stay current with industry standards. Self-doubt is a common challenge among working mothers returning to the workforce, influenced by external and internal perceptions. Societal biases, often called the motherhood penalty, suggest that mothers are less committed or current in their professional roles, leading to fewer opportunities and stalled promotions. Internally, many mothers report feelings of disconnection from their previous roles and uncertainty about succeeding in high-performance environments after time away. This internalized pressure to "prove themselves" anew is compounded when peers have advanced during their absence. Up to 70% of all jobs are not published on publicly available job search sites, and research has long shown that anywhere from half to upwards of 80% of jobs are filled through networking. Networking is pivotal in securing employment, especially for those reentering the workforce. Employers often trust candidates recommended by their existing employees, making referrals a powerful tool in the job search process. Returnships provide skill updates and facilitate the rebuilding of professional networks, leading to mentorship opportunities, job leads, freelance gigs, and potential full-time roles. Returnships directly address the broken rung in the corporate ladder, where men significantly outnumber women at the manager, director, and C-Suite levels, enabling women to re-enter the workforce at a level that aligns with their experience and potential. They offer a critical on-ramp back into leadership pipelines. Returnships acknowledge a fundamental truth: careers aren't always linear, and taking a break, especially for caregiving, shouldn't disqualify someone from meaningful work. For companies, returnships rebuild the pipeline of qualified female leaders, thus diversifying thought at the leadership level and creating more growth opportunities. By investing in returnships, companies send a clear message to women: careers can pause for personal needs, and still progress.
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Two-thirds support policies prioritizing birth sex over gender identity: Gallup
Roughly two-thirds of Americans support policies preventing transgender people from participating on sports teams that match their gender identity or changing their sex designation on government documents such as passports and driver's licenses, according to a poll released Tuesday by Gallup. Support for each such prevention policy varied by political affiliation but was led overwhelmingly by Republicans, according to the poll, based on responses to Gallup's May 1-18 Values and Beliefs survey. It was the third year respondents were asked about transgender people in sports and the first year they were asked about identity documents. Forty-one percent of Democrats and 72 percent of independents said they believe trans athletes should only be permitted to play sports consistent with their sex at birth, according to the poll, and 38 percent of Democrats and 66 percent of independents said transgender people shouldn't be allowed to change their sex on official documents. Fourteen percent of Democrats said they were unsure where they stood on either issue. Roughly 90 percent of Republicans surveyed said they support both policies. The survey, released during Pride Month, reflects shifting public opinion on two of President Trump's policy priorities relating to transgender Americans. On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order declaring that the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and that those sexes 'are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.' The order directs the departments of State and Homeland Security and the Office of Personnel Management to require government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas and Global Entry cards, to reflect an individual's sex over their gender identity. The State Department previously allowed U.S. passport holders to self-select sex designations, including an 'unspecified' gender marker denoted by the letter X. In April, a federal judge blocked the administration from enforcing the new policy against six trans and nonbinary Americans while they challenged it in court. In another executive order signed in February, Trump proclaimed the U.S. opposes 'male competitive participation in women's sports' as a matter 'of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.' The order, titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,' states that it is government policy to rescind federal funds from schools 'that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.' The administration has aggressively pursued the issue, which is one of Trump's top campaign promises. The Education Department since January has opened more than two dozen investigations into states, school districts and athletic associations that it says are violating federal sex discrimination laws by allowing trans athletes to participate in girls' and women's athletic events. The Department of Justice announced a civil lawsuit against Maine's Department of Education in April after the state repeatedly defied the Trump administration's orders to bar transgender student-athletes from girls' sports. On Monday, California officials sued the Trump administration 'in anticipation of imminent legal retaliation' against the state's school systems after a transgender 16-year-old was allowed to compete in California's girls' high school track-and-field finals against Trump's demands. Support for transgender athletes has fallen in recent years. When Gallup first asked participants whether trans people should be allowed to compete in line with their gender identity for the first time in 2021, support was 10 percentage points higher than it was in Tuesday's survey. Much of that change has been driven by Democrats and independents, according to Gallup. Support among Democrats sank from 55 percent in 2021 to 45 percent in 2025 and from 33 percent to 23 percent among independents. Americans' views on whether it is 'morally acceptable' for a person to change their gender has also declined since 2021, when Gallup first posed the question, slipping 6 percentage points to 40 percent, according to Tuesday's survey. Split by political affiliation, Republicans' opinion on the topic has changed the most, falling 13 points over four years to 9 percent. At 64 percent, Americans are more likely to view 'gay or lesbian relations' as morally acceptable, according to Gallup. In a May 29 survey released by the group, support for same-sex marriage among Republicans fell to a near-30-year low. Participants in Tuesday's survey were asked for the first time about the causes of being transgender. Gallup has asked about the causes of being gay or lesbian since 1977. Roughly 50 percent of Americans said external factors like environment and upbringing had a greater influence on gender identity than biological factors, which 30 percent said were behind a person's being transgender. Seven percent said both could be plausible factors, 4 percent said neither had a significant influence, and 9 percent had no opinion. Forty-five percent of respondents said gay or lesbian people are born, and 38 percent said external influences determine sexual orientation. Most Democrats, at 57 percent, think a person is born transgender, while 76 percent of Republicans think being transgender is the result of a person's upbringing or environment. Seventy-four percent of Democrats said they believe people are also born gay or lesbian, while 62 percent of Republicans said external factors are more likely to influence a person's sexual orientation.
