Latest news with #DeLaney
Axios
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Indiana Democrats split on transgender athlete ban
Some Democrats in Indiana and across the country are starting to walk back from the party's stances on transgender rights — positions once embraced on principle but now increasingly seen as political liabilities. Why it matters: The reversal follows the 2024 campaign, during which the Trump team spent millions on ads targeting transgender women and girls in sports and criticizing Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' stance. At the same time, national party leaders are punting trans rights to local communities. The political effects are trickling down, and advocates fear for LGBTQ+ communities if their longtime allies no longer have the political will to stand with them. Driving the news: Statehouse Democrats split on House Bill 1041, which bans transgender girls and women from playing on women's collegiate sports teams. Gov. Mike Braun signed the bill into law this week. Flashback: HB 1041 expanded on a 2022 law that prohibited transgender girls from playing on K-12 girls sports teams. Not a single Democrat supported the 2022 bill. State of play: This year, four Democrats in the House and four in the Senate voted in favor of HB 1041. Those who supported it were Reps. Wendy Dant Chesser, Ed DeLaney, Chuck Moseley and Tanya Pfaff and Sens. David Niezgodski, Rodney Pol, Lonnie Randolph and Greg Taylor. "We each looked at the emails we received from our constituents," said Minority Leader Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington), who voted against the bill. "So every person voted their district." Yoder said transgender rights have been weaponized and turned into a political football. "You see these political ads and the fear of the miscommunication that comes as a result of these bills, and unfortunately, that's where we've landed." What they're saying: "This is a very difficult vote," DeLaney said during a committee hearing earlier this session. The Indianapolis Democrat voted against the 2022 legislation. DeLaney had suggested leaving the decision to the NCAA, which had already barred transgender girls and women from female sports, but ultimately voted in favor of HB 1041. "Both … will keep males out of female sports, so on that broad principle we're in agreement," he said. "But I'm not part of the message that we want to belittle people who are having a difficult choice in life as to what they think their sex is." Zoom in: IYG, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, said in a statement it was "deeply disturbed by the advancement of legislation targeting LGBTQ+ Hoosiers, particularly transgender individuals, with bipartisan support." "It's very disappointing," Zoe O'Haillin-Berne, IYG's director of engagement, told Axios. "It sends a message to our young people that they weren't worth fighting for, and that's devastating." O'Haillin-Berne said she's afraid Indiana could see a backslide in rights for the wider queer community. The big picture: Some top Democrats nationally have drifted rightward in an apparent attempt to make sense of the 2024 election losses. Rahm Emanuel — former Chicago mayor and U.S. ambassador to Japan, who has played coy about a 2028 White House run — told Axios: "Some kids in the classroom are debating which pronouns apply, and the rest of the class doesn't know what a pronoun is. That's a crisis." In a conversation with right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's podcast, Newsom contended that trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports was "deeply unfair." The other side: The Human Rights Campaign and other LGBTQ+ advocacy groups called on the Democratic Party "to do more" to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) Faces Shareholder Activism Amid Governance Changes
Union Pacific has announced notable governance changes and is confronting shareholder activism ahead of its upcoming annual meeting, with William J. DeLaney retiring from the Board and discussions surrounding executive compensation. These governance discussions emerge amid broader market volatility spurred by recent tariff escalations, which have led major indices to decline significantly. Despite reassurances from Union Pacific regarding its financial guidance and shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks, its price fell 10.16% over the last quarter, aligning with the overall market's downward trajectory, indicating these internal and external pressures might have added weight to the broader market moves. We've identified 1 risk with Union Pacific and understanding the impact should be part of your investment process. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 20 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. The recent governance changes at Union Pacific, coupled with shareholder activism, could impact various aspects of the company's future performance. These developments might influence investor sentiment which is currently shaped by broader market volatility due to tariff escalations. While the company's share price has seen a recent quarterly decline of 10.16%, it's important to note its longer-term resilience, with a total return of 55.92% over the last five years. This figure underscores Union Pacific's capacity to deliver compounded returns to shareholders, including dividends, despite short-term challenges. Over the past year, Union Pacific's performance outpaced the U.S. Transportation industry, which experienced an 18.5% decline, but it did not match the broader market, which saw a 5.8% decline. The developments discussed might also influence future financial forecasts. The ongoing governance discussions may lead to more stringent oversight and potential shifts in executive strategies, which could affect revenue and earnings growth. The current revenue is US$24.25 billion, with earnings at US$6.75 billion, and these are projected to grow in line with operational efficiencies and infrastructure development. However, the current 25.14% discount of the share price to the consensus price target of US$260.63 suggests potential for upward movement, assuming the company can effectively manage both internal governance and external market challenges. As analysts maintain a fair value estimation well above the current share price of US$237.17, thoughtful navigation through these changes will be critical for aligning actual performance with market expectations. Review our historical performance report to gain insights into Union Pacific's track record. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:UNP. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio
