Latest news with #GOP-dominated
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- General
- Bloomberg
Texas Follows Florida in Republican Push to Remake US Colleges
Texas Republicans are tightening their grip on the state's sprawling university systems amid a nationwide drive by conservatives to remake higher education. The GOP-dominated legislature passed bills limiting protests and expanding state control over academic content, degree programs and administrative decisions at such schools as the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Supporters say the changes will boost the value of degrees and curb left-wing ideological overreach, while critics argue the measures will chill discussion.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This state just became the latest in the country to ban sanctuary cities
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire on Thursday became the first state in New England to ban so-called sanctuary cities. "There will be no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire, period, end of story," Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte said at a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol. Speaking with Fox News Digital minutes later, Ayotte noted that the measures she signed "ban sanctuary cities in New Hampshire but also allow cooperation between all of our law enforcement and federal immigration authorities." New Hampshire joins a growing number of states in banning sanctuary cities, which is a term used to describe jurisdictions that put some limits on cooperating with efforts by federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants. Trump Signs Executive Order Cracking Down On Sanctuary Cities Ayotte, a former state attorney general who later served six years representing New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate, made banning sanctuary cities a key element in her successful 2024 run for governor. Ayotte's campaign slogan was "Don't Mass up New Hampshire," as she took aim at neighboring Massachusetts' more lenient migrant policies. Read On The Fox News App "I campaigned on making sure we would not have sanctuary cities here in New Hampshire, and we don't want to go the way of Massachusetts that has had a billion-dollar illegal immigration crisis," the governor said in her national digital exclusive interview with Fox News. Ayotte noted that she supports "legal immigration, but when people aren't following our laws, we need to enforce our laws and this is about public safety." "New Hampshire is ranked the safest state in the nation, and I was glad I was able to sign the bill banning sanctuary cities to make sure we remain that way," the governor added. Head Here For The Latest Fox News Reporting And Coverage Of The Immigration Issue The two bills were passed in the GOP-dominated state legislature mostly along party lines. State Sen. Bill Gannon, the top sponsor in the state Senate, said that the measures would "make us an even safer place to work, live, and raise a family." And state Rep. Joe Sweeney, the lead House sponsor, said that "we are taking the handfcuffs off our law enforcement officers, and hopefully they'll be able to work with our federal government, ICE, to put the handcuffs on the criminal illegal aliens that are violating and disobeying our laws." President Donald Trump repeatedly took aim at sanctuary cities as he made the issue of illegal immigration a key component to his successful 2024 campaign to win back the White House. And Trump last month signed an executive order putting some muscle behind his threat to pull federal funding from sanctuary cities. Some Democrats in New Hampshire, who opposed the measure, pointed to Trump's efforts in the nation's capital. What Ayotte Told Fox News About Security The Nation's Northern Border "What this bill does, under the guise of enabling New Hampshire law enforcement to support federal immigration efforts, is to make our state a willing accomplice in a politically manufactured campaign of state terrorism against a group of people, the vast majority of whom came here not to victimize America, but because they love America and they believe America is good," state Rep. David Meuse told reporters. But Ayotte, asked about the lack of support from across the political aisle for the two bills, said, "I don't understand where the Democrats are on these policies." According to the New Hampshire Municipal Association, there are no sanctuary cities in the state, while a handful of cities and towns in the state have described themselves as "welcoming cities" that encourage a welcoming environment for all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity or origin. But state Republican lawmakers pointed to between nine and 12 cities and towns in New Hampshire that they have identified over the years as welcome or sanctuary article source: This state just became the latest in the country to ban sanctuary cities
Miami Herald
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Amid controversy, Marva Johnson named president of Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University's Board of Trustees on Friday selected telecom executive Marva Johnson as the school's next president, backing a candidate with ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis despite weeks of fierce community opposition and deepening fears of political interference at the state's only public historically Black university. Johnson, a vice president at Charter Communications and former DeSantis appointee to the Florida Board of Education, won the role in an 8-4 vote that capped a bitter, unusually contentious search process. Now, Johnson faces the daunting task of securing legitimacy with a skeptical constituency of Rattlers at FAMU. A vocal group of students, faculty members and alumni have questioned Johnson's lack of higher education experience, as well as the process that elevated her over more traditional candidates to lead one of the nation's top-ranked historically Black public institutions — particularly FAMU Chief Operating Officer Donald Palm, who emerged as the community favorite. Johnson's relationship with DeSantis — whose administration has crusaded against diversity efforts at Florida's public universities and sought to restrict how African American history is taught — has triggered raucous protests across the FAMU community in Tallahassee and nationwide. Critics question whether Johnson can safeguard FAMU in a political climate they say is increasingly hostile to its mission as an HBCU, but proponents see an advantage for the institution in her alignment with the governor and the GOP-dominated legislature. DeSantis hasn't publicly commented on the appointment, and the governor's office didn't respond to requests for comment. Johnson, who couldn't be reached for an interview, attempted to allay concerns at a public forum Wednesday. 'I'm not a Trojan Horse,' she told the crowd. 'I was not sent here to dismantle FAMU.' If approved by the state university system's Board of Governors, Johnson could make up to $750,000 a year as FAMU's president. That salary exceeds her predecessor's by more than $150,000 — and has become another flashpoint in a process that some critics argue has veered far from the university's values. 'There was a lack of intellectual depth and a gap in cultural connection that was just painfully blatant,' said board chair Kristin Harper, who voted against Johnson's selection and later had her role in contract negotiations stripped by a majority vote of the board. Johnson's appointment comes amid broader efforts by DeSantis and his allies to reshape Florida's higher education landscape, often favoring candidates with political loyalty over academic experience. If confirmed by the state university system's Board of Governors, Johnson would join a growing roster of politically aligned university presidents in Florida. Her supporters on FAMU's board argued on Friday that navigating Tallahassee's deeply partisan legislative environment requires precisely the political savvy she offers FAMU, especially at a time when the university is facing mounting threats to its state and federal funding. 'Our survival depends on how we navigate those systems,' said Jamal Brown, the board's faculty representative who voted for her nomination. 'If we don't have leadership that can operate within it, we fall further behind.' 'A recipe for disaster' But many in the university community weren't convinced. By Friday's board meeting, more than 13,000 people had signed a petition opposing her nomination. During public comments at the meeting, speakers accused the board of ignoring student and alumni voices and warned that donor support could be in jeopardy. 'When you don't have your own students, faculty and alumni behind you, no matter what relationships you have, that's a recipe for disaster,' said Will Packer, a prominent FAMU alumnus and Hollywood producer. According to Packer, several high-profile alumni including rapper Common, singer K. Michelle and comedian Roy Wood, Jr. had expressed opposition as well. Kennedy Williams, FAMU's new student body vice president, said in an interview that trustees' ultimate decision to override the will of the student body and other key stakeholders was 'unsettling.' 'The students are the heart and soul of FAMU and it's important that they feel as if they're heard,' Williams said. 'Unfortunately, they weren't today.' Tensions in the search began escalating last month after the Tallahassee Democrat reported a leaked list of finalists, sparking rumors that Johnson's name was shoehorned in late in the process. One trustee, Earnie Ellison, was forced to resign after suggesting the process be paused to address community concerns. Then, just a day before the board's Friday vote, Alan Levine — a DeSantis ally and member of both the search committee and the state Board of Governors — nominated a Tallahassee-based McDonald's franchise owner to fill the vacancy left on the board. That move, too, raised eyebrows. 'This was a hanky panky process,' said Leon County Commissioner Al Lawson, who is also an instructor at FAMU. In an interview, Levine denied political interference in the search and said rumors that Johnson was added into the running last minute were 'patently false.' He said the candidates were all qualified and endorsed Johnson's credentials, pointing to past instances of nontraditional candidates with successful university presidencies, like former Republican House Speaker John Thrasher at Florida State University. The stakes are high for FAMU, which is still reeling from past leadership controversies. Johnson's predecessor, Larry Robinson, resigned last year amid fallout from a fake $237 million donation scandal that embarrassed the school on the national stage. State Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-Miami), a FAMU alum, urged unity but acknowledged the looming friction stemming from Johnson's presidency. Jones, a former member of the Biden Administration's now-defunct HBCU Advisory Board, said that while 'FAMU is not a Fortune 500 company,' Johnson's political background could help remedy historic underfunding faced by other predominantly Black institutions. But skeptics argue that political access isn't a substitute for cultural alignment or academic vision. 'FAMU has survived far worse than this,' Jones said. 'As Marva comes in, the first order of business for her is to unite the university.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge upholds Iowa restrictions on gender identity, sexual orientation teaching
Iowa schools cannot teach K-6 students about gender identity and sexual orientation, but young students can't be prohibited from engaging in voluntary activities related to the topics or shielded from materials directed at others, a Biden-appointed federal judge ruled on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher's split decision stems from a law Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed in 2023 that banned educators from broaching the topics of gender identity and sexual orientation with students through sixth grade. The law, part of a wave of efforts among GOP-dominated legislatures to curtail LGBTQ education and student activities, bans Iowa school districts from offering 'any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six.' Locher agreed with the state that mandatory instruction of sexual orientation or gender identity can be prohibited because it is not discriminatory to information about LGBTQ issues, but he struck down the references to 'programs' and 'promotion,' saying they were overly broad. Locher cited in his ruling that the law has prompted some school districts to remove visual representations of LGBTQ support, including pride flags and safe space stickers in high schools because younger students could see the symbols during community events; prohibit students from hanging signs on their lockers promoting LGBTQ-friendly groups because fifth and sixth graders could see them while passing through the hallways; and tell teachers in same-sex relationships not to mention their partners within earshot of students; among other concerns. 'Under this plain meaning interpretation, the restrictions on 'programs' and 'promotion'run into constitutional problems under the First Amendment,' he wrote. He also noted what he deemed the 'absurdity problem' of banning 'programs' related to gender identity, hypothetically offering it 'would mean the law bans 'girls' and 'boys' sports teams and any other classroom or extracurricular activity that recognizes and endorses gender identity.' In a March ruling, Locher blocked a separate component of the same Iowa law that prohibits school libraries from carrying books that depict sex acts. The state is challenging that decision. Reynolds's office and a spokesperson for Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird didn't immediately respond to The Hill's requests for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Judge upholds Iowa restrictions on gender identity, sexual orientation teaching
Iowa schools cannot teach K-6 students about gender identity and sexual orientation, but young students can't be prohibited from engaging in voluntary activities related to the topics or shielded from materials directed at others, a Biden-appointed federal judge ruled on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher's split decision stems from a law Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed in 2023 that banned educators from broaching the topics of gender identity and sexual orientation with students through sixth grade. The law, part of a wave of efforts among GOP-dominated legislatures to curtail LGBTQ education and student activities, bans Iowa school districts from offering 'any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six.' Locher agreed with the state that mandatory instruction of sexual orientation or gender identity can be prohibited because it is not discriminatory to information about LGBTQ issues, but he struck down the references to 'programs' and 'promotion,' saying they were overly broad. Locher cited in his ruling that the law has prompted some school districts to remove visual representations of LGBTQ support, including pride flags and safe space stickers in high schools because younger students could see the symbols during community events; prohibit students from hanging signs on their lockers promoting LGBTQ-friendly groups because fifth and sixth graders could see them while passing through the hallways; and tell teachers in same-sex relationships not to mention their partners within earshot of students; among other concerns. 'Under this plain meaning interpretation, the restrictions on 'programs' and 'promotion'run into constitutional problems under the First Amendment,' he wrote. He also noted what he deemed the 'absurdity problem' of banning 'programs' related to gender identity, hypothetically offering it 'would mean the law bans 'girls' and 'boys' sports teams and any other classroom or extracurricular activity that recognizes and endorses gender identity.' In a March ruling, Locher blocked a separate component of the same Iowa law that prohibits school libraries from carrying books that depict sex acts. The state is challenging that decision. Reynolds's office and a spokesperson for Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird didn't immediately respond to The Hill's requests for comment.
