skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Pressure on Burgum to Veto Transgender Sports Bill

play audio
Play

Monday, April 19, 2021   

BISMARCK, N.D. -- North Dakota's governor faces growing calls to reject legislation that would bar transgender student athletes from playing on sports teams that don't align with their birth gender.

The controversial measure, which would affect K-12 students, saw heavy opposition before clearing its final legislative hurdle last week.

LGBTQ advocates call it discriminatory and say it creates more opportunities for trans students to be bullied and harassed.

Amy Jacobson, executive director of Prairie Action ND, said there are a host of other concerns outlined during public testimony.

"One of the loudest groups that the legislature heard from was really business and tourism," Jacobson recounted.

Others calling for a veto argued the law would lead to costly litigation. Supporters of bills like this say it's about fairness in girls' sports and preventing boys from playing them.

Gov. Burgum's office did not respond to a question about whether he would veto the bill.

The measure is similar to proposals that surfaced in other states this year, including South Dakota.

Opponents like Jacobson contended all the measures do is codify discrimination, while noting supporters had difficulty producing evidence of it being an issue in school sports.

She asserted the bill was made worse by adding a provision for a study, even as the law would take effect.

"That doesn't really make much sense," Jacobson remarked. "We shouldn't put youth in danger to study how our policy impacts them."

The North Dakota High School Activities Association already has a policy that deals with this issue, which the bill's opponents said works just fine.

If the governor were to veto the bill, political observers said an override might be harder in the Senate, with last week's approval vote being relatively close.

Disclosure: Prairie Action ND contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues, Human Rights/Racial Justice, Livable Wages/Working Families, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021