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☆ DEI, explained: What’s the term Republicans are using to attack Kamala Harris?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Nicquel Terry Ellis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Critics say DEI programs are discriminatory and attempt to solve racial discrimination by disadvantaging other groups, particularly White Americans. These diversity training efforts emerged around the time that affirmative action began by executive order from President John F. Kennedy. Despite the backlash against DEI programs and initiatives, many companies are standing firm in their support for DEI. And 71% of people surveyed said they think DEI training is important to “creating a positive workplace culture.”What does DEI look like at work? Thrivent’s DEI training teaches employees how to understand and bridge cultural differences in the workplace, Baker said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Tim Burchett, CNN’s Manu Raju, Joe Biden, Harris, ” Burchett, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Susan Rice, “, ” Rice, didn’t, Bill Ackman, Elon Musk, it’s, Daniel Oppong, ”, Lyndon Baines Johnson, George Floyd’s, Dominique Hollins, WĒ360, John F, Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Hollins, ” Hollins, Ipsos, ” Kelly Baker, Thrivent’s, Baker, Thrivent, ” Baker, Ella Washington, ” Washington, Washington, Christopher Rufo, Ryan P, Williams, ‘, ” Williams, Tesla, ” Musk, Musk, Mark Cuban, ” What’s, Ron DeSantis, Republican State Sen, Dave Murman, Sen, Danielle Conrad, ” Conrad, ” CNN’s Athena Jones Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Tennessee Republican, Chronicle, Higher Education, Pew Research Center, Elon, White, Equity, Civil, DEI, Opportunity Commission, Academy of Management Learning, Education, Colleges, Minneapolis police, Companies, College, University of Florida, of Governors, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, Georgetown’s, Student Equity, Disability, Center, Women’s Center, Resource Center, Center for Multicultural Equity, “, Manhattan Institute, New York Times, Claremont Institute, SpaceX, Musk, SEC, Dallas Mavericks, Florida Gov, Higher, Republican State, Nebraska, Nebraska Democratic Locations: Black, Texas, Florida, U.S, Washington, America, ” Cuban, Texas, North Dakota, North Carolina , Tennessee, Utah, Nebraska

Opponents said the law had created confusion about whether teachers could identity themselves as LGBTQ+ or if they even could have rainbow stickers in classrooms. Other states used the Florida law as a template to pass prohibitions on classroom instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation. Under the terms of the settlement, the Florida Board of Education will send instructions to every school district saying the Florida law doesn't prohibit discussing LGBTQ+ people, nor prevent anti-bullying rules on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or disallow Gay-Straight Alliance groups. It barred instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through the third grade, and it was expanded to all grades last year. In some cases, books dealing with LGBTQ+ topics were removed from classrooms and lines mentioning sexual orientation were excised from school musicals.

Persons: it’s, “, ” Roberta Kaplan, Ron DeSantis's, couldn’t, ”, Ryan Newman, DeSantis, Kaplan, ” Kaplan, Mike Schneider Organizations: —, Florida Board, Education, Straight Alliance, Florida Gov, Republican, GOP, Florida Legislature, Dade County School Board, Walt Disney, Disney, Eleventh Circuit, Appeals Locations: ORLANDO, Fla, Florida, Alabama , Arkansas , Indiana , Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, Miami, DeSantis, Tallahassee

☆ Florida’s private colleges and universities must comply with rule requiring people to use bathrooms aligning with their sex assigned at birth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Carlos Suarez Denise Royal | Carlos Suarez | Denise Royal | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Private colleges and universities in Florida must now comply with a rule requiring students and faculty to use bathroom and changing facilities aligned with their sex assigned at birth. LGBTQ advocates have slammed the statutes as an effort to erase them from Florida schools and society. “Right now, in the public schools at least, the unisex restroom is the teacher’s restroom. So we have a situation whereby all the nonbinary and transgender (people) and the teachers all line up for this unisex bathroom. The rule does not yet apply to Florida’s state universities like University of Florida, Florida State University and University of Central Florida.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Emma Roy, ” Roy, Yvette Benarroch, ” Benarroch Organizations: CNN, Private, Florida, of Education, Gov, DeSantis, Liberty, University of Florida, Florida State University and University of Central, Governors Locations: Florida, Collier County, Florida State University and University of Central Florida

☆ A pastor invited to DeSantis' Disney board meeting quoted the Bible telling people not to 'resist authority' as it strips workers' park perks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A pastor invited to DeSantis' Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's meeting told attendees not to "resist authority." The pastor read from the Bible as the board discussed stripping park parks for Disney workers and retirees. Ron DeSantis to run the area around Disney World defended stripping park employees of their perks — moments after a pastor invited to speak urged attendees not to "resist authority." Last month, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board revoked all of the land's firefighters' free passes to the Disney parks and resorts. Disney responded with a lawsuit, and while DeSantis said he's since "moved on" from the fight, Disney is not backing down.

Persons: Firefighters —, Ron DeSantis, Pastor David Netzorg —, —, Netzorg, Pete Simon, DeSantis Organizations: Florida Tourism, Disney, Firefighters, Service, Gov, Emmaus Church, Disney World, Central, Miami Times, Disney firefighters, Improvement, Florida's GOP Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Winter Garden , Florida, Central Florida, Florida's

☆ A Florida GOP rep who defended the state's new slavery curriculum is now helping create its first Black history museum
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Florida GOP rep who backed the state's slavery curriculum is helping open a Black history museum. He's on a task force in charge of including the history of slavery in the state in the new museum. Ron DeSantis last week and will help plan the building and operation of the Florida Museum of Black History, according to Bay News 9. Now, Jacques will be a key member in opening the state's first museum to honor Black history. "My main task on this task force is emphasize that Black history is part of American history," Jacques said, Bay News 9 reported.

Persons: Berny Jacques, it's, Ron DeSantis, Jacques, Bruce Antone, DeSantis Organizations: Florida GOP, Service, Bay, Florida Gov, Florida Museum of, Florida Board of Education, Democratic, Rep, Senate Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon

☆ Disney isn't going to let DeSantis walk away from their feud unscathed as the governor desperately tries to reboot his campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a new court filing, Disney asks for damages and alleges Florida violated its contracts. It's the latest in a lawsuit in which the Florida board says Disney shouldn't have total power over its district. Disney said in the document that it "has fully complied with any and all of its obligations under the Contracts." The company alleged that the Florida board "repudiated its duty" to adhere to the contract. As the lawsuit between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District continues to proceed, DeSantis has been on the presidential campaign trail.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Disney, Bob Iger, DeSantis, Trump, who's Organizations: Disney, Gov, Service, Florida, CNN, DeSantis, District, Central, FiveThirtyEight Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Reedy, Central Florida

☆ 2024 Republican candidate Scott decries Florida's new Black history plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Tim Scott, the most high-profile Black candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential race, has blasted his rival Ron DeSantis, Florida's governor, over the state's newly adopted Black history curriculum, saying "there's no silver lining" in slavery. Without naming DeSantis, Scott said he hoped that every candidate in the Republican field "would appreciate that." Scott's remarks came after another prominent Black Republican, U.S. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, also criticized the new standards. That triggered an outraged pushback from DeSantis' campaign online, which suggested Donalds was a supporter of Kamala Harris, a Democrat and the first Black vice president. Harris last week delivered a fierce rebuke of DeSantis and the history curriculum while on a trip to Florida.

Persons: Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Scott, DeSantis, Scott's, Byron Donalds of, Donalds, Kamala Harris, Harris, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, James Oliphant, Ross Colvin, Richard Chang Organizations: Republican, Twitter, Black Republican, U.S, Democrat, Black, DeSantis, Republican Party, Florida, of Education, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Byron Donalds of Florida, Florida

☆ Top Donor Provided Ron DeSantis, an Avid Golfer, With a Costly Simulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Alexandra Berzon | Maggie Haberman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A list of the mansion’s acquisitions that was provided by the governor’s office included rugs and a Peloton bike donated to a previous administration. On the campaign trail, Mr. DeSantis, an avid golfer, has been playing up his working-class roots in an effort to connect with voters in early voting states. His appointment predated Mr. DeSantis’s first term in office, but he was reappointed by Mr. DeSantis in 2021. The front-runner, Mr. Trump, has repeatedly sought to draw attention to Mr. DeSantis’s use of private donor planes. Jason Miller, a Trump aide, reacted to the news reports on Wednesday on Twitter, saying it was “Ron DeSantis’ Florida Swamp in Action!”

Persons: DeSantis, Donald J, Trump, Hosseini, Jeremy Redfern, ” Mr, Redfern, DeSantis’s, James Uthmeier, Jason Miller, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Republican, New York Times, ICI Homes, University of Florida, Mansion Commission, Twitter Locations: Florida, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Milwaukee

☆ Florida Legislature Passes Bill Banning Gender-Transition Care for Minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Patricia Mazzei | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Background: The Legislature has prioritized bills aimed at L.G.B.T.Q. Last month, the Florida Board of Education expanded through 12th grade a prohibition on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity. Why It Matters: A growing number of states are passing similar restrictions. At least 13 states have passed laws or policies in recent months to ban or significantly limit the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender-transition surgery for people under 18. advocacy organization GLAAD has already sued Florida over the state health board’s prohibition of what experts call gender-affirming care.

Under the bill, which passed the Republican-controlled legislature largely along party lines, the Central Tourism Oversight District Board - whose members are appointed by DeSantis - can cancel any deals signed up to three months before the board's creation. Disney, the largest employer in central Florida, and the Republican governor have been battling since last year, when Disney criticized a new state law banning classroom instruction of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Before DeSantis' appointees took over the board, the company pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limited the new body's action for decades. The new oversight body in April said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board responded with its own lawsuit in a state court, saying it sought to void "backroom deals" favorable to Disney.

☆ Florida board picked by DeSantis to countersue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) -An oversight board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday said it would file a countersuit against Walt Disney Co in state court, according to prepared remarks seen by Reuters. Slideshow ( 2 images )The decision, which further escalates tensions between Disney and the state of Florida, comes in response to a lawsuit Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district board. The skirmish began last year after Disney criticized a Florida measure banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney’s virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. “The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business,” Martin said.

☆ Florida board picked by DeSantis countersues Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | Tom Hals | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

(Reuters) - A district board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee development around Walt Disney Co’s Florida theme parks sued the company on Monday to void “backroom deals” favorable to the entertainment giant. The state court lawsuit escalates tensions between Disney and the Republican governor and likely presidential candidate. It comes in response to a case Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district board. DeSantis who is expected to soon declare his candidacy for U.S. president, has repeatedly attacked “woke Disney” in public remarks. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board maintained that Disney rushed through the agreement before the new board assumed oversight of municipal services and development within the 25,000 acres of land in and around Walt Disney World.

Law Firms Boies Schiller Flexner LLP FollowMay 1 (Reuters) - A lawyer in the Florida attorney general's office has left to join U.S. law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, the firm said Monday. Deputy Solicitor General Evan Ezray has rejoined the firm's Fort Lauderdale, Florida office as a partner, the firm said. Ezray previously worked at the law firm co-founded by prominent lawyer David Boies from 2017 to 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. The solicitor general is the chief appellate attorney for the state of Florida and part of the Florida attorney general's office. Read more:Florida board to countersue DisneyU.S. appeals court upholds Florida voting law that judge found discriminatoryDisney sues Florida's DeSantis for 'weaponizing' governmentFlorida judge blocks Republican-backed voting law as discriminatoryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Disney and DeSantis have been in a year-long feud that began after the company spoke out against a controversial bill. Here's a timeline of the events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The feud began after the entertainment giant spoke out last March against a controversial piece of legislation critics have called the Don't Say Gay bill. The state Board of Education voted on Wednesday to expand that law to cover grades 4 to 12. The new district board also is considering more inspection regulations, building workforce affordable housing on land that borders the resort and theme park, and selling the district-owned utilities. It was the first time the board met since the revelation of the agreement between the prior district board members and Disney. On April 19, the state board approved a ban on classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades, including grades 4-12.

☆ Disney and DeSantis have been in a yearlong feud that began after the company spoke out against a controversial bill. Here's a timeline of the events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

After a yearlong feud, Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging that the Florida governor tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. The state Board of Education voted on Wednesday to expand that law to cover grades four to 12. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, our state has seen record growth in jobs, GDP, and net domestic in-migration. It was the first time the board met since the revelation of the agreement between the prior district board members and Disney. On April 19, the state board approved a ban on classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades, including grades four through 12.

April 19 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' new oversight board has discovered another "11th hour agreement" that allows Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) to set its own utility rates at its Orlando theme parks, the board's chairman said on Wednesday. A Disney subsidiary, which provides utility services to the central Florida district that includes the Walt Disney World Resort, negotiated an agreement in February to extend its contract through 2032, Chairman Martin Garcia said at a public meeting. "Last Friday afternoon I learned for the first time about one of these new 11th hour agreements entered into between Disney and the district. "We'll have to evaluate the legality of that agreement, that essentially enables Disney to set their utility rates. The board was established to provide state oversight of a special district around Walt Disney World.

☆ Florida expands Gov. Ron DeSantis' so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law to all grade levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Florida's Board of Education approved expanding the rules of the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law through 12th grade. Currently, the state bans lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through 3rd grade. Ron DeSantis requested expanding the ban as he gears up for an expected presidential run. The current law is also the root of an ongoing feud with Disney, one of the state's largest employers and political donors. DeSantis has directed the chief inspector general to investigate the Disney board's move and vowed to take additional revenge against the company through legislation.

☆ DeSantis and allies ramp up Disney fight as more Republicans criticize his tactics
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

DeSantis ripped Disney repeatedly this week over its recent maneuvers to thwart the governor's efforts to seize some control of the company's Orlando parks and properties. Meanwhile, his handpicked board of supervisors overseeing Disney World's special tax district increased the pressure on Disney. The board took that step two days after DeSantis floated a range of possible actions against Disney World, including developing land nearby. That legislation, dubbed "Don't Say Gay" by critics, "should never have been signed" by DeSantis, Disney said in a March 2022 statement. The state's Republican governor and GOP-held legislature targeted the special tax district that has allowed Disney to essentially govern itself for decades.

☆ Bob Iger says that if Ron DeSantis wants to end his feud with Disney, they could just sit down and 'discuss all of this'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger says there's a way for Ron DeSantis to settle his feud with Disney: Talk it out. Iger told Time he'd be happy to sit down with DeSantis to hash out their disagreements. "I do not view this as a going-to-mattresses situation for us," Iger told Time. Ron DeSantis to end his increasingly acrimonious feud with Disney: Come to the negotiating table and hash it out. On April 3, Iger said DeSantis' attempt to strip Disney of its tax status is "anti-business" and "anti-Florida."

April 11 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's newly formed oversight board is seeking to assert control over development in two cities where Walt Disney World Resort is located, the latest twist in a battle for authority over the company's Florida theme parks. A resolution, seen on Tuesday by Reuters, would give the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board the power to review and evaluate development in the 25,000-square acres of property in and around Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) theme parks. The district would hold "superior authority and control" over planning, zoning and other land use in the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, under a Florida law that formed the state-appointed oversight board. A spokesperson for Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. A spokesperson for the oversight board referred inquiries to an attorney, who was not immediately available for comment.

☆ DeSantis seeks to void Disney's Florida board agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Walt Disney World photographer holds a Pride rainbow-coloured Mickey Mouse cutout before the "Festival of Fantasy" parade at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2022. REUTERS/Octavio JonesApril 8 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ramped up his fight against Walt Disney Co (DIS.N), seeking to void an agreement that Disney passed to limit the power of a board appointed by DeSantis to oversee its Florida theme park property. On Thursday in remarks made at Hillsdale College in Michigan, DeSantis said the legislature would void changes Disney made shortly before it lost control of the board. Florida lawmakers passed a bill in February giving DeSantis effective control over a board that oversees municipal services and development in a special district that encompasses Walt Disney World resort. "What Disney has tried to do is they have tried to say that they should be able to operate outside the context of our constitutional system in Florida," DeSantis said on Thursday.

☆ TikTok banned from school-owned devices on all Florida state universities
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Chris Boyette | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

“Data privacy, particularly concerning student data and faculty research, is a critical priority for the State University System of Florida,” the Board of Governors said in a statement to CNN. Bans and regulations of Tik Tok in particular, and of social media sites in general, have been mounting. Utah also regulating useLate last month, the governor of Utah signed a bill which requires teens to get parental approval to use social media. Earlier this week, the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office, which regulates data, fined Tik Tok for a number of breaches of data protection law. CNN has reached out to each for comment.

☆ Florida Democrats are trying to use Ron DeSantis' book laws against his own recently published book
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Florida Democrats are challenging Ron DeSantis' book under his own education laws, per The Daily Beast. They argue that the book could run afoul of his own laws on race and gender concepts in schools. Ron DeSantis by requesting his new book be reviewed under laws pushed through by his own party, The Daily Beast reported. DeSantis vocally backed the Florida Board of Education's successful effort to ban Critical Race Theory in state classrooms in 2021. It's unclear how many school districts in Florida currently stock DeSantis' book.

☆ Disney's Florida surprise: an end run around DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People gather at the Magic Kingdom theme park before the "Festival of Fantasy" parade at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2022. Florida lawmakers passed a bill in February giving Governor Ron DeSantis effective control over a board that oversees municipal services and development in a special district that encompasses Walt Disney World resort. "It completely circumvents the authority of this board to govern," board member Brian Aungst Jr. was quoted as saying. Disney's then-chief executive officer, Bob Chapek, publicly voiced disappointment with the measure, saying he called DeSantis to express concern about it becoming law. In a move political observers viewed as retaliation for Disney's criticism of the Parental Rights in Education Act, Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in developing 25,000 acres in central Florida where its theme parks are located.

☆ A Fast-Growing Network of Conservative Groups Is Fueling a Surge in Book Bans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Elizabeth A. Harris | Alexandra Alter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The alliance has a network of more than 250,000 people it can mobilize to flood politicians with letters. Referred to by Mr. Flaugh as “the back office,” this network sprang into action this year to support a bill that requires Florida districts to report all book objections to the state. Some librarians and parents are concerned it will have a chilling effect. The summit also drew other prominent political figures from the right, including Senator Rick Scott of Florida and the Trump administration cabinet members Ben Carson and Betsy DeVos. In her remarks, Ms. DeVos called for dismantling the Department of Education, which she used to run.

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