Editor Brian Harrod Provides Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, with aggregated news from sources all over the world from the Roundup Newswires Network
State lawmakers in Kansas and Oklahoma have approved legislation to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that cite their religious beliefs for not placing children in LGBT homes. Supporters of such measures argued that the core issue is protecting a group's right to live out its religious faith, while critics saw them as attacks on LGBT rights.
Oklahoma legislators approved a measure Thursday to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that cite their religious beliefs for not placing children in LGBT homes and lawmakers in Kansas were close to passing a similar measure. The Oklahoma House's 56-21 vote sent its measure to Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who has not said whether she would sign it.
Oklahoma legislators approved a measure Thursday to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that cite their religious beliefs for not placing children in LGBT homes and Republicans in Kansas were pushing a similar measure. The Oklahoma House's 56-21 vote sent its measure to Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who has not said whether she would sign it.
Republican legislators in Kansas tried Thursday to break a political stalemate over a proposal to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that cite their religious beliefs for not placing children in LGBT homes. House and Senate negotiators drafted a new version of a bill that would prevent the state from barring agencies from providing foster care or adoption services if they refuse to place children in homes violating their "sincerely held" religious beliefs.
The Latest on bills in Oklahoma and Kansas to protect faith-based adoption agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes : The Oklahoma House has given final approval to a bill that would grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that don't want to place children in homes with same-sex couples. The House voted 56-21 on Thursday for the bill over the boisterous objections of Democrats, who tried several parliamentary maneuvers to derail it.
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Whitney Walker, second left, and Tracy Kurzendoerfer protest outside of Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin's office on Friday, March 30, 2018 in Frankfort, Ky. Walker and Kurzendoerfer are teachers in Fayette County.
In Oklahoma, funding for public education is down 28 percent since the recession. More than 90 school districts have turned to a four-day week to save money.
Public schools in Oklahoma's two largest cities will remain closed another day despite plans to end a strike by teachers seeking more classroom funding. Oklahoma City and Tulsa schools said Thursday they will remain closed on Friday, the end of the second week of a statewide walkout by teachers who marched on the state Capitol.
OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma's two largest school districts will close for the ninth consecutive day because of a teacher strike, matching the length of a walkout in West Virginia earlier this year that started a rebellion of teachers in some Republican-led states. Oklahoma City Public Schools, the state's largest district, and Tulsa Public Schools, said Wednesday that they will remain closed on Thursday.
Arizona teachers who have organized to push for big raises and a restoration of school funding are threatening a statewide walkout, following the lead of educators across the country, including Oklahoma where schools have been closed for more than a week. Leaders for a new grassroots group called Arizona Educators United say they could announce a date for action at any time.
Arizona teachers and education advocates shouts as they march at the Arizona Capitol highlighting low teacher pay and school funding Wednesday, March 28, 2018, in Phoenix. FILE - In this March 28, 2018 file photo, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin speaks during a news conference following a vote on a package of tax hikes to fund teacher pay raises in Oklahoma City.
Thousands of teachers from across Kentucky gather outside the state Capitol to rally for increased funding and to protest last minute changes to their state funded pension system, Monday, April 2, 2018, in Frankfort, Ky. Thousands filled the state Capitol in Kentucky on Monday to protest teacher pension changes, and schools were closed statewide in Oklahoma as thousands more educators rallied for increased education funding.
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Mary Fallin drew national outrage when she accused striking teachers of being like "teenagers" who "want a better car." Now the governor is doubling down on the statement.
The latest on teachers rallying for higher pay and more education funding in several Republican-led states across the U.S. : An Oklahoma state Senate leader says Friday "will be an important day" in the faceoff between lawmakers and teachers who are demonstrating for more school funding. Oklahoma lawmakers typically don't meet on Fridays during legislative sessions.
The Latest on teachers rallying for higher pay and more education funding in several Republican-led states across the U.S. : Oklahoma lawmakers will convene rare Friday sessions as protesting school teachers continue to fill the state Capitol and demand more funding for public education. Republican leaders of the state House and Senate said Thursday they will meet Friday to consider legislation to raise more money.
Some Oklahoma school districts say they will close for a fourth day in anticipation of a continued walkout by teachers demanding more funding for classrooms. OKLAHOMA CITY - When Oklahoma Republicans finally passed a massive tax hike for hundreds of millions of new dollars for public schools and teacher pay raises, they thought they would get a thank you.
In a twist on red state teacher demonstrations that have been sweeping the country, thousands of teachers across Arizona gathered outside their respective schools in an effort to rally in support of community residents in their ongoing attempt to win better wages. Before classes started today, teachers, many wearing T-shirts reading "#RedForEd," greeted parents and students with signs reading, "Don't Shortchange Education" and "Help me Help Them."