Featured Stories
Wisconsin Historical Society: Wisconsin Marks a Historic Milestone - 100th Shipwreck Added to State Register of Historic Places
MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 26 -- The Wisconsin Historical Society issued the following news release:
* * *
September 25, 2026
Wisconsin Marks a Historic Milestone: 100th Shipwreck Added to State Register of Historic Places
Unexpectedly discovered by a local boater last year, the Frank D. Barker joins Wisconsin's official list of historic places
-
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin is celebrating the addition of the Frank D. Barker shipwreck to the State Register of Historic Places, the 100th shipwreck in the state to receive the designation after the listing was made official at a State Historic Preservation
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 26 -- The Wisconsin Historical Society issued the following news release:
* * *
September 25, 2026
Wisconsin Marks a Historic Milestone: 100th Shipwreck Added to State Register of Historic Places
Unexpectedly discovered by a local boater last year, the Frank D. Barker joins Wisconsin's official list of historic places
-
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin is celebrating the addition of the Frank D. Barker shipwreck to the State Register of Historic Places, the 100th shipwreck in the state to receive the designation after the listing was made official at a State Historic PreservationReview Board meeting earlier today. The milestone highlights the dedication of WisHistory's nationally recognized underwater archaeology team to document important historic sites throughout the state and provides an opportunity to reflect on Wisconsin's rich maritime heritage.
"Today is an exciting day for the diligent and hardworking maritime archeologists and many other staff members whose efforts made the 100th shipwreck listing on the State Register of Historic Places possible," said Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. "This milestone is an example of WisHistory's mission in action, and highlights our commitment to sharing and preserving Great Lakes history for future generations."
In July 2025, Captain Matt Olson discovered the submerged Frank D. Barker shipwreck while scouting sites around Door County. After Olson reported the find to the State Historic Preservation Office, WisHistory maritime archaeologists conducted follow-up dives and identified the wreck as the long-lost Frank D. Barker, whose exact location had been lost for more than a century. The discovery revealed that the vessel's hull lies open, but all components of the ship remain present on the lakebed.
Built in 1867 by Simon G. Johnson in Clayton, New York, the 137-foot, two-masted wooden Frank D. Barker is a unique Great Lakes vessel designed to transport grain from Milwaukee and Chicago to Lake Ontario and return with coal from Lake Erie. In 1887, while traveling from Manistee, Michigan, toward Escanaba, Michigan, the ship ran off course in foggy conditions and struck a limestone outcropping, and the captain and crew became stranded south of Spider Island. Multiple salvage attempts in 1887 and 1888 failed, resulting in the vessel's total loss.
The State Register of Historic Places was established in 1987 through Wisconsin Act 395 and is the state's official list of properties determined to be significant to the state's heritage. Today, more than 2,600 places throughout Wisconsin are listed on the State Register. The program documents and recognizes places of historical significance, safeguarding Wisconsin's heritage for future generations.
More Information:
* Read the August 2025 press release (https://wisconsinhistory.org/about/media-room/vanished-without-a-trace-until-now-another-wisconsin-shipwreck-charted-off-door-county-coast/) about the initial discovery of the Frank D. Barker.
* Access additional information about the State and National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin (https://wisconsinhistory.org/preserve/state-historic-preservation-office/state-national-registers-of-historic-places/).
* Explore Wisconsin Shipwrecks (https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/), a website dedicated to sharing Great Lakes Shipwrecks through underwater video, historic photographs and archaeological discoveries.
State and federal laws protect this shipwreck. Divers may not remove artifacts or structure when visiting this site. Removing, defacing, displacing, or destroying artifacts or sites is a crime.
* * *
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/about/media-room/wisconsin-marks-a-historic-milestone-100th-shipwreck-added-to-state-register-of-historic-places/
Project Coyote Applauds Governor Polis's Opposition to Amendment 83
LARKSPUR, California, Sept. 26 -- Project Coyote, an organization that say it promotes conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife through education, science and advocacy, issued the following news release:
* * *
Project Coyote Applauds Governor Polis's Opposition to Amendment 83
Project Coyote Applauds Governor Polis's Opposition to Amendment 83, Colorado's Misleading "Right to Hunt and Fish" Ballot Measure
-
DENVER, Colo., Sept., 25, 2026 - Project Coyote today welcomed Governor Jared Polis's statement opposing Amendment 83, the constitutional amendment on Colorado's November
... Show Full Article
LARKSPUR, California, Sept. 26 -- Project Coyote, an organization that say it promotes conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife through education, science and advocacy, issued the following news release:
* * *
Project Coyote Applauds Governor Polis's Opposition to Amendment 83
Project Coyote Applauds Governor Polis's Opposition to Amendment 83, Colorado's Misleading "Right to Hunt and Fish" Ballot Measure
-
DENVER, Colo., Sept., 25, 2026 - Project Coyote today welcomed Governor Jared Polis's statement opposing Amendment 83, the constitutional amendment on Colorado's Novemberballot that proponents call a "right to hunt and fish" measure but that conservation advocates warn would strip Coloradans of their voice in how the state's wildlife is protected.
"Here's the problem with Amendment 83: there are many other things people (including me) like to do outdoors, and this puts hunting above them all as the only one in our constitution. Coloradans hike, rock climb, mountain bike, camp, go river rafting and kayaking, ski, do trail running, go 4x4ing, and much more. While we do our best to support all of these wonderful ways to enjoy our great outdoors, elevating hunting above all the others means that when they come into conflict, hunting would always win out in the courts," said Governor Polis in a statement on Facebook. "So if there was a conflict between hunting and mountain biking, the courts would have to close off the area to mountain biking. Right now hunting has very strong legal protection in Colorado and that isn't going anywhere. Putting this proposed language in the constitution is reckless and dangerous."
"Governor Polis is standing up for the right of Colorado voters to have a say in how we protect the wildlife and natural environments that define this state," said Mark Surls, Colorado & Northern Rockies Coordinator "Amendment 83 isn't actually about protecting hunting and fishing, which are already legal and firmly established in Colorado. It's a blatant attempt to make our shared constitution lock out science, lock out public input, and lock in a single special interest's preferences for generations to come."
Amendment 83, backed by the Wisconsin-based International Order of T. Roosevelt and Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, would open the door to reversals of wildlife protections that the people of Colorado already voted on, including prohibitions on brutal trapping practices, bear baiting and wildlife killing contests. It requires 55% voter approval and, if passed, could only be undone by another statewide vote.
"I'm extremely grateful to Governor Polis for speaking out against Amendment 83. Coyotes, bears, bobcats, and foxes are thinking, feeling beings, and Coloradans voted to ban leghold traps and bear baiting because those practices cause immense suffering. Amendment 83 would needlessly drag those protections back into court," said Marc Bekoff, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder and a member of Project Coyote's Science Advisory Board. "Compassionate conservation promotes two simple principles, 'first, do no harm' and 'the life of every individual matters,' and this amendment fails on both counts."
Project Coyote argues the measure could strip Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) of its ability to make timely, science-led decisions about the state's wildlife. Rather than CPW acting on the best available biological science and public input as conditions on the ground change, the agency would instead have to first prove in court that any restriction is "necessary" before it could act.
That reversal hands veto power over wildlife policy to whichever side is willing to litigate. It would also put politics and the interests of a single group ahead of the work of Colorado's independent, science-based wildlife agency when it comes to the final say on how to protect the species Coloradans care about.
"Amendment 83 could also bring back "traditional methods" of hunting and harvesting wildlife in the Constitution, which includes inhumane and unsportsmanlike practices that Colorado has long banned like leghold traps, wildlife killing contests, and bear baiting," the governor's statement said.
"This is bigger than any one species or any one season," Surls said. "Wildlife is part of what makes Colorado, Colorado, and every voter deserves a say in how they're protected. We're grateful Governor Polis is standing with Coloradans on this."
Project Coyote encourages Coloradans to learn more about Amendment 83 and get involved in the campaign to defeat it ahead of the November 3 election.
Project Coyote is a fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute, a 501c3 nonprofit. Project Coyote's mission is to promote compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife--particularly North America's wild carnivores--through education, science, advocacy, and coalition building. Led by scientists, educators, and wildlife advocates, Project Coyote works to change policies and perceptions to protect wild carnivores and foster ethical, ecologically sound stewardship.
Learn more at www.ProjectCoyote.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://projectcoyote.org/media-release-project-coyote-applauds-governor-poliss-opposition-to-amendment-83/
[Category: Animals]
No Labels Issues Commentary: Is Trump Changing Course on Taiwan Arms Sales? What the Six Assurances Say
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- No Labels, a political organization that advocates for centrism and bipartisanship, issued the following commentary:
* * *
September 25, 2026
Is Trump Changing Course on Taiwan Arms Sales? What the Six Assurances Say
Peyton Lofton
Republican and Democratic presidents have maintained that Beijing does not get a say over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Now, as President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, that longstanding approach is facing renewed scrutiny.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington for his first visit to the nation's capital
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- No Labels, a political organization that advocates for centrism and bipartisanship, issued the following commentary:
* * *
September 25, 2026
Is Trump Changing Course on Taiwan Arms Sales? What the Six Assurances Say
Peyton Lofton
Republican and Democratic presidents have maintained that Beijing does not get a say over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Now, as President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, that longstanding approach is facing renewed scrutiny.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington for his first visit to the nation's capitalin more than a decade. One of the many items on his agenda is Taiwan - specifically, U.S. weapons sales to the island.
Xi is expected to pressure President Trump to halt those sales, which would be a stark departure from U.S. policy dating back 44 years.
And recent comments from President Trump have raised a new question: Is that longstanding policy beginning to change?
Key Takeaways
* The Six Assurances have guided U.S. policy toward Taiwan since 1982. One says the United States has not agreed to consult with China over arms sales to Taiwan.
* Presidents of both parties have continued selling weapons to Taiwan while reaffirming that policy. The approach has remained largely consistent from President Reagan through President Biden and President Trump's first term.
* President Trump's second term is raising new questions about that approach. His administration has announced $11.2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, but another roughly $14 billion package remains stalled after President Trump described it as a "very good negotiating chip" with China.
The Six Assurances to Taiwan
The issue came up after President Trump met with Xi in Beijing earlier this year.
A reporter asked President Trump about a U.S. commitment dating back to the Reagan administration and whether his conversations with President Xi represented a departure from it.
"Well, I think 1982 is a long way," President Trump replied.
President Trump did not say he dispensed with the Reagan-era policy. But he acknowledged that President Xi had raised U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan and that the two leaders discussed the issue "in great detail."
"We discussed arms sales too," President Trump said.
So what happened in 1982?
President Ronald Reagan was negotiating with China over the future of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. America had been providing military assistance to Taiwan for decades, but the diplomatic landscape had recently changed: The United States formally recognized the People's Republic of China in 1979 while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.
The resulting U.S.-China joint statement, known as the 1982 communique, said America intended to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan, but also made clear that any reduction depended on China continuing to pursue a peaceful resolution of its dispute with Taiwan.
At the same time, President Reagan gave Taiwan what became known as the Six Assurances.
One was particularly clear: "The United States has not agreed to consult with the PRC on arms sales to Taiwan."
The Reagan administration also wrote privately that the United States must "strongly resist" pressure from Beijing to consult over those sales.
In other words, China would not get a say over arms sales to Taiwan.
That principle would endure across presidents of both parties.
What Have U.S. Presidents Said About Arms Sales to Taiwan?
For more than four decades, U.S. policy toward Taiwan has remained remarkably consistent.
Presidents continued approving billions of dollars in arms sales to Taiwan. And administration after administration reaffirmed the Six Assurances or rejected the idea that Beijing should have a say in our weapons deals.
The table below shows what each president or administration has said about Taiwan arms sales and what actions they took. Dollar figures are the estimated values of proposed Foreign Military Sales notified to Congress during each administration, in nominal dollars.
View Presidential Statements and Actions on Taiwan Arms Sales
The pattern crossed party lines. Republicans and Democrats alike have upheld the Six Assurance for decades.
Trump's Taiwan Turnaround
President Trump is not only potentially breaking with his predecessors - he has also sharply changed course from the position taken during his first term.
In just four years during his first term, President Trump oversaw more weapons sales to Taiwan than any president before him - even those who served eight years.
Now, he could be on the brink of setting a new record: being the first president to break with the Six Assurances.
Even if the Assurance isn't explicitly broken, President Trump's words and actions are raising questions. While he's already announced $11.2 billion in arms sales this term, he's been stalling another major package for months.
The deal is fully worked out and includes roughly $14 billion worth of advanced missile defense systems like Patriot interceptors. Reuters reported in March that the package is ready to go and is only awaiting the President's approval. But President Trump has so far refused, calling it a "very good negotiating chip" with China.
Did President Trump violate the Six Assurances?
There isn't an official answer.
While several administrations and Congress have reaffirmed the Six Assurances, there is no law or court deciding whether an Assurance has been broken.
The Reagan administration's internal guidance surrounding the Six Assurances, however, was clear about how Taiwan arms sales were supposed to work.
President Reagan wrote that the "quality and quantity" of weapons provided to Taiwan should be "conditioned entirely on the threat posed by the PRC." His administration said Taiwan's defense needs - and the military threat from China - alone should determine U.S. arms sales.
U.S. law uses similarly strong language. The Taiwan Relations Act says the president and Congress should determine the weapons Taiwan receives "based solely upon their judgment of the needs of Taiwan."
None of that proves that President Trump broke any of the Assurances. But it does raise a question about whether the stalled sale is being decided solely according to Taiwan's defense needs - the standard laid out by President Reagan and in the Taiwan Relations Act - or whether it is also being used as leverage in the broader U.S.-China relationship.
Are the Six Assurances still in effect?
The Six Assurances have survived enormous changes in the relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan.
They survived the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden administrations. They even survived President Trump's first term.
For 44 years, presidents of both parties continued selling weapons to Taiwan while maintaining that Beijing did not get to decide those sales.
Officially, the Six Assurances are still on the books. The U.S. has not changed its policies regarding Taiwan. But President Trump's comments and actions are raising questions about how that policy is being applied.
* * *
Peyton Lofton is Senior Policy Analyst at No Labels and has spent his career writing for the common sense majority. His work has appeared in the Washington Examiner, RealClearPolicy, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Peyton holds a degree in political science from Tulane University.
* * *
Original text here: https://nolabels.org/the-latest/is-trump-changing-course-on-taiwan-arms-sales-what-the-six-assurances-say/
[Category: Political]
NED ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF AI HACK FOR FREEDOM III
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The National Endowment for Democracy issued the following news:
* * *
NED ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF AI HACK FOR FREEDOM III
September 25, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is pleased to announce Rwanda's Carine Kanimba as the first-place winner of the AI Hack for Freedom III, held at NED headquarters on September 24-25.
During the two-day competition, 10 pro-democracy activists from Colombia, Kenya, Nepal, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Tibet, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe learned about AI-powered personal assistants and led teams
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The National Endowment for Democracy issued the following news:
* * *
NED ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF AI HACK FOR FREEDOM III
September 25, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is pleased to announce Rwanda's Carine Kanimba as the first-place winner of the AI Hack for Freedom III, held at NED headquarters on September 24-25.
During the two-day competition, 10 pro-democracy activists from Colombia, Kenya, Nepal, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Tibet, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe learned about AI-powered personal assistants and led teamsof software developers and designers to create custom solutions to challenges they face as activists. All participants collaborated with technology firm Finite on next-generation AI tools and learned to safely deploy them around the world.
This year's winners are:
* First Prize ($20,000 in cryptocurrency): Rwanda's Carine Kanimba, the Secretary General of World Liberty Congress, for "Behind the Jersey," a centralized online platform that helps sports fans identify authoritarian entities funding their teams and advocate for change.
* Second Prize ($10,000 in cryptocurrency): Turkey's Kadir Yagiz Cetin, the founder and CEO of CDR, for an offline learning platform that gives Afghan women and girls barred from school access to educational materials without requiring an internet connection.
* Third Prize ($6,000 in cryptocurrency): Tibetan-Canadian human rights activist Chemi Lhamo, for an application that securely preserves evidence of harassment even if a user's phone is stolen or damaged, along with a dashboard that can help activists identify potential threats.
The remaining participants took home $2,000 prizes.
"Freedom's defenders around the world are under immense pressure. But they also have access to tools that were unimaginable a few years ago," said NED President and CEO Damon Wilson. "Bringing technologists together with frontline human rights defenders is critical to unlocking the next generation of democratic progress."
NED supports partners around the world in using "freedom tech" including new AI tools to monitor elections, track corruption and human rights abuses, and play a constructive role in strengthening democratic principles. NED partners are also using emerging technologies to operate under increasing surveillance and counter cyber threats that seek to disrupt their work.
The AI Hack for Freedom III was held in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), the AI Freedom Lab at Bitcoin Park, and the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy.
* * *
NED is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide. Established in 1983 as part of President Reagan's vision to foster an "infrastructure of democracy" with a bipartisan Congressional mandate, NED supports grassroots leaders striving for the freedom to think, speak, worship, engage politically, and support their families without fear. It mobilizes key pillars of American democracy, from political parties to business and labor, to support their counterparts abroad through the Core institutes that form the NED family: the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and the Solidarity Center.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ned.org/ned-announces-the-winners-of-ai-hack-for-freedom-iii/
[Category: Sociological]
Hispanic Federation Demands Austin Delivery Driver Shot by ICE Be Released & Removal Proceedings Halted
NEW YORK, Sept. 26 -- The Hispanic Federation, an organization that supports and strengthens Latino institutions through education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment and the environment, issued the following news release:
* * *
Hispanic Federation Demands Austin Delivery Driver Shot by ICE be Released & Removal Proceedings Halted
September 25, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- Wilber Garces Perez was delivering food for DoorDash in Austin, Texas, this week when an ICE officer opened fire on him. He is the latest victim in a growing pattern of shootings by immigration agents,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Sept. 26 -- The Hispanic Federation, an organization that supports and strengthens Latino institutions through education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment and the environment, issued the following news release:
* * *
Hispanic Federation Demands Austin Delivery Driver Shot by ICE be Released & Removal Proceedings Halted
September 25, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- Wilber Garces Perez was delivering food for DoorDash in Austin, Texas, this week when an ICE officer opened fire on him. He is the latest victim in a growing pattern of shootings by immigration agents,with no body camera footage and no accountability. Below is a response from Jessica Orozco Guttlein, Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications at Hispanic Federation.
"Our thoughts are with Wilber Garces Perez, a 28-year-old who was shot by an ICE officer during a traffic stop while delivering food in his community. We stand with the Austin community in demanding answers. It is deeply troubling to learn that not only was the officer a recent recruit, but he was not wearing his issued body camera. Hispanic Federation calls for Mr. Garces Perez to be released from detention and have any removal proceedings against him halted to ensure his cooperation in the ongoing investigation regarding this horrific incident.
This recent shooting is part of a dangerous pattern: federal agents commit an act of violence, the community demands accountability, and the lack of record keeping leaves very few options to prevent the next violent incident. One person shot by ICE officers is too many, but the growing frequency of these shootings makes it clear that ICE simply cannot regulate itself or provide the necessary oversight.
This is not an isolated incident. From St. Paul, Minnesota to Los Angeles, California, Hispanic Federation has hosted People's Hearings where community members have described the egregious harm done to communities across the country by federal immigration agents. In each incident, the federal agencies have downplayed the damage and avoided even basic accountability.
We have repeatedly warned that expanding DHS funding without guardrails or oversight would cost injuries and lives, and that is what we continue to see. ICE has received billions of dollars yet still fails to follow proper law enforcement protocol or hold its officers accountable. This is a campaign of terror, and we demand permanent safeguards. Latino families should not have to dread that a drive to work could end in gunfire, with no one held accountable. Hispanic Federation stands with Mr. Garces Perez, his family, and every community living under this climate of fear."
* * *
About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF's focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.hispanicfederation.org/news/hispanic-federation-demands-austin-delivery-driver-shot-by-ice-be-released-removal-proceedings-halted/
[Category: Political]
Governor Newsom Signs Key LGBTQ+ Protections Into Law
LOS ANGELES, California, Sept. 26 [Category: Sociological] -- Equality California posted the following news release:
* * *
Governor Newsom Signs Key LGBTQ+ Protections Into Law
*
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, celebrated Governor Gavin Newsom's signing Saturday of six priority bills advancing protections and resources for LGBTQ+ Californians.
These bills strengthen privacy protections for patients and LGBTQ+ data, support transgender veterans discharged from the military, protect survivors of conversion therapy, expand
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Sept. 26 [Category: Sociological] -- Equality California posted the following news release:
* * *
Governor Newsom Signs Key LGBTQ+ Protections Into Law
*
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, celebrated Governor Gavin Newsom's signing Saturday of six priority bills advancing protections and resources for LGBTQ+ Californians.
These bills strengthen privacy protections for patients and LGBTQ+ data, support transgender veterans discharged from the military, protect survivors of conversion therapy, expandaccess to PrEP and ensure LGBTQ+ students have access to critical resources.
Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang released the following statement:
"Today, California is once again demonstrating that when LGBTQ+ people are targeted, our state will respond with action. At a moment when the Trump administration is attacking transgender people, dismantling LGBTQ+ protections and threatening access to health care and critical services, these new laws provide real protections for people across our state. They will help transgender veterans rebuild their lives after being forced out of the military, protect private health information from hostile investigations, safeguard sensitive LGBTQ+ data, expand access to HIV prevention, support LGBTQ+ students and ensure survivors of conversion therapy have a meaningful path to justice.
We are grateful to Governor Newsom for signing these measures, to the LGBTQ Caucus for its leadership, and to our legislative partners who fought alongside us to get them across the finish line. California has spent decades building some of the strongest LGBTQ+ civil rights protections in the country, and we will continue building on that progress as long as our community remains under attack."
The legislation signed today includes:
AB 1775 by Assemblymember Chris Ward -Support Transgender Veterans
Ensures transgender veterans discharged under discriminatory federal policies can access housing assistance, receive support to obtain professional licensure and employment, and utilize California's discharge upgrade assistance programs to correct their military records.
AB 1930 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur -Safeguard Patient Privacy from Out-of-State Investigations
Strengthens privacy protections for patients and health care providers by establishing clear guardrails before California entities respond to subpoenas or investigations related to abortion or transgender health care.
SB 934 by Senator Scott Wiener -Expand Justice for Conversion Therapy Survivors
Ensures Californians continue to be protected against conversion therapy by integrating the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2026 guidance in Chiles v. Salazar regarding the state's conversion therapy ban.
SB 1023 by Senator John Laird -Strengthen Access to PrEP
Improves insurance coverage and reimbursement practices for long-acting PrEP to help ensure providers can offer this highly effective HIV prevention option without facing unnecessary financial or administrative barriers.
SB 1114 by Senator Christopher Cabaldon -Protect LGBTQ+ Data Privacy
Strengthens privacy protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data by limiting when state agencies can share this sensitive information and ensuring it cannot be disclosed outside of California state government, except under limited circumstances.
SB 1328 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes -Expand LGBTQ+ Higher Education Support
Requires institutions of higher education to designate a confidential employee at satellite campuses, branch campuses, and outreach centers to support the needs of LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff.
This victory comes as the Trump administration continues to roll back federal protections and resources affecting LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender people. Just last week, California also approved major investments to preserve access to transgender health care and restore LGBTQ+-specific crisis services threatened by federal actions.
Equality California worked closely with members of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and other legislative partners to advance the bills as part of the organization's 2026 legislative agenda.
Equality California is the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
***
Original text here: https://www.eqca.org/gov-2026-leg-signature/
CAIR Expresses Solidarity With Italian Muslims After New Decree Bans Religious Attire, Targets Muslim Students
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
* * *
CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Italian Muslims After New Decree Bans Religious Attire, Targets Muslim Students
September 25, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed solidarity with the Italian Muslim community after new discriminatory measures designed to target Muslims were approved by the Italian government.
SEE: Who gets to be Italian? The rise and rise of Islamophobia in Italy (https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/who-gets-be-italian-rise-and-rise-islamophobia-italy)
Italy's
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
* * *
CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Italian Muslims After New Decree Bans Religious Attire, Targets Muslim Students
September 25, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed solidarity with the Italian Muslim community after new discriminatory measures designed to target Muslims were approved by the Italian government.
SEE: Who gets to be Italian? The rise and rise of Islamophobia in Italy (https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/who-gets-be-italian-rise-and-rise-islamophobia-italy)
Italy'sconservative government approved a decree banning burqas and niqabs - attire worn by a tiny minority of Muslims - in schools and putting a limit on the number of students with a poor command of the Italian language in each classroom.
In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:
"The Italian government's decision to ban religious face-coverings in schools and restrict Muslim and immigrant children under the pretext of 'integration' is an obvious attempt to target and marginalize the Muslim community. True integration is built on mutual respect and inclusion, not by codifying xenophobia, policing Muslim women's clothing, or stigmatizing minority communities.
"Governments should focus on providing adequate language resources and supportive educational environments rather than enacting authoritarian restrictions that isolate vulnerable youth and penalize parents."
CAIR recently condemned a ruling by Finland's Supreme Court upholding the police's lawful authority to use physical force to forcibly remove Muslim women's hijabs (Islamic head scarves).
CAIR has previously spoken out against discriminatory bans on Islamic attire across Europe, advocating for the rights of religious minorities to wear attire aligned with their faith without facing retaliation.
Earlier this month, CAIR called on the U.S. Department of State to condemn the dismissal of a Muslim special education teacher in East Flanders, Belgium, who was fired after refusing to comply with a provincial ban on religious symbols in schools.
CAIR also condemned Austria's newly implemented ban on Islamic headscarves, or hijab, for students under 14 as a "fascist and bigoted" step backward for religious rights in Europe.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-expresses-solidarity-with-italian-muslims-after-new-decree-bans-religious-attire-targets-muslim-students/
[Category: Sociological]
