A recent decision by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) is costing the conference two longtime member schools from California, and one more may soon leave as well. 

Who is leaving the NIAA?

Starting this fall, North Tahoe and Truckee, two Northern California schools close to the Nevada border, have decided to leave the NIAA because of the association’s vote to ban transgender athletes from playing in girls sports. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, South Tahoe High School will remain in the NIAA for now.  

On Tuesday, April 3, the NIAA voted to ban transgender girls from playing girls’ sports. Athletes on girls’ teams will have to prove their sex assigned at birth if a school raises a claim that they are transgender.

The athletic association said they are following President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s school sports. Attorney Paul Anderson said not approving the transgender policy puts Nevada schools at risk of losing federal funding.

What are the California schools saying about the move?

The two California schools making the move away from the Nevada conference believe they have to abide by California laws that bar discrimination based on sex or gender identity. 

“We are a California school district, and so we must adhere to California state law,” Amber Burke, spokesperson for Truckee schools, told the Gazette Journal.

Truckee Tahoe Unified School District’s Superintendent Kerstin Kramer explained the school’s decision to leave the NIAA in a letter to parents.

“We understand how incredibly important high school sports are to so many of our students, families, and community members. Please know that this decision, while driven by our requirement to comply with California state law, was not taken lightly,” Kramer said. “Recent NIAA policy changes regarding student-athlete eligibility based solely on biological sex directly conflict with California laws protecting gender identity and expression, including AB 1955, which guarantees students’ rights to privacy and protects them from discrimination.”

Why is the move upsetting to parents and students?

The schools are moving to the California Interscholastic Federation, but that means much longer trips for games and other activities. Many opponents will be an hour or more away in the Sacramento suburbs.  

Truckee High School is a football powerhouse, winning two of the past three state Nevada 3A football championships. In all, Truckee has won 14 state football championships in Nevada.

How are other states trying to navigate Trump’s executive order?

Several states have had to grapple with President Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi warned officials in Maine, California and Minnesota to comply with President Trump’s executive orders or face legal action. 

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, D, previously sparred with Trump at a National Governors Association meeting over her state’s refusal to implement the ban. She responded to the President’s threat to take away Maine’s federal funding with a curt “See you in court.”

There are currently several cases challenging Trump’s executive order making their way through state and federal courts.

It’s not exactly how either would probably have drawn it up, but old friends — Chestatee’s Mike Herrin and Johnson’s Frank Zamora — were hoping they might get another chance to see each other in the 2025 playoffs. Zamora played for Herrin’s early teams at Chestatee in the 2000s.

After a tough 3-1 loss to Zamora’s Knights in the regular season, Herrin’s War Eagles will head to The Dungeon on Tuesday looking for a measure of revenge in the Class 3A quarterfinals. But it didn’t come without some crazy drama first.

It took four days for the Knights to be able to get past Calhoun in the second round, securing their spot in the Elite 8 with a 2-1 win on Monday in a match that began on Friday and was halted because of weather. Chestatee has been patiently waiting after its 2-1 overtime win over Class 3A No. 2 seed Richmond Academy in PKs (5-4).

The Knights will have to play on back-to-back days for the first time this season and just 24 hours after holding off the Yellow Jackets on the road.

Herrin said after Friday’s win, it didn’t matter to them who they played next. But he acknowledged that getting another crack at the 2024 Class 4A state runner-up Knights was also in the back of their mind.

“Having played Johnson early on and going to OT with them last year (losing in PKs), our kids know they’re capable of playing against good teams when we play our best soccer,” Herrin said. “Our players and their players have competed with and against each other over the years through club, middle school, and now high school teams. “

Both teams have playoff experience and pedigree. The Knights (13-4) have captured three state titles since 2018, two in Class 5A and one in Class 4A, while the War Eagles (14-4) lost the Class 4A state title to Northwest Whitfield in 2018.

Herrin is hoping familiar paths and recent experience will help them against their cross-town rivals.

“The 2018 roster advanced to the second round of the 2017 tournament, and we had the bulk of those guys return with the confidence, and they could go through. It’s kind of the same thing this year,” Herrin said. “We have a great group of seniors who used last year’s experience to help prepare them to be ready to play this year. Richmond Academy gave us everything they had last week. For the boys to outlast the No. 2 seed, that gives them a huge shot of confidence going into this one.”

This will be the second of what could be three matches for Zamora’s Knights in five days as they try to get back to the title match once again. He said before the Calhoun restart on Monday the home team can have a slight advantage. 

However, it did not work out well for the home-standing Yellow Jackets on Monday and Chestatee does not have far to travel on Tuesday.

“Obviously, I believe the home team will always have a little bit of an advantage in situations like this,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we just have to be able to push through and find a way to emerge from all of this.”

But those aren’t the only northeast Georgia area teams looking to advance to the Final 4. East Forsyth has a monumental task in Class 4A traveling to defending Class 4A champion Westminster.

And Habersham Central is trying to continue its best playoff run since 2015. The Region 8-5A champion Raiders take on Region 7-5A champion Milton at Raider Stadium, looking for their first semifinal appearance since 2011.

Milton (14-3) is ranked fourth in the scorbord.com poll. Habersham Central (13-3) is ranked 10th and brings a 7-2 home record into Tuesday’s showdown.

Raiders coach Ric Wallace, much like Herrin and Zamora, said experience could be a huge factor. 

“It will take a collective effort from back to front. We will rely on the experience of team leaders Diego Gonzalez, Everett Rudeseal, Payton Adams, Camden Meads and Israel Pascual, who have been part of the success of the last two seasons.”

Defense could play a major role for both teams. Habersham Central has allowed just 21 goals on the season (1.31 goals/game) and just nine goals over their last 12 matches (0.75 goals/game). Meanwhile, they have five players with 5 or more goals on the season for an offense that is averaging 4.06 goals/game on the season.

Milton has scored just 52 goals (3.05 goals/game) but has yielded just 15 goals (0.88 goals/game) on defense.

“We have been incredibly balanced (on offense) this season,” Wallace said. “We’re not conceding a tremendous amount of goals, but we also have not recorded a great deal of shutouts.”

Wallace knows they will need more of the same on Tuesday to get past the Eagles, who are 7-1 on the road in 2025.

“Milton is very well coached and had a fantastic season. We will have to be disciplined defensively, stand up to the physical nature of the game, and be composed when finishing opportunities present themselves,” Wallace said.

(See the entire schedule of Tuesday’s playoff matches below:)

(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, May 1 and their regular monthly meeting has been delayed until Monday, May 5.)

Budget: The school board approved a tentative $44.1 million budget for fiscal year 2026 and set public hearings to receive input on the budget. (See related story.)

Closed session and personnel: The board adjourned into a 24 minute closed session Thursday morning to discuss personnel. After the closed session, the board voted to hire Jaidyn Lowe as a paraprofessional at Blackshear Elementary, Mary Wall as attendance clerk at the middle school and Christine Rowell as a school nutrition food assistant. The board also approved the resignations of Sabrina Ranee Lynn, custodian at Midway Elementary, Christine Rowell as custodian at the middle school, Thad Williams as a teacher at the high school and Randy Ard as a bus driver in the transportation department. The board also approved the retirements of Raymond Pate as a custodian at the high school and Molly Sue Tatum as a school nutrition assistant.

The board also approved all coaching recommendations for the high school and middle school. The board adjourned into a three minute closed session Monday night to discuss personnel. After Monday’s closed session, the board voted to accept the resignations of Christine Blackmon, teacher at Patterson Elementary, Elizabeth Yarbrough, paraprofessional at Midway Elementary and Shelly Hyers, special education paraprofessional. The board also voted to accept the resignation of James Cox and Rebecca Insalaco, community wrestling coaches at the high school.

Middle school and Patterson Elementary additions: The board approved asking its architect, SP Design Group of Macon, to prepare architectural plans for additional classrooms and conference space at Patterson Elementary and the additional classrooms and bathrooms at the middle school. Board chairman Duward Boatright said the request is part of the system’s five year plan and does not mean that construction will begin in the

near future.

Blackshear Elementary gifted teacher: The board approved adding a full-time gifted teacher to Blackshear Elementary beginning next school year.

Middle School classroom to be divided:

Bids are being sought for dividing a technology classroom at the middle school into two regular size class rooms. Estimated cost of the project will be $50,000. A public notice is included in this week’s edition.

Midway Elementary pre-k playground: The board approved paying half the cost of a pre-k playground at Midway Elementary. The board’s share is $11,544.50 of the $23,089 total cost of the playground.

Metal buildings: The board approved seeking bids for metal storage buildings for Blackshear and Midway Elementary Schools. Superintendent Dara Bennett said the buildings are needed for storage space at both campuses.

Recognition: The board recognized system retirees, young authors for the school and the Okefenokee Regional Education Services Agency (RESA) and Midway Elementary as a national distinguished model school.

Consent agenda: Several items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:

• the approval of a new athletic booster club to support the Pierce County High School Wrestling Team. (See related story.)

• approval of the annual contract with the Okefenokee RESA. The contract will be for $32,248, the same amount as last year. The school system receives instruction, training and bulk buying discounts as part of the contract.

• approval of 23 nonresident applications including two kindergarten and one first grade student at Blackshear Elementary, one student each in the first, third and fourth grades at Midway, two fifth grade students at Patterson, three sixth, two seventh and one eighth grader at the middle school and four freshmen, four juniors and one senior at the high school.

• approval of a field trip request for eighth graders at PCMS to go to Universal Studios in Orlando, FL May 9. All out-of-state field trips require board approval.

Reports: Finance Director Melanie Helms gave the system’s financial report. The school system reported revenue of $36.5 million and expenses of $31.8 million through March. The system had almost $20 million in reserves. She noted the reserve will start falling now that local tax revenues have reached their max.

Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $254,424 in March up $20,000 from February. She also reviewed school activity account reports.

The board approved the financial reports as presented. Facilities director Harbin Farr progress at the high school’s new indoor sports complex, formerly known as the “new, old gym” at PCHS. (See related story.) Farr also told members maintenance will be securing and installing cypress mulch on the playground at Blackshear Elementary. Public participation:

There was no public participation.

Minutes: The board approved minutes for April’s meetings.

Information:

Superintendent Bennett reminded board members graduation will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Bear Stadium. Last day of school and early release day will be Tuesday, May 20.

Post planning will take place May 21-23 and will be completed before the Memorial Day holiday May 26.

The central office and all school campuses will be closed May 26 for Memorial Day and June 19 for Juneteenth.

Next meetings: The June work session will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 5. The June regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 9. All meetings will be at the BOE central office 0n Main Street.

Prime Video Unveils Teaser Trailer for “We Were Liars” Adaptation

All Eight Episodes of the Mystery Thriller Will Debut June 18, exclusively on Prime Video

CULVER CITY, California – May 6, 2025 – Today, Prime Video released the teaser trailer from the mystery thriller based on the best-selling novel by E. Lockhart, We Were Liars. All eight episodes will be available on June 18, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed the Liars, during their summer escapades on her grandfather’s New England private island. The Sinclairs are American royalty – known for their good looks, old money, and enviable bond – but after a mysterious accident changes Cadence’s life forever, everyone, including her beloved Liars, seems to have something to hide.

Starring “the Liars”: Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence Sinclair Eastman, Shubham Maheshwari as Gat Patil, Esther McGregor as Mirren Sinclair Sheffield, Joseph Zada as Johnny Sinclair Dennis; alongside Caitlin FitzGerald as Penny Sinclair, Mamie Gummer as Carrie Sinclair, Candice King as Bess Sinclair, Rahul Kohli as Ed Patil, and David Morse as Harris Sinclair.

The series is written and executive produced by co-showrunners Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries, Legacies) and Carina Adly MacKenzie (Roswell, New Mexico, The Originals). Also executive producing are Emily Cummins (The Endgame, Vampire Academy) for My So-Called Company, Brett Matthews (Legacies), Pascal Verschooris (The Vampire Diaries), and the novel’s author, E. Lockhart. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Amazon MGM Studios are behind the project. The novel is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.

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About Prime Video

Prime Video is a first-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one app available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can customize their viewing experience and find their favorite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports – including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Red One, Road House, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, The Boys, Cross, and The Idea of You; licensed fan favorites; Prime member exclusive access to coverage of live sports including Thursday Night Football, WNBA, and NWSL, and acclaimed sports documentaries including Bye Bye Barry and Kelce; and programming from Apple TV+, Max, Crunchyroll and MGM+ via Prime Video add-on subscriptions, as well as more than 500 free ad-supported (FAST) Channels. Prime members in the U.S. can share a variety of benefits, including Prime Video, by using Amazon Household. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of the Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles via the Prime Video Store, and can enjoy even more content for free with ads. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favorite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access. For more info visit www.amazon.com/primevideo.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
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