Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).
Bay Area youth violence prevention groups see younger crowds, social media concerns
In February, a 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of brutally stabbing a 15-year-old to death at Santana Row in San Jose. In March, three teenagers were among seven people taken into custody in Oakland for a slew of alleged violent crimes including murder, shootings and armed robberies. Earlier this month, two 13-year-old boys in Redwood […]
In February, a 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of brutally stabbing a 15-year-old to death at Santana Row in San Jose.
In March, three teenagers were among seven people taken into custody in Oakland for a slew of alleged violent crimes including murder, shootings and armed robberies.
Earlier this month, two 13-year-old boys in Redwood City were apprehended by police after they were accused of shouting homophobic statements and throwing fireworks at a Pride celebration.
Supreme Court to decide on transgender youth sports bans
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear two cases involving transgender youth challenging bans prohibiting them from participating in school sports. In Little v. Hecox, plaintiffs represented by the ACLU, Legal Voice, and the law firm Cooley are challenging Idaho’s 2020 ban, which requires sex testing to adjudicate questions of an athlete’s eligibility. […]
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear two cases involving transgender youth challenging bans prohibiting them from participating in school sports.
In Little v. Hecox, plaintiffs represented by the ACLU, Legal Voice, and the law firm Cooley are challenging Idaho’s 2020 ban, which requires sex testing to adjudicate questions of an athlete’s eligibility.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals described the process in a 2023 decision halting the policy’s enforcement pending an outcome in the litigation. The “sex dispute verification process, whereby any individual can ‘dispute’ the sex of any female student athlete in the state of Idaho,” the court wrote, would “require her to undergo intrusive medical procedures to verify her sex, including gynecological exams.”
In West Virginia v. B.P.J., Lambda Legal, the ACLU, the ACLU of West Virginia, and Cooley are representing a trans middle school student challenging the Mountain State’s 2021 ban on trans athletes.
The plaintiff was participating in cross country when the law was passed, taking puberty blockers that would have significantly reduced the chances that she could have a physiological advantage over cisgender peers.
“Like any other educational program, school athletic programs should be accessible for everyone regardless of their sex or transgender status,” said Joshua Block, senior counsel for the ACLU’s LGBTQ and HIV Project. “Trans kids play sports for the same reasons their peers do — to learn perseverance, dedication, teamwork, and to simply have fun with their friends,” Block said.
He added, “Categorically excluding kids from school sports just because they are transgender will only make our schools less safe and more hurtful places for all youth. We believe the lower courts were right to block these discriminatory laws, and we will continue to defend the freedom of all kids to play.”
“Our client just wants to play sports with her friends and peers,” said Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Tara Borelli. “Everyone understands the value of participating in team athletics, for fitness, leadership, socialization, and myriad other benefits.”
Borelli continued, “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit last April issued a thoughtful and thorough ruling allowing B.P.J. to continue participating in track events. That well-reasoned decision should stand the test of time, and we stand ready to defend it.”
Shortly after taking control of both legislative chambers, Republican members of Congress tried — unsuccessfully — to pass a national ban like those now enforced in 27 states since 2020.
Two Alto youth softball teams win Diamond Youth Softball state titles | Sports
LONGVIEW – The Alto 15U All Stars and the 12U All Stars won their respective state championships Saturday and will be advancing to the Diamond Youth Softball World Series later this month. The 15U All Stars defeated Hughes Springs while the 12U team knocked off Franklin County. ×
This page requires Javascript.
Javascript is […]
LONGVIEW – The Alto 15U All Stars and the 12U All Stars won their respective state championships Saturday and will be advancing to the Diamond Youth Softball World Series later this month.
The 15U All Stars defeated Hughes Springs while the 12U team knocked off Franklin County.
This page requires Javascript.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmq@E9 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A D6C:6D H6C6 A=2J65 2E {@?8G:6H’D {62C !2C<]k^Am
Rico Dowdle hosts youth football camp, previews his first season with the Carolina Panthers
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Former South Carolina running back Rico Dowdle hosted his first youth football this week at his alma mater, A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, North Carolina. Dowdle is gearing up for his first training camp with the Carolina Panthers. Dowdle signed with Carolina after five years with the Cowboys who signed him […]
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Former South Carolina running back Rico Dowdle hosted his first youth football this week at his alma mater, A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, North Carolina.
Dowdle is gearing up for his first training camp with the Carolina Panthers. Dowdle signed with Carolina after five years with the Cowboys who signed him as an undrafted free agent back in 2020.
Dowdle joins a running back room that includes Chubba Hubbard and Trevor Etienne.
Two Time Super Bowl Winner Holds LGBTQ+ Friendly Youth Football Camp
Two Time Super Bowl Winner Holds LGBTQ+ Friendly Youth Football Camp originally appeared on Athlon Sports. I first met Khalen Saunders at the 2019 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Khalen, who goes by the nickname Bink, was a standout player from Western Illinois. In many ways Khalen, coming from such a small school, beat the […]
Two Time Super Bowl Winner Holds LGBTQ+ Friendly Youth Football Camp originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
I first met Khalen Saunders at the 2019 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Khalen, who goes by the nickname Bink, was a standout player from Western Illinois. In many ways Khalen, coming from such a small school, beat the odds by just getting selected for the postseason all-star game. However, he would go on to accomplish so much more.
Advertisement
Back in 2019, Saunders competed admirably against the nation’s best players. At the same time he had to make the difficult choice to stay in Mobile and not be with his fiancé Ayanna when she gave birth to their daughter Kambridge. It was a smart decision and his hard work paid off as a couple months later, Saunders was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs and would go on to win two Super Bowls.
Today in Saint Louis, Khalen and his brother Kameron held a youth football camp and made it a point of emphasis to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ kids.
Saunders believes that “football is for all” and that being an ally means taking action and not just stating support.
Advertisement
Saunders talked to CNN’s Ben Morse about his brother Kameron, a famous dancer and choreographer who most recently has been featured on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Kameron was a big source of inspiration to Kalen wanting to take action. He said, “I think [Kameron] has been to almost every single game that I’ve had, from when I was eight until now…So my intention with this camp is to unify everybody and just promote positivity and empathy amongst others as far as just being accepting of everybody and showing everybody love.”
Khalen also sat down with Jemele Hill on her podcast and opened up more on how deeply personal this is for him. He said, “There was a strong need for it, especially in today’s climate. You know, what we consider being different in today’s society. Obviously, my brother Kameron, who is openly gay, has been gay my entire life. [He] was my driving factor behind intentionally putting that tag on it…I feel like in college was my first time experiencing him not being comfortable in a crowd of one of my games because we were actually about to play an openly gay player on the other team. And we’re in my home town at my college and they were saying they were going to do a display or demonstration against LGBTQ with my brother in the crowd! I got defensive, obviously, because they’re coming to my home field and disrespecting my brother. That’s when the idea [for the camp] started.”
Related: LSU’s Will Campbell and Ashlynn Nussmeier Grab the Spotlight in Green Bay
Related: Catching up with Falcons’ Legend Jamal Anderson
Related: Livvy Dunne Posts New Revealing “Beach-nastics” Video and Talks about her Relationship with Paul Skenes
Related: Gymnast Livvy Dunne Shares Revealing Video on the Serious Injuries she has Endured
Open Audio Article Player City of Surprise Text to speech audio articles made possible by CAST11 Talking Glass Media The City of Surprise Parks & Recreation Department is offering youth soccer, tee ball, baseball, softball and volleyball leagues along with sports skills classes and camps this fall! (Shutterstock) Early bird registration runs through July 20 […]
Text to speech audio articles made possible by CAST11 Talking Glass Media
The City of Surprise Parks & Recreation Department is offering youth soccer, tee ball, baseball, softball and volleyball leagues along with sports skills classes and camps this fall!
(Shutterstock)
Early bird registration runs through July 20 and offers a $20 discount. After the early bird period, regular pricing will apply. Registration will stay open until divisions are full.
Youth Soccer, Tee-ball, Baseball, Softball and Volleyball:
Leagues for boys and girls ages 4 – 17 (determined on or before November 1, 2025)
Season starts in early September and runs until early November
Games are played on Saturdays and/or weeknights
Practice times are up to the volunteer coach, usually one hour, once a week (5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.)
For league details visit: surpriseaz.gov/YouthSports
Sports Skills Classes & Camps:
Surprise is offering a variety of skills classes for ages 6 – 15. Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball and Football Skills Classes will be offered August – December.
Sports Camps will be offered for ages 7 – 15.
For Class & Camp dates and details visit: surpriseaz.gov/SportsClasses
Schedules are subject to change.
To register, head to surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec and click on “Youth Sports” or contact 623.222.2000.
Read more stories from the Phoenix Area on Signals A Z.com.
Ad Choices
%:@82]k^Am
| First Take
