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A far-right political action committee claims to have collected enough signatures to put a school-specific transgender sports ban involving genital inspections onto the Washington state ballot.

On January 3, the right-wing group Let’s Go Washington announced that it had collected 445,187 signatures in support of IL26-638, an initiative seeking to amend Washington law and school district policies in order to bar trans girls from competing in girls’ sports. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association currently permits trans students to play sports that align with their gender identity.

Should IL26-638 go into effect, student athletes hoping to compete in girls’ sports would be required to medically verify their sex assigned at birth based on “the student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels.” In other words, to play girls’ sports, student athletes, many of whom are minors, could be subjected to blood tests or invasive genital exams.

As journalist Erin Reed notes in her newsletter Erin in the Morning, if Let’s Go Washington’s signatures are certified, Washington state legislators can either pass the initiative as written, reject it, or propose an alternative. If they reject the initiative, it will appear on the state ballot during the 2026 midterms on November 3. If they propose an alternative, then both IL26-638 and the alternative will appear on the Washington state ballot.

Even if the initiative passed, it could still face significant challenges at the state level. Washington’s state anti-discrimination law, the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of “gender expression or identity.”

Outside of IL26-638, Let’s Go Washington also claimed to have gathered enough signatures for another initiative, IL26-001, which would force school personnel to out trans public school students in Washington state. As Reed points out, although a version of this bill previously made it onto the state ballot and was passed by the Washington State Legislature, its language was ultimately watered down so as to not mandate the outing of trans students.

Washington is far from the first state in which right-wing figures have attempted to introduce sex testing measures. Last February, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked a state district court to issue a temporary injunction requiring the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to conduct sex screenings on athletes competing in women’s sports, despite the NCAA already banning trans women from participating.

On the national level, more sweeping trans sports bans have faltered, in part because of the invasive sex testing that they could have necessitated. In March 2025, Senate Democrats unanimously blocked the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” which would’ve banned federally funded schools from allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s sports. As the Congressional Equality Caucus noted at the time, the bill could’ve pushed “any student to answer invasive personal questions about their bodies & face humiliating physical inspections to ‘prove’ that they’re a girl.”

A 2020 Human Rights Watch report on sex testing in international sports concluded that such tests “violate fundamental rights to privacy and dignity.” The report found that sports governing bodies that implement sex testing create “environments that coerce some women into invasive and unnecessary medical interventions as a condition to compete in certain events.”

IL26-638’s emphasis on athletes medically verifying their “endogenously produced testosterone levels” could also perpetuate a larger racist trend of cisgender Black female athletes being targeted and even disqualified from sporting events due to not meeting arbitrary hormone requirements. In 2020, for example, World Athletics banned South African track gold medalist Caster Semenya from competing in the 800-meter race because her natural testosterone levels exceeded the maximum level allowed for that distance.

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GREEN RIVER — Save The Date Floral has spread its roots to Green River with the opening of Aspen and Willow Floral Studio, a full-service flower shop that has fresh floral arrangements and a personal story of love and loss.

Owner Tracy Hafner, who opened Aspen and Willow in late 2025, is no stranger to small business ownership. She also operates Save The Date Floral in Rock Springs, which offers similar products and services. Although the two shops are separate businesses with different websites, Hafner refers to them as sister stores that share a commitment to quality and community.

With 35 years of experience in the floral industry, Hafner opened Aspen and Willow after receiving requests from Green River residents for another local flower shop. The business, located in the former Rose Floral building, has already garnered positive feedback from the community.

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“We’ve had very good responses on our Facebook posts, and many Green River residents are excited to have us here,” Hafner said. “The support has been overwhelming.”

Hafner is also dedicated to giving back to the community. She supports local youth sports leagues, including hockey, baseball, and softball, as well as other small businesses.

“We want to be good stewards of the community,” Hafner said.

As Aspen and Willow continues to grow, Hafner plans to expand services, including floral arranging classes for residents interested in learning the art of flower design. She also hopes to hire additional staff to assist with operations.

The name Aspen and Willow is a tribute to Hafner’s late husband, who passed away in April 2024. The name honors their childhood memories of playing in aspen trees and willows, serving as a lasting homage to her husband’s memory.

Aspen and Willow is located at 2 East Flaming Gorge Way in Green River. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

GRAND FORKS – Grand Forks County commissioners on Tuesday approved a new position for the Regional Youth Assessment Center, though the topic prompted discussion on whether other entities that utilize the YAC should contribute funds to the facility.

The additional full-time staff position at the YAC was included as part of the county’s 2026 budget to address the state’s desire for more full-time positions at the facility. The vote on Monday was to approve an employee status form related to the position.

Commissioner Terry Bjerke expressed concern over approving the position, however, largely because of the already high expenditures from the department compared to its revenue. He said expenses are approximately $2 million, while revenue is a little over $600,000. He added he would prefer if some of the cost of the position was covered by YAC partners, like the state.

“As far as I’m concerned, if they want to hire another person there to take care of all this, I’m more than willing to take the check from the state to pay for it,” he said. “I don’t think it should come from the county taxpayers.”

The documents included in the meeting’s agenda do not include a salary for the added YAC position.

Commissioner Cynthia Pic pointed out it would be difficult for the commission to deny the employee status form because the position was already approved in the 2026 budget.

“A majority of the adolescents that are served in our Youth Assessment Center are citizens from Grand Forks County,” she said.

County Administrator Tom Ford said Robin Spain, YAC administrator, has already hired someone to fill the new position.

The vote to approve the status change passed 4-1, with Bjerke dissenting. Other commissioners said they were open to discussing possible negotiations for more funding from the state or other YAC partners.

In related business, Director of Facilities Bill Gerszewski and Sheriff Andy Schneider shared the status of the new sheriff’s office building, including some repair items that still need to be completed by the building contractor, Heartland Acres Development.

“Some of them have been met, Of 19 items that I had, we are solid with six completed,” Gerszewski said.

Most of the fixes, Gerszewski and Schneider said, that still need to be done are for bigger or more difficult problems, like a roof leak. Schneider added the contractor has been keeping up with more regular maintenance.

Schneider also said he is unsure if the sheriff’s office was able to make requests for maintenance on certain issues because the county is only leasing the building right now.

“We can make a request for certain things to be changed, but if they weren’t part of a (request for proposal) or if they’re not really impacting overall business, can we really request that at this time?” he said.

Bjerke suggested discussing how long the county plans to lease the building with Heartland Acres, saying leasing it for longer than necessary was “money going down the drain.” According to the lease agreement, rent on the building is $519,000 a year with an additional cost of $12,000 a year for maintenance.

The lease also includes an option for purchasing the building as soon as five years after it went into effect, though Schneider said he would like his department to spend more time in the building,

which it moved into in June,

before considering an eventual purchase.

“I’d like to at least see two years out of the place before we’re talking about buying it,” he said. “That’s just me personally.”

In other news, the commission:

• Approved designating State’s Attorney Haley Wamstad as parliamentarian and adopting Roberts Rules of Order.
• Approved designating Alerus Bank, Choice Bank and Old National Bank as depositories.
• Heard from Grand Forks County Water Resource District Chairman Bob Drees about the usage of the county’s public campgrounds in 2025. He said there are plans to raise camping fees for 2026 to help offset operating expenses.
• Approved reappointing Kayla Hochstetler and JoNell Bakke to the Grand Forks Human Service Zone Board.
• Approved reappointing Sam Landman to the Grand Forks County Weed Board.
• Approved awarding a $272,445 contract to High Point Networks to perform network equipment upgrades throughout county buildings. The project is being funded with a $386,000 cybersecurity grant.
• Denied approving Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Dec. 26 as paid holidays for county staff. The agenda item was introduced by Pic. The vote failed 1-4, with Bjerke, Mark Rustad, Bob Rost and Kimberly Hagen dissenting.
• Approved a supplementary agreement for the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office’s lease with Heartland Acres Development for the correctional center. The agreement reflects that the county paid off the remaining balance for accessories to the building, like fencing.
• Received correspondence from the Eagles 4-H Club thanking the commission for sponsoring the club’s 4-H awards.
• Received correspondence from Houston Engineering Inc. about a proposed roadway improvement project at the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and North Columbia Road. The project is being done between the city of Grand Forks, the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. The engineering firm requested comments from the county on the project in case it would affect any properties or proposed developments from the county.

Playing in the consolation championship at the 17th Annual Tom Kleist Fourth-Grade Christmas Tournament on Dec. 28, Christ the King-White (CK) defeated Southwest 14-12 in a thriller. The CK roster includes Arlo Borjas (5 rebounds, 2 steals), Ryan Shields (steal), Liam Alvarado, Lucas Rodenberg (4 points, 10 rebounds, steal), Christopher Jensen, Teddy McClelland (10 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks), Leo Antonelli (4 rebounds), Brian Cook, Henry Jurewitch (steal) and Jack Gallagher (2 rebounds, steal) and Coaches Jack Danaher and Buzz McClelland. The Southwest roster includes Liam Kilstrom (2 points, steal), Grayson Daly, Wally Doran (2 points, steal), Noah Beninato (2 rebounds), Sammy Wrenn (steal), Kenny Roe (7 rebounds), Sam Colomb (3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, block), Hayden Bixler, Emmett Avros (2 rebounds, steal) and Bobby Goyke (5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals) and Coaches Nick Roe, Adam Goyke and Dan Colomb. (Review photo)

Joe Perry Little, Jr., age 85, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026. He was born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Sparta, Tennessee. He was an Eagle Scout, competed in 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs, was selected to the Tennessee American Legion Boys State, and served as a page in Washington, D.C., for Congressman Joe L. Evins.

Joe earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and the engineering co-op program.

He began his career as a nuclear engineer with Dupont at the Savannah River Plant and subsequently spent the majority of his career as a nuclear engineer with TVA and thereafter with various contractors in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, including Lockheed Martin, Bechtel Jacobs, and Pro2Serve.

Joe was active in the Farragut community where for many years he coached his children’s youth sports with the Cedar Bluff Farragut Optimist Club, served on the Town of Farragut’s Municipal Planning Commission, served as an elder and Sunday School teacher at Farragut Church of Christ, and was most recently a member of the Hardin Valley Church of Christ.

Joe was a loving husband, father, and grandfather; he was considered a true gentleman by all who knew him. Most recently, he prioritized time with family including regularly attending his seven grandchildren’s many, varied activities.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mary (England) Little. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Becky (Ford) Little; his sister, Bettye Evans; children, Ford Little (Malinda), John Little (Jennifer), and Mary Helen Story; grandchildren, James Little (Georgia), Matthew Little (Audrey), John Grant Little (Anna), Carlen Little Sutcliffe (Langston), Rebecca Story, Sarah Frances Little, and Stacy Story; and great-grandchild, Chloe Little.

Honorary pallbearers include James Little, Matthew Little, John Grant Little, Stacy Story, Dick Anders, Jack Bender, Bob Boruff, Tommy Gordon, Eldredge Kennedy, Phil Manness, Bill McKissick, and Howard Rosser.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff at NHC Farragut as well as caregivers, Cathy Van Winkle, Jenny Escobar, and Kara Hartmann.

The Little family will hold visitation at Hardin Valley Church of Christ, 11515 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Saturday, January 10, 2026, and a memorial service at 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Joe Perry Little to the Trinity Health Foundation, 525 Portland St., Knoxville, TN 37919, or Hardin Valley Church of Christ, 11515 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Online condolences may be made at www.rosefuneraltn.com

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — North Charleston and surrounding communities will soon have a central hub for community connection and wellness focused on helping underserved youth in the area.

The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, The Sandlot Initiative and the City of North Charleston are partnering on the project, which has been in development for more than five years.

“We want to impact kids’ lives,” Andy Brusman, founder of The Sandlot Initiative, said.

Building connections through sports

Brusman said the initiative aims to connect communities through sports, where children focus on teamwork rather than differences.

“You have a black child that’s playing second base. You have a white child that’s playing shortstop. Neither one is looking at black and white. They’re looking at a double play partner,” Brusman said.

The hub will address what Brusman identified as a key issue for underserved youth: unstructured free time.

“It brings you discipline. From a young age, you’ve got to be able to learn how to manage your time, your schedule, and how it interacts with everything else that you’re doing,” he said.

Expanding beyond sports

While the center will start with sports programming, organizers plan to expand into mentoring, wellness and academics.

“If you can continue to build on that and add things, like getting them exposed to coding at Clemson, you’ve set that child up to understand what they can achieve going forward,” Brusman said.

The partners believe the hub will provide a safe space for children in the community.

“Soaking it all in, because at the end of the day, is the end goal here, is just give them that place to go, a safe place,” Brusman said.

The organization is currently fundraising to build two baseball and softball fields and a training facility.

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