U.S. House Republicans on Friday passed a bill designed to empower parents to inspect books and other teaching materials in local public schools, but Democrats sharply criticized the measure, saying it would censor teachers and ban books. Read more»

Only a minuscule number of hate crimes are reflected in federal, state and local databases and reporting systems, and without a true understanding of what’s happening, it’s difficult to address hate crime and stop it. Read more»

Black home insurance policyholders brought a federal class action against State Farm, alleging the multibillion-dollar company subjects their claims to greater scrutiny than it does those of white clients. Read more»

From 2015 to 2019, the last full year of federal child welfare statistics available before the pandemic, DCS investigated the family lives of 1 of every 3 Black children in Maricopa County, creating a system so omnipresent among Black families that it has created a communitywide dread. Read more»

A concerted national effort has helped reduce the number of veterans experiencing homelessness, but Black veterans remain overrepresented among that population, a reflection of long-standing discrimination that impacts everything from the racial wealth gap to the ability to find a job. Read more»

Several Arizona Republican candidates have done interviews with Micajah Jackson - known online by the handle “The JFK Report" - who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 and is an active member of a Telegram channel filled with neo-Nazi and antisemitic rhetoric. Read more»

Kari Lake’s campaign manager Colton Duncan likened all Native Americans to bloodthirsty savages who engage in human sacrifice in a racist tweet mocking the concept of Indigenous People’s Day. Read more»

Although the Title IX and Global Football event celebrated just how much women’s sports have changed, it also highlighted the need for even more improvement - and with the National Women’s Soccer League recent reports of abuse, the fight for change continues in women’s soccer. Read more»

U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday heard oral arguments in a case that challenges an Alabama redistricting map and could potentially eliminate remaining federal safeguards against racial gerrymandering, further weakening the Voting Rights Act. Read more»

An arrest affidavit from the Texas DPS says Michael Sheppard - warden at a private immigration detention center in Sierra Blanca - drove to a local water board meeting with his brother after firing two rounds that killed a man and injured a woman in a group of migrants. Read more»

Phoenix-based knife-maker Greg Medford says the “cancel culture mob” can’t handle his “satirical” and “provocative” nature, but critics say he has a history of racism and a vulgar petulance - yet Medford's podcast has been a campaign stop for many Arizona GOP candidates this year. Read more»

A new ban on books containing sexual content makes its way into Arizona public schools this week, and critics worry self-censoring will add further stress to already overburdened teachers. Read more»

The NBA’s suspension and $10 million fine for Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver has sparked widespread criticism, including strong responses from a Phoenix Suns player and executive who view the punishment as “falling short” compared to the findings in the investigation. Read more»

The U.S. House is considering a bill that would put lynching sites in western Tennessee on track to become part of the National Park Service, part of a trend this year of Congress using the agency to advance discussions of the nation’s troubled and often violent racial history. Read more»

An Asian American advocacy group sued Arizona to block new election laws - set to take effect just before the November midterm elections - they say may force people of color or naturalized voters to prove they’re citizens or face criminal prosecution. Read more»