Arkansas, Tennessee Move To Limit Education About Racism, Sexism

AP: Arkansas Governor OKs Limits On Agencies' Race, Sex Training
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday effectively approved a law that places new limits on how race and sex are addressed in state employee training. The Republican governor allowed legislation to become law without his signature to prohibit state agencies from teaching employees, contractors or others to believe “divisive concepts.” The concepts include anything that says the U.S. is fundamentally racist or sexist. The measure, which takes effect next year, does not apply to public schools, colleges and universities, law enforcement training or local governments. (5/4)

USA Today: Tennessee Republicans Take On Critical Race Theory Lessons
In the final days of the legislative session, Republicans in the Tennessee House reopened an education committee to rein in what public schools will be allowed to teach on the topics of racism and inequality. Members of the House education administration committee — which had previously closed for the year — returned Monday morning and advanced legislation intended to prohibit schools from teaching lessons about systemic racism, among other topics touching on race and sex. (Allison, 5/3)

In related news about transgender issues —

NPR: Idaho's Transgender Sports Ban Faces A Major Legal Hurdle
Do transgender women and girls have a constitutional right to play on women's sports teams? That question was argued before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday. The landmark case stems from an Idaho law passed last year — the nation's first transgender sports ban. For plaintiff Lindsay Hecox, a student at Boise State University, the answer to that question is clear. She is transgender, and Idaho's law, if upheld, would prohibit her from competing on women's teams. (Block, 5/3)

Politico: Jenner Hits California Nerve By Siding With GOP On Transgender Athletes
Caitlyn Jenner improved her national GOP bona fides with weekend comments embracing the party's prevailing view on transgender athletes — but now finds herself firmly at odds with a key California policy as she runs for governor. Jenner, a former Olympic gold medalist who is transgender, told TMZ that banning participation of transgender student athletes in girls' competitive sports is "a question of fairness," the same position Republican leaders in red states have taken. (Marinucci and White, 5/3)

Axios: Doctors Fear Next Steps If States Ban Care For Trans Youth 
Medical experts and pediatricians are worried about a new rash of mental health crises among transgender kids, due to the dozens of bills states have introduced to criminalize gender-affirming health care. Tens of thousands of trans youth are at risk of losing health care from the proposed bills, the Williams Institute estimates. (Fernandez and Rummier, 5/4)

In other news from the states —

Axios: Texas City Votes To Ban Abortion: Planned Parenthood Vows To Stay Open 
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas said Monday its doors would remain open in Lubbock, despite voters approving an abortion ban declaring it a "sanctuary city for the unborn." 62% of voters in the West Texas city voted in favor of the move on Saturday, according to a Lubbock County tally. (Falconer, 5/3)

North Carolina Health News: Similar Bills To Help First Responders With Health Issues Are In Front Of Legislators. They’re Likely To Have Different Outcomes. 
In a year when the important role of first responders has become increasingly visible to members of the public, several bills to provide enhanced benefits to public employees such as police, firefighters and EMTs who sustain illness or injury related to their jobs have been introduced at the legislature. One bill, House Bill 535, addresses an issue that’s been advocated for by firefighters’ organizations for several years, namely, a higher incidence of some forms of cancer experienced by firefighters. (Hoban, 5/4)

AP: Oregon Lawmakers Vote To Expedite Emergency Shelter Process
A lack of adequate shelter beds has long plagued Oregon. It was recently estimated that 10,000 people in the state sleep outside on any given night — a number that has likely increased during the pandemic. But on Monday, Oregon lawmakers passed a bill that will make it easier and quicker for communities to create emergency shelters and temporary housing. House Bill 2006, which the Senate passed 26-1, will remove barriers to siting shelters by temporarily adjusting land use laws and waiving some design, planning and zoning regulations. (Cline, 5/4)

KHN: In Appalachia And The Mississippi Delta, Millions Face Long Drives To Stroke Care 
Debbie Cook was in her pajamas on a summer morning in 2019 when she got a call from her son: “Something bad is wrong with Granny.” The fear in his voice told Cook it was serious. She dialed 911 immediately, knowing it could take time for an ambulance to navigate the country roads in Fentress County, Tennessee. (Pattani, Recht and Grey, 5/4)