DEI

Florida cities and counties are facing new limits after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed laws targeting DEI programs and some climate policies. Here’s what changed.

The new law allows residents to sue local governments for violations, and officials funding DEI initiatives can be removed.

Attorney General James Uthmeier told the NFL its guidelines to improve diversity hiring in leadership positions are discriminatory and ordered the league to stop using it.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the changing political landscape for diversity initiatives in the U.S., but added that he didn’t believe there should be any legal issues with the league’s policy.

Attorney General James Uthmeier claims the policy encourages teams to hire nonwhite coaches, which would violate the state's employment laws banning discrimination.

Florida lawmakers passed a bill banning local government DEI initiatives. Officials violating the measure could be removed from office.

A bill that would ban cities and counties from actively participating or funding DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion events — passed the state Senate Thursday.

The state does a periodic review and makes recommendations about programs that should be considered for removal. Each university then decides whether to make changes.

Under a proposal moving through the legislature, the office would be renamed the "Office of Supplier Development." And its focus would shift from supporting women and minority-owned enterprises to Florida-based small businesses and veteran-owned businesses.

The proposal builds on Governor Ron DeSantis' years-long fight against DEI programs and policies and could shutter DEI offices that monitor equity in local hiring, block DEI grant programs and prevent local funding of certain local events like Pride parades.

As political polarization deepens, Sarasota-based nonprofit Conversations Across the Aisle (CATA) brings together people from across the political spectrum for facilitated dinners designed to replace debate with curiosity and understanding.

Among other things, the lawsuit claims Starbucks "has implemented employment policies that favor persons belonging to only certain favored races."