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Native American group pleased with NY mascot case being referred to DOJ | New York

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www.thecentersquare.com – Tate Miller – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-20 08:15:00


The U.S. Department of Education has referred an investigation into New York’s effort to ban Native American mascots in schools to the Department of Justice. The Native American Guardian’s Association (NAGA), representing diverse Native views, supports this move, arguing that many Native Americans see mascots like “Chiefs” and “Braves” as symbols of honor and pride. NAGA contends that bans erase cultural visibility and ignore these perspectives. The investigation arose after the Massapequa School District was forced to remove its “Chiefs” mascot, which the district opposes. New York officials criticize the referral, but the Education Secretary states the state violated federal antidiscrimination laws and must comply.

(The Center Square) – A Native American group is pleased with the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to refer an investigation into New York institutions to the Department of Justice over the use of Native mascots in public education.

The New York Department of Education (NYDE) and the New York State Board of Regents came under fire “for their unlawful attempt to ban mascots and logos that celebrate Native American history,” an investigation that is now referred “to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement,” according to an Education Department release.

Vice president of the Native American Guardian’s Association (NAGA) Frank Blackcloud told The Center Square that “NAGA strongly supports the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to refer this investigation to the Department of Justice.”

NAGA is a nonprofit collective of American Indians aiming to “reserve the rich legacy of [their] ancestors and ensure that American Indian names, symbols, and traditions are honored – not erased,” according to its website.

Blackcloud told The Center Square: “We view [this referral] as a crucial step towards upholding free speech and ensuring that policy decisions impacting Native American heritage consider diverse viewpoints within our communities.”

“Attempts to impose sweeping bans often disregard the many Native Americans, including NAGA members, who find these symbols honorable,” Blackcloud said.

“This referral allows for a more thorough and just examination, rather than a unilateral decree,” Blackcloud said.

Additionally, Blackcloud said that “banning Native American mascots and logos is wrong because, for many, they represent honor, strength, and pride.”

“Names like ‘Chiefs,’ ‘Braves,’ and ‘Redskins’ were chosen to evoke admirable qualities like leadership and courage,” Blackcloud said.

“NAGA believes equating these terms with derogatory slurs mischaracterizes their intent and historical usage for many Native people,” Blackcloud said.

“Crucially, a significant portion of Native Americans do not find these symbols offensive; instead, they find them empowering and a source of pride,” Blackcloud said.

“Such bans stifle respectful cultural expression and ignore these diverse voices, leading to an erasure of Native American visibility rather than fostering true understanding,” Blackcloud said.

The investigation against NYDE and the New York State Board of Regents came about after “allegations that the Board was violating federal antidiscrimination law by forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its ‘Chiefs’ mascot based on its association with Native American culture,” as stated by the Department of Education.

When reached for comment, the Massapequa Board of Education told The Center Square that the referral of the New York investigation to the Department of Justice “represents another major step towards victory in Massapequa’s fight against New York State.”

“We look forward to prevailing in court and invalidating the State’s unconstitutional, discriminatory regulation,” the Massapequa Board said.

“In Massapequa, we are Chiefs,” the Massapequa board said. “That’s not changing anytime soon.”

New York State Education Department spokesman JP O’Hare holds a different view of the investigation and referral. O’Hare told The Center Square that “the referral of this matter to the Department of Justice shows that USDOE’s investigation was a farce from the outset.”

“To the extent that any investigation took place, it represents a blatant attempt to do a political favor for the Massapequa Board of Education,” O’Hare said.

“Rather than wrestling over mascots, maybe we could all focus on what’s paramount, ensuring our schools are inclusive and respectful for every student,” O’Hare said.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a Department of Education release that “both the New York Department of Education and the Board of Regents violated federal antidiscrimination law and disrespected the people of Massapequa by implementing an absurd policy: prohibiting the use of Native American mascots while allowing mascots derived from European national origin.”

“Both of these entities continue to disrespect the people of Massapequa by refusing to come into compliance with the Office for Civil Rights’ proposed agreement to rectify their violations of civil rights law,” McMahon said.

Blackcloud told The Center Square that there are “complex and varied opinions within Native American communities on this topic.”

“NAGA advocates for accurate and honorable representation,” Blackcloud said and that “banning these symbols often inadvertently leads to greater invisibility for Native Americans in mainstream society, counteracting the very goal of recognition and respect.”

The post Native American group pleased with NY mascot case being referred to DOJ | New York appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

The article primarily reports on the referral of the investigation into Native American mascots in New York public education to the Department of Justice and presents the perspectives of involved parties. While it includes dissenting views from New York State officials, the overall tone and framing lean toward supporting the viewpoint that opposes banning Native American mascots. The language and choice of quotes emphasize honoring tradition, free speech, and push back against what is described as an “unlawful attempt” and a politically motivated investigation. It highlights the Native American Guardian’s Association’s and Massapequa Board’s defense of these mascots as symbols of pride and respect, while framing opposition as dismissive of those Native voices. Thus, the article subtly favors a conservative, traditionalist stance that critiques what it depicts as governmental overreach and political correctness, aligning it with a center-right ideological perspective rather than maintaining strict neutrality.

The Center Square

Energy advocate applauds oil and gas commingling updates | National

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www.thecentersquare.com – Tate Miller – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-23 09:27:00


The Department of the Interior has updated oil and gas commingling rules under the Big Beautiful Bill to enhance energy production and safety. Commingling combines oil or gas from multiple sources for efficient processing, lowering costs and maximizing recovery while maintaining safety. Larry Behrens of Power the Future praised the reforms as beneficial for workers, families, and consumers. The updates, led by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Bureau of Land Management, align with Trump administration priorities to reduce regulatory barriers and promote energy dominance. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized balancing efficient production with environmental protection and stakeholder interests.

(The Center Square) – Oil and gas commingling rules have been updated in accordance with the Big Beautiful Bill in order to strengthen energy production and safety, with energy advocates’ supporting the move.

Larry Behrens from Power the Future told The Center Square: “These reforms are a win for workers and families because commingling allows domestic operators to produce more oil and natural gas at lower cost.”

Power the Future is a nonprofit dedicated to Americans working in reliable energy sources, according to its website.

“After the last four years of red tape and taxpayer-funded failures, America needs more energy,” Behrens said. “This move from the Department of Interior certainly helps deliver.”

Commingling is “the practice of combining oil or gas production from two or more sources into a single stream for measurement and processing,” according to a Department of the Interior news release.

The American Council on Renewable Energy, a group dedicated to energy forms like wind and solar, has not yet responded to The Center Square’s request for comment.

Behrens told The Center Square that “commingling lets producers use shared infrastructure, which will lower the cost of doing business and lower costs for consumers.”

“It can help maximize oil recovery while still maintaining safety and accountability through modern monitoring,” Behrens said.

When asked what else needs to be done for strengthened energy production, Behrens said that “some great next steps could be expanding existing capacity at coal plants to help get more power on the grid and continue their work to bring more reliable and affordable power online.”

“Thankfully, the Trump Administration has the gas pedal to the floor on the road to energy dominance,” Behrens said.

According to the Interior Department news release, the updates made to commingling rules “provide clear standards that support safe operations, improve efficiency and maximize recovery of America’s energy resources.”

The updates are intended to “strengthen energy production and safety.”

The updates are led by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

“BSEE has finalized a rule to clarify expectations for offshore commingling, ensuring production methods protect well integrity, safety and ultimate recovery,” the release said.

Meanwhile, the BLM “is issuing interim guidance to broaden commingling authority on public and tribal lands until updated regulations are complete.”

In addition to aligning with the Big Beautiful Bill’s provisions, the updates to commingling are in accordance with Trump’s executive order “Unleashing American Energy” and support “the Trump administration’s energy and regulatory priorities” by advancing the order’s goals, the release said.

The updates likewise “align with [Department of the Interior] Secretary [Doug] Burgum’s orders emphasizing safe, efficient and predictable oversight of oil and gas operations, reinforcing policies that remove unnecessary regulatory barriers while ensuring maximum resource recovery and environmental protection.”

When reached, the Department of the Interior referred The Center Square to its press release on the updates to commingling, as well as those that concern other recent efforts to “reinforce energy dominance, economic growth, and resource resilience,” as the department told The Center Square. For instance, the Interior Department recently streamlined oil and gas leasing “to advance energy independence and economic growth”; raised the annual Gulf of America revenue-sharing cap to “support coastal protection, restoration and infrastructure projects”; and set an energy leasing schedule “to expand American energy production and strengthen U.S. energy independence.”

In the release, Burgum said that “these updates make it easier to produce American energy without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, while at the same time protecting taxpayers, tribes and our shared energy future by ensuring production is safe, efficient and maximizes the long-term value of our resources.”

The post Energy advocate applauds oil and gas commingling updates | National appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

The article primarily reports on an update to oil and gas commingling rules with heavy focus on the perspective of energy advocates, particularly those aligned with industry and conservative-leaning policies. The tone and framing emphasize deregulation and expanding fossil fuel production as beneficial for economic growth, energy independence, and efficiency. It gives prominent space to Larry Behrens of Power the Future, a nonprofit supportive of reliable energy sources like oil and gas, and quotes that praise the Trump administration’s energy agenda. The piece also references Department of Interior initiatives and executive orders under Trump supporting energy dominance without providing critical perspectives or environmental concerns. Although it notes that a renewable energy group was contacted but not yet responded, the article does not explore arguments from environmental or progressive viewpoints. Hence, the language, sources, and framing suggest a center-right ideological stance favoring fossil fuel industry interests and deregulation, rather than neutral or balanced reporting.

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The Center Square

Georgia ICE arrests up 367 percent from 2021, making for ‘safer streets, open jobs | Georgia

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www.thecentersquare.com – Tate Miller – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-22 09:16:00


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in Georgia surged 367% in 2025, with 4,500 illegal aliens arrested between January 20 and July 31, compared to 963 during the same period in 2021. Jessica Vaughan, Policy Studies Director at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), highlighted that removing criminal aliens will improve public safety and free up jobs for Americans. DHS noted arrests included serious offenders such as drug traffickers and child molesters. Homeland Security officials credit Trump-era policies for empowering ICE to remove dangerous criminals and argue that increased enforcement brings national security benefits and fiscal relief to communities.

(The Center Square) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests surged by 367% in Georgia this year, with 4,500 illegal aliens arrested in the state between January 20 and July 31, compared to the  963 made under the Biden administration during the same time period in 2021, the Department of Homeland Security says.

Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies Jessica Vaughan told The Center Square that ”the big increase in ICE arrests in Georgia, particularly the arrests of criminal aliens, should have a noticeable effect on public safety, assuming that ICE is able to promptly process and remove them.”

The Center for Immigration Studies is an “independent, non-partisan, non-profit, research organization,” according to its website.

Vaughan said that “removing so many criminal aliens from the community will mean safer streets, safer playgrounds, and safer businesses for everyone.”

Vaughan told The Center Square that “the increase in ICE activity is noticed by other illegal aliens in the community, and many of them are realizing that even if they have not committed other crimes, they may be discovered and arrested, so they are deciding to go home on their own.

“This will open up job opportunities for Americans in Georgia, and relieve the cost to Georgia taxpayers of providing welfare benefits, health care, and education for illegal migrants and their families,” Vaughan said.

“The brunt of the problems from the border crisis under the Biden administration policies was borne by local communities, so now these communities can start to recover,” Vaughan said.

“We are stuck with American criminals, but those criminals who are here in defiance of our laws should be removed so they will not victimize more people,” Vaughan said.

According to a Department of Homeland Security news release, some of the “worst of the worst” arrested in Georgia include noncitizens who have been convicted of trafficking drugs, statutory rape, a hit-and-run, sexual battery against minors, and child molestation.

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in the news release: “Biden’s open border [policies] allowed Laken Riley’s killer to be in the country and gave him the opportunity [to] brutally murder the young Georgia nursing student.”

“President Trump promised to put Americans first and remove violent criminals from our country and that’s exactly what we are doing,” McLaughlin said.

“Thanks to his and Secretary [Kristi]  Noem’s leadership, ICE is once again empowered to remove the worst of the worst – including murderers, pedophiles, gang members, drug traffickers, and terrorists,” McLaughlin said.

Vaughan told The Center Square that “the accelerated pace of interior enforcement is a benefit to the entire country.”

“Illegal migrants who are security threats are being taken off the streets, illegal workers are being sent home, and communities will see some fiscal relief from the need to provide services and schooling to so many new arrivals,” Vaughan said.

The post Georgia ICE arrests up 367 percent from 2021, making for ‘safer streets, open jobs | Georgia appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Right-Leaning

The article presents a clear ideological stance that aligns with right-leaning perspectives on immigration enforcement. The tone and language emphasize the benefits of increased ICE arrests, framing them as improvements to public safety and economic relief for taxpayers. It highlights criticisms of the Biden administration’s immigration policies and praises actions associated with former President Trump and conservative leaders. Although it cites official sources and includes factual data, the selective emphasis on criminality among undocumented immigrants and the positive framing of aggressive enforcement reflect a right-leaning bias rather than neutral reporting.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

Erin: Key Outer Banks artery remains shuttered | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-22 08:31:00


North Carolina’s main route through the Outer Banks, N.C. 12, remains closed on Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands after Hurricane Erin caused flooding and sand buildup. Closures are between the Northern Ferry Terminal and Pony Pens on Ocracoke, and between Marc Basnight Bridge and Hatteras Village on Hatteras Island. Road reopening depends on sand removal and pavement damage assessment. As of 5 a.m., Hurricane Erin was transitioning to a post-tropical storm about 425 miles south-southwest of Halifax, with 90 mph winds and moving at 22 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended 125 miles from the center; tropical storm-force winds reached 370 miles. No coastal warnings remain.

(The Center Square) – North Carolina’s primary driving route through the Outer Banks on Friday morning remained closed on Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island.

N.C. 12 was washed over by water and sand from the ocean following the pass of Hurricane Erin. The closure on Ocracoke Island is between the Northern Ferry Terminal and the National Park Service Pony Pens; on Hatteras Island, it is between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Hatteras Village.

In addition to sand removal, pavement damage would determine how long sections of N.C. 12 are to remain closed.

In the 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, Erin was in the first stages of post-tropical transition about 425 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about 700 miles north of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds were 90 mph, and the movement had increased to 22 mph.

Hurricane force winds of 74 mph or greater were up to 125 miles from the center of the storm, and tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or greater had grown to 370 miles from the center. A gust of 56 mph was reported on Bermuda at Wade International Airport.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect on the Atlantic Seaboard.

The post Erin: Key Outer Banks artery remains shuttered | North Carolina appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The article provides a straightforward factual report about the closure of N.C. 12 due to the impact of Hurricane Erin. It relays information from official sources such as the National Hurricane Center without editorializing or inserting opinion. The language is neutral and focused solely on the event and its consequences, without promoting or criticizing any political stance or ideology. This adherence to objective reporting indicates no discernible political bias in the content.

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