Discrimination

The so-called Crown Act was signed by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe on July 9. Missouri became the 28th state to pass legislation that makes it illegal to discriminate based on the texture or style of one's hair.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe also signed a bill that seeks to support victims of college hazing, and a bill expanding the use of baby safe boxes.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases in the fall that test state laws banning transgender women and girls from participating in sports at publicly funded institutions. Both Missouri and Kansas have passed simii restrictions.

The case centers on a student in the Blue Springs School District. A 5-2 ruling from the state's highest court recently found that the Missouri Human Rights Act “does not cover claims based on gender identity," but it used a definition of "sex" that's more than two decades old.

The state could soon join 27 others banning hair discrimination if Gov. Mike Kehoe signs the proposal into law.

The bill includes a provision prohibiting discrimination against natural Black hairstyles. But many House Democrats argue it also contains language that could protect campus student groups that engage in discriminatory behavior.

The Republican bill was prompted by legislation in Kansas City and other communities that banned landlords from denying leases to renters on the grounds that they receive housing assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers.

A GOP-led bill takes aim at ordinances passed in several Missouri cities to protect tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income — especially tenants who use federal housing choice vouchers to pay rent. But portions of Kansas City would be exempted under the Senate version.

The future of hundreds of investigations into possible civil rights violations at schools across the Midwest, and thousands more nationwide, are in question after the Trump Administration shuttered seven of 12 Department of Education offices charged with running the investigations.

The Republican bill was filed in response to a Kansas City ordinance passed last year that bans landlords refusing to lease to prospective tenants solely based on them receiving federal housing assistance.

Andrew Bailey was questioned about his lawsuit against Starbucks that claims diversity hiring initiatives have caused higher prices and longer waits. “I’m just curious if white-served coffee tastes a little bit better,” one Ferguson Democrat asked.

The lawsuit from Republican Andrew Bailey alleges that Starbucks setting goals for the representation of people of color and women in its workforce and leadership amounts to illegal discrimination.