Daily News Roundup: Jim DeMint Voted Out at Heritage Foundation

Influential Conservative Think Tank Officially Ousts President: After several days of internal turmoil, the Heritage Foundation board unanimously dismissed Jim DeMint, citing “significant and worsening management issues” under the former senator, The Washington Post reports. Ed Feulner, the nonprofit’s founder, will take the helm until a successor is named. A Wall Street Journal (subscription) editorial asserts that Heritage “went wrong” by turning from its original research mission to exerting political muscle.

Norwegian Mogul Pledges “Lion’s Share” of $2 Billion Fortune to Charity: Fisherman-turned-industrialist Kjell Inge Roekke’s philanthropy will focus on the marine environment, funding a research vessel managed by conservation charity WWF that will clear vast masses of plastic debris polluting the ocean, Money magazine writes, citing an interview Mr. Roekke gave to an Oslo newspaper.

H.F. Lenfest Promises $40 Million Match to Philly Newspaper Trust: The Philadelphia philanthropist pledged to match giving to the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which he founded last year to take over the city’s two major dailies and their joint website, writes The Wall Street Journal (subscription). Mr. Lenfest previously gave the nonprofit $20 million, and it has raised $26.5 million more from local donors and national journalism organizations.

Giving to British Universities Crosses Billion-Pound Threshold: An annual survey by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s Europe arm showed donations of £1.06 billion ($1.37 billion) to 110 institutions in 2015-16, up 23 percent from the previous year, The Guardian reports. The 10-figure milestone shows that philanthropy “is now at the heart of U.K. university culture,” said Tricia King, the council’s global vice president.

Pittsburgh Grant Maker Sharpens Regional Focus on Energy-Boom Jobs: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette looks at the how the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation has shifted resources into STEM-education and job-training programs aimed at linking oil and gas companies with technical talent across parts of four states. Read a Chronicle feature about Benedum and other foundations that are active in rural and post-industrial regions.