National News
Page 39 of 81
‘We lost a member of our community’: Hundreds at OKC candlelight vigil mourn teen’s death
Sunday, February 25th, 2024
via The Oklahoman (Oklahoma)Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil in OKC's 39th Street District to pay tribute to an Owasso teen whose death has drawn widespread attention.
Book Bans
Downstate Illinois
Sunday, February 25th, 2024
via Chicago Sun-Times (Illinois)Starved Rock killer's conviction should be overturned because of a hair from one of four brothers, lawyer says. A hair recovered from the gloved left index finger of victim Frances Murphy belonged to one of four brothers from the area, according to a DNA test, and the only explanation is that someone else was involved in the 1960 crime, attorney Andrew Hale wrote in a letter to a Will County prosecutor. Brian Beals was convicted in the 1988 slaying of a 6-year-old boy in Englewood.
Book Bans
Washington Senate passes legislation pushing back on book bans
Friday, February 23rd, 2024
via The Columbian (Washington)Washington Senate Democrats on Thursday passed a bill meant to slow efforts to ban books in school classrooms and libraries.
School Board – General, Book Bans
American Library Association president hears about struggles and successes from Alaska librarians
Friday, February 23rd, 2024
via Alaska Public Media (Alaska)While Alaska faces unique logistical challenges, Emily Drabinski says many problems facing librarians here are happening across the country.
Book Bans
Some Republicans are voicing doubt over Alabama IVF ruling. Democrats see an opportunity
Friday, February 23rd, 2024
via Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)Some Republicans joined Democrats in expressing alarm over a ruling this week by the Alabama Supreme Court that jeopardized future access to in vitro fertilization, giving Biden allies new fuel for…
Book Bans, Parent Involvement, LGBTQ+
Friday AM headlines: Read-in at the Capitol protests book ban bill
Friday, February 23rd, 2024
via Utah Public Radio (Utah)In other news: A billion dollar bill to create an 'entertainment and sports' district in Salt Lake City has been filed in the Utah State Legislature.
Book Bans
Iowa House committee dismisses defamation complaint against lawmaker without discussion
Thursday, February 22nd, 2024
via The Des Moines Register (Iowa)In less than 2 minutes, the bipartisan Iowa House Ethics Committee voted unanimously to dismiss a complaint accusing Rep. Jeff Shipley of defamation.
Book Bans
Texas got a sex education update two years ago. Advocates say there are still gaps
Thursday, February 22nd, 2024
via Texas Standard (Texas)It's been two years since Texas implemented new health education standards for students, but advocates say the opt-in instruction still isn't comprehensive.
Book Bans, Sex Education
Spring Branch ISD has been embroiled in book banning debates for years. Now they’re firing librarians
Thursday, February 22nd, 2024
via Houston Chronicle (Texas)Spring Branch ISD to eliminate the position of librarian after this school year as part of ongoing budget cuts. But parents wonder if there's more to the story.
Book Bans
House panel reviews Freedom to Read Act in dramatic hearing
Thursday, February 22nd, 2024
via Maryland Matters (Maryland)Maryland House Ways and Means Committee held a bill hearing to discuss the Freedom to Read Act that's part of a "decency agenda."
Book Bans, Parent Involvement
Democrats propose tweaks to parental notification law, citing censorship concerns
Thursday, February 22nd, 2024
via Inside NoVa (Virginia)Over the past year, several Virginia school divisions have cited a 2022 state law that created a process for notifying parents of sexually explicit instructional materials in school libraries as
School Board – General, Book Bans
Utah book ban bill for public schools heads to Gov. Cox’s desk
Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
via The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)A bill that would overhaul the book-banning process in Utah and make it easier to ban titles in public schools statewide is headed to Gov. Spencer Cox's desk after the Legislature on Wednesday…
School Board – General, Book Bans
Scott Maxwell: DeSantis whines of ‘Book ban hoax’ chaos he created
Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
via Orlando Sentinel (Florida)Scott Maxwell: DeSantis whines of ‘Book ban hoax' chaos he created
School Board – General, Book Bans, Parent Involvement
Edmond Public Schools challenges Oklahoma State Department of Education’s attempted book ban
Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
via The Lawton Constitution (Oklahoma)EDMOND — Edmond Public Schools is asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to intervene in an attempt by state officials to ban two books from school library shelves.
Book Bans
‘False information and fear mongering’: Supporters, opponents tussle over literacy reform bill
Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
via The Boston Globe (Massachusetts)National observers are watching to see whether Massachusetts will join dozens of other states in passing a law to require 'evidence-based' reading instruction.
Book Bans
Utah Legislature OKs bill making it easier to ban ‘indecent’ books in schools statewide
Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
via Daily Herald (Utah)The Utah Legislature has approved a bill expanding on a 2022 law that allows parents to challenge 'sensitive materials' in schools, making it easier to prohibit 'criminally indecent or pornographic'…
Book Bans
Two Conway School Board elections are on the ballot
Tuesday, February 20th, 2024
via Arkansas Times (Arkansas)Voters will decide two races for the Conway School Board. Neither one of them is without controversy.
School Board – General, Book Bans
6 more books banned in Carroll public school libraries, bringing total to 9
Tuesday, February 20th, 2024
via Capital Gazette (Maryland)Decisions have been made about 25 of the 58 books that Superintendent Cynthia McCabe ordered removed from Carroll County public schools' library shelves last September amid challenges from th…
School Board – General, Book Bans, Parent Involvement
Maryland ‘Freedom to Read Act’ bill aims to protects books and librarians
Monday, February 19th, 2024
via The Washington Post (New Jersey)The 'Freedom to Read Act' of Maryland is proposed to protects books and librarians
School Board – General, Book Bans, Parent Involvement