News

City Arts show spotlights work of Central Florida Watercolor Society members

Wednesday, March 19th, 2025

via Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

Landscapes, flowers and abstract artworks will showcase the medium during event opening this week in downtown Orlando

Book Bans

Controversial policy on library resources passes at Pine-Richland School District

Monday, March 17th, 2025

via WTAE-TV Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania)

The Pine-Richland School Board voted to approve a policy change on library resources which had the crowd at the meeting divided.

School Board – General, Book Bans

Pine-Richland board gives itself final power over book selections at school library

Monday, March 17th, 2025

via TribLive (Pennsylvania)

After months of tumultuous debate, the Pine-Richland School Board voted 5-4 Monday night to pass a new library policy, amid outcry from community members who have labelled it a 'book ban.' The policy places the final power to add or remove district library books in the hands of the school

School Board – General, Book Bans, Parent Involvement

Oregon Republican lawmaker reads sexually explicit passage on House floor to call out bill that would ban book bans

Monday, March 17th, 2025

via The Oregonian (Oregon)

A fellow Republican called the lawmaker's comments "lascivious and obscene."

Book Bans

Virginia lawmakers direct researchers to review book bans, court funding, storm risk

Monday, March 17th, 2025

via The Daily Progress (Virginia)

Legislators have instructed the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to review books bans, court funding and storm risk.

Book Bans

Community holds the line against attacks on student rights

Monday, March 17th, 2025

via The Westerly Sun (Rhode Island)

In a show of resistance, community members packed the Chariho School Committee meeting in March to defend Title IX protections, trans and gender-diverse student rights, diversity, equity and inclusion…

Book Bans

African American reading event highlights Black stories for children

Sunday, March 16th, 2025

via Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Iowa)

Three children's book authors held storytime for a crowd of over 1,000. The event comes as a response to the Waterloo Community School District withdrawing from a similar event.

School Board – General, Book Bans

Mischaracterization, misfocus

Friday, March 14th, 2025

via Arkansas Democrat Gazette (Arkansas)

As Arkansans fine-tune our citizen initiative and referendum (I&R) processes, it's important to remember that there is no national consensus on I&Rs: Half the states don't allow popular initiatives at all. Among states that do, it's a hodge-podge regarding what kind of initiatives are allowed (for amendments, statutes or referendums) and what rules apply to each (direct or indirect, petitioning rules and deadlines, majority percentage required, etc.).

Book Bans

Removing books from schools isn’t a book ban, South Carolina Superintendent says

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

via The Post and Courier (South Carolina)

There's a big difference between removing pornographic books from schools and banning books, South Carolina Superintendent Ellen Weaver said at a women's event.

Book Bans

Removing books from schools isn’t a ban, SC superintendent says. She bristles at Nazi comparison.

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

via The Post and Courier (South Carolina)

There's a difference between removing books from schools and banning them, SC Superintendent Ellen Weaver said. She was offended by comparison to Nazi Germany.

School Board – General, Book Bans

Hawaiʻi School Libraries Are Shrinking When Students May Need Them Most

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

via Honolulu Civil Beat (Hawaii)

The number of school librarians in Hawaiʻi has declined dramatically over the past 20 years, despite an increased need to help students navigate misinformation and digital learning.

Book Bans

Ms. Freeman Goes to Salem

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

via Eugene Weekly (Oregon)

By Martha Freeman The hero of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a newbie U.S. senator who speaks on the Senate floor for 25 hours to save himself and democracy. I did not have 25 hours when I went to…

Book Bans

RI’s public employees reveal their creativity as annual art show returns. How to go.

Wednesday, March 12th, 2025

via The Providence Journal (Rhode Island)

A Department of Revenue worker who turns dried flowers into art. A fraud investigator who designs clothing. You'll find them and more at the art show.

Book Bans

Rafael Cruz, father of Ted Cruz, wants Texas to require school lessons about ‘evil’ of communism

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

via The Texas Tribune (Texas)

The prominent right-wing pastor told state lawmakers that an anti-communist curriculum is crucial to reaffirming that America is a 'Christian country.'

Racism, Book Bans

2025 Spring Arts Guide: Book Recommendations

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

via Washington City Paper (District of Columbia)

From Lavender Con to Black Broadway to Joni Mitchell—there are plenty of literature events sure to grow your TBR list.

Book Bans

Fearing federal DEI policies, Waterloo schools withdrew from African American reading event

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

via The Des Moines Register (Iowa)

Waterloo schools, a minority-majority district, declined to participate in the African American Read-In. The 1619 Freedom School is hosting its own instead.

Book Bans

In Roger Williams’ Rhode Island, banning books is a departure from our heritage

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

via The Boston Globe (Massachusetts)

Bills recently introduced in the General Assembly would make it harder to take books off of public shelves by requiring that people challenging reading materials live near the school or library…

Book Bans

Meet the 4 candidates running for Wisconsin Rapids School Board in the April 1 election

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

via Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (Wisconsin)

Incumbent Troy Bier will face challengers Craig Manka, Jaime Sparkes and Steven Wasmundt for two seats on the Wisconsin Rapids School Board.

School Board – General, Book Bans

The righteous right takes aim at Iowa’s public libraries

Sunday, March 9th, 2025

via The Gazette (Iowa)

A librarian organizes books that have been returned on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, at the Ladd branch of the Cedar …

Book Bans, Parent Involvement