Off the Kuff: “A group of Texas parents has a mission: Let their kids follow their curiosity in school libraries. The Texas Freedom to Read Project launched in December to counter the statewide surge in book challenges and removals in public school libraries in the state…. Here’s the Texas Freedom to Read Project website again. The most important things…
Month: January 2024
“George Wallace Has an Heir Apparent”
NY Times: “It is not hard to find, throughout American history, Trump-like demagogues with loyal followings. And these men tend to represent, most often, the popular expression of a certain will to power — the freedom to dominate. In practical terms, this means the freedom of the settler to seize the land around him and…
“What Happened When One Community Defunded Its Library”
HuffPo: “Like many public libraries across the country, the main branch of the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library in Jonesboro, Arkansas, set up a variety of displays for Pride Month in June 2021. There were showcases of books by LGBTQ+ authors, an exhibit that explained the different community flags and a section of kids books…
“Forsyth County [NC] sheriff says they ‘owe an apology’ to inmates after uncovering identity theft scheme involving detention officers”
Fox 8: “Four people have been charged in connection with a fraud scheme that impacted inmates in Forsyth County, the sheriff said at a press conference on Wednesday. At least 18 inmates had their identities compromised after a four-month-long investigation revealed a conspiracy in the Forsyth County Jail involving at least two detention officers, a…
“Justice Department Finds ‘Unimaginable Failure’ in Uvalde Police Response”
NY Times: “A near-total breakdown in policing protocols hindered the response to the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 21 people dead — and the refusal to rapidly confront the killer needlessly cost lives, the Justice Department concluded on Thursday after a nearly two-year investigation. The department blamed “cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics,…
“Teen Boy’s Death At Mississippi Poultry Plant Leads To $213,000 Fine”
HuffPo: “The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday that it planned to fine meat processor Mar-Jac Poultry nearly $213,000 following a teenager’s death at the company’s Hattiesburg, Mississippi, plant last year. The 16-year-old boy was pulled into the rotating shaft of a machine while working on a cleaning crew in the plant’s deboning area July 14.”
“Speaker Mike Johnson urges Louisiana to ignore court order to create Black district”
Shreveport Times: “U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Benton is urging the Louisiana Legislature and GOP Gov. Jeff Landry to ignore a court order to draw a second majority Black congressional district because he wants to protect Republicans’ razor thin majority in the House…. “We’ve just seen, and are very concerned with, the proposed Congressional…
“Why Joe Biden Thinks He Can Flip North Carolina Blue in 2024”
The Messenger: “Joe Biden’s trip to North Carolina on Thursday is an official White House visit, but the underlying politics are clear: Democrats think Biden can win the state back from Republicans in 2024. It’s a reach, top Democrats told the Messenger – but it may be Biden’s best and perhaps only chance to expand…
“Judge in Trump Georgia case orders hearing on Fani Willis misconduct claims”
WaPo: “A state judge overseeing the election interference case against former president Donald Trump in Georgia has scheduled a hearing for Feb. 15 to hear evidence regarding accusations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis (D) and her lead prosecutor engaged in an improper relationship and mishandled public money.”
“Haley says US has ‘never been a racist country’”
CNN: “Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley claimed the US has “never been a racist country” during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday. Haley’s remarks were in response to MSNBC host Joy Reid’s comments on whether Haley could win the GOP nomination as a woman of color. Haley suggested Reid “lives in a different America than I do,” pointing…