LA Voice: “A 21st Judicial District Judge has DISMISSED the defamatory lawsuit of a Livingston Parish middle school librarian’s defamation lawsuit against two men she says have attacked her in an effort to rally opposition to the inclusion of what they term “inappropriate” books in the Livingston Parish Library. In what has to be considered a major stretch…

TX Tribune: “Three Venezuelan migrants flown from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard last week filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida officials Tuesday after the firebrand Republican’s move to transport migrants to a Democrat-controlled state sparked national controversy and a criminal investigation. The lawsuit alleges the migrants were tricked into traveling on…

Political Wire: “Washington Post: “A favorite to win re-election, DeSantis is trying to assert his national influence, appealing to Trump’s supporters and touring swing states to headline rallies for other Republicans on the ballot this fall, as he subtly distances himself from Trump in speeches, while not explicitly criticizing the ex-president.” “Although neither has announced…

Off the Kuff: “Hope they’re all voters because it’s very clear who is on their side and who is against them. More Texans would benefit from President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive student loan debt than residents of nearly any other state — and 1.6 million would have their balances completely cleared — according to new White…

NC Policy Watch: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture will send more than $500 million in loans and grants to telecommunications providers to bring high-speed internet to rural areas across 20 states, Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday. The department will spend $360 million in grants and $141 million in loans through its ReConnect Program to benefit…

WaPo: “Career prosecutors have recommended against charging Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in a long-running sex-trafficking investigation — telling Justice Department superiors that a conviction is unlikely in part because of credibility questions with the two central witnesses, according to people familiar with the matter. Senior department officials have not made a final decision on whether…

Slate: “If Stacey Abrams had prevailed when she ran for governor of Georgia in 2018, she would have become the nation’s first female African American governor and likely gone on to become a household name in politics.  But Abrams lost that race—and is now easily one of the most recognizable thinkers and activists in the…

AL Political Reporter: “A coalition of numerous Alabama groups will deliver three petitions to the governor’s office this morning calling for transparency during executions and protesting the use of nitrogen hypoxia. The “Pull Back The Curtains” petition demands greater transparency in Alabama executions. The groups have launched the petition renewing the demand that media and other…

AL Political Reporter: “Two Alabama men and volunteer fighters in Ukraine who were captured by Russian-backed separatists during fighting near the city of Kharkiv in June have been released and transported to Saudi Arabia as part of a prisoner of war exchange between Ukraine and Russia, according to a statement from relatives and the Alabama congressional delegation. Andy Tai…

Arkansas Times: “Sixty-five years ago, nine teenagers braved Little Rock Central High School as its first African-American students. The historic desegregation of Central High will be commemorated with four days of events in Little Rock starting Thursday, Sept. 22. The National Park Service will present a number of events over the weekend under the theme “Silence is Not…