TX Tribune: “When the Llano County Library shuts down for three days this week, starting Tuesday, it won’t be for the holidays. Instead, a group of six librarians in this small Central Texas county will be conducting a “thorough review” of every children’s book in the library, at the behest of the Llano County Commissioners…

WaPo: “Virginia Democrats are divided over whether to make an 11th-hour push to strengthen abortion rights in the state as they prepare to hand over control of the Executive Mansion and state House to Republicans. Abortion rights activists and some House Democrats are calling for the General Assembly to gather in special session before Republicans…

North State Journal: “Nine criminal complaints were filed on Nov. 30 with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office over what parents say are obscene and pornographic books in Wake County Public Schools libraries.  The complaints were all filed separately, with one being filed by Julie Anne, the of the Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty….

NBC News: “Acclaimed author and activist bell hooks died on Wednesday. She was 69. Hooks, whose real name was Gloria Jean Watkins, was born on Sept. 25, 1952, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Her first published work, a book of poems titled “And There We Wept,” was released in 1978. She went on to publish her first…

CNN: “Members of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol believe that former Texas Governor and Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry was the author of a text message sent to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows the day after the 2020 election pushing an “AGRESSIVE (sic) STRATEGY” for three state…

WDRB: “President Joe Biden toured two Kentucky towns Wednesday that were devastated by recent tornadoes, pledging federal aid for the recovery ahead and committing more U.S. government funds for short-term cleanup costs.  Standing in front of shattered homes in Dawson Springs in western Kentucky, Biden said he had authorized the federal government to cover 100%…

Dallas Morning News: “Nearly a quarter of a million people were incarcerated in Texas when the census was taken last year. When lawmakers redrew the state’s voting maps this fall, these inmates were counted in the prison towns where they were locked up, rather than where they lived beforehand. A Dallas Morning News analysis of census and…

WaPo: “Since he was sworn in on Jan. 1, [Jose Garza’s] office has obtained indictments of five Austin police officers, two county deputies, an assistant county attorney and a sheriff on charges including tampering with evidence and murder. His office is also prosecuting three additional officers who were indicted duringthe prior district attorney’s administration. And…

The News & Observer: “Jeff Jackson is walking away from the U.S. Senate race. The 39-year-old state senator from Charlotte is the second candidate in recent weeks to make that decision, which leaves former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley as the biggest-name candidate for the Democratic nomination. “Cheri Beasley is consistently leading in the…

WaPo: “Paul (R-Ky.) asked Biden to “move expeditiously to approve the appropriate resources for our state,” citing the “loss of life and severe property damage.” Among the communities affected was Bowling Green, where at least 15 people died when twisters landed just miles from Paul’s home. Dozens more lost their lives elsewhere in the state. The message…