Texas has banned more books than any other state, new report shows
Across the country, more books have been challenged and removed as religious and conservative groups target LGBTQ and race issues. Full Story
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![Books at Vandegrift High School's library on March 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Residents sue Llano County officials, library director, board members to end book bans
A federal lawsuit claims Llano County public officials’ efforts to remove library books are a coordinated censorship campaign. Full Story
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![The Young Adults section at the Llano Public Library on Monday, Dec. 14, 2021 in Llano.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Texas students push back against book bans for censoring LGBTQ, racial justice issues
Students are forming banned-book clubs and distribution drives to contest restrictions that focus mostly on LGBTQ and racial themes. Full Story
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![Alyssa Hoy listens to another club member during the meeting in Vandegrift High Scool's library on Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2022. They discussed the banned book "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez and what they learned from the book's events and themes.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
ACLU wants North Texas school district to apologize for removing over 100 library books
Most of the titles focus on LGBTQ, race or identity issues. Though Granbury ISD said most of the books have been returned, the ACLU called on the district to affirm its commitment to inclusivity. Full Story
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![The GISD Administration Building in on Nov. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott taps into parent anger to fuel reelection campaign
Abbott promises a “parental bill of rights” amendment to the Texas Constitution. Current education code already provides an array of parent protections when it comes to schools. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Louie Gohmert said he’d run for attorney general if he could raise $1 million in 10 days. He didn’t get close.
The latest campaign finance reports in the Republican primary for attorney general came out this week. Full Story
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![Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, listens during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12, 2019.]()
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The push to ban books in Texas schools spreads to public libraries
Some Texas residents are asking for greater say in what titles appear on public library shelves. Full Story
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![Books on shelves at the Llano Public Library on Dec. 14, 2021. The Commissioners Court for Llano County voted to close the public library to conduct "inventory and catalog" their books after community pushback related to books that some deemed offensive. The pushback also led to a decision to immediately shut down an online library of thousands of books out of fears that children could access material not appropriate for children.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
San Antonio-area school district reviews 400 books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s inquiry
North East ISD, one of the largest districts in the state, appears to be the first one to respond to state Rep. Matt Krause’s investigation into the kinds of books held in school libraries. Full Story
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Republican state Rep. Matt Krause drops out of attorney general’s race to run for Tarrant County district attorney
Krause had been among the primary challengers to Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal problems have made him a target for both parties next year. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, on the House floor on Aug. 9, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
UT-Austin professors criticize university for halting antiracism study with preschoolers
The decision to halt the study comes after a University of Michigan-Flint professor filed an Office for Civil Rights complaint against the study, arguing it discriminates against children of color. But professors said pausing the study sets a negative precedent that could impact academic freedom. Full Story
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![The statue of George Washington outside the University of Texas at Austin Main Building on July 16, 2020.]()
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Penguin parents, anti-bullying tips, teen romance: What we found inside three books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s schools inquiry
State Rep. Matt Krause is investigating whether Texas school districts have purchased any of nearly 850 books in a list he produced last month. Full Story
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![And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Avoiding Bullies?: Skills to Outsmart and Stop Them by Louise A Spilsbury.]()
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How a YA oral-sex scene touched off Texas' latest culture war
A coming-of-age memoir by a California writer has been seized upon by politicians who want greater control over the kinds of books available in Texas schools. Full Story
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![Gender Queer a Memoir by Maia Kobabe on Nov. 12, 2021.]()
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U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert exploring run against Attorney General Ken Paxton in increasingly crowded GOP primary
Land Commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and state Rep. Matt Krause are also vying for the GOP nomination next year. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott tells state agencies to develop standards to block books with "overtly sexual" content in schools
Abbott targeted two books that have been removed by schools recently that center on LGBTQ characters. One of the books includes a graphic illustration and the other includes depictions of sex. Full Story
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![Shelves filled with books at a school library in San Marcos.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott chastises school board group with vague accusation of “pornographic images” in library books
Abbott’s letter comes on the heels of an inquiry launched by state Rep. Matt Krause, a Fort Worth Republican running for Texas attorney general. Krause sent a letter to certain school districts with an 850-book list that included novels about racism and sexuality. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott holds a press conference in Dallas on unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border on March 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Carly May for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Previewing the Texas abortion law’s day in the U.S. Supreme Court
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Reese and Brian about Monday’s oral arguments in the Supreme Court over the state’s near-total abortion ban and a lawmaker’s request to investigate books in school libraries. Full Story
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![The Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Matt Krause’s campaign for attorney general comes with a reading list
State Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican candidate for attorney general, wants public schools to explain some of the books in their libraries. He's got questions about content, along with a way to get some attention from voters. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, reads proposed legislation while on the House floor on July 29, 2021.]()
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Attorney General Ken Paxton’s three Republican challengers criticize his legal problems — and pitch themselves as the best GOP nominee
Paxton is facing challenges from three fellow Republicans in his bid for a third term. In interviews at The Texas Tribune Festival, they each took him to task for the legal problems he has accrued in office, with two saying he should resign. Full Story
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![The Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
House Freedom Caucus member Matt Krause challenges Ken Paxton for Texas attorney general
The Fort Worth lawmaker, who has been close to Paxton, is the third serious primary challenger to emerge. Full Story
![State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, reads proposed legislation while on the House floor on July 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
What is gender-affirming medical care for transgender children? Here’s what you need to know.
Gender-affirming care, which leading health care organizations in Texas say is the best way to provide care to transgender children, is emerging as a top target of state Republicans and lies at the heart of brewing political and legal battles. Full Story
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![A Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, treats a patient in Austin on Nov. 8th, 2012.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune
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