Missouri lawmakers move to strip public library funding in retaliation The logic-defying statement by Scott echoed similar remarks he made in May. Sorth said state funding represents about $500,000 of the branchs $89 million budget. Missouri House votes to strip state funding from public libraries - KY3 Help us get essential knowledge into a world that needs revolution and healing make a tax-deductible donation today! Last fall, voters in Michigan rejected funding for the Patmos Library in Jamestown Charter Township after librarians refused to ban the book Gender Queer: A Memoir, a graphic novel about the authors journey with gender identity. We have hours left to raise the $12,000 we still need to keep Truthout whole. The COVID-19 pandemic has created safety and staffing challenges that may result in temporary location closures or changes in hours. Marshals arrested Sparks weeks later near Elma and Olive Streets nearly a month after his escape. Missouri Republicans threaten to defund public libraries in - MSN Notably excluded from DeSantiss wishlist are agencies like the Pentagon that fuel militarization. Republicans in that legislative body have said they would restore the cuts, but that promise was made before the budget was passed in the House. For assistance, please call the Engineering Library (573-882-2379). Republicans are retaliating against a librarians organization for suing the state over a law on book banning. News > Nation/World Missouri lawmakers move to strip public library funding in retaliation over book ban lawsuit. These are trying times, and we need to raise $12,000 to keep publishing our uncorrupted, uncensored journalism. Colors Hunter - Chasseur de Couleurs / Moment / Getty Images. In 2017, Chad joined the St. Louis Public Radio team as the fourth Race and Culture Diversity Fellow. The St. Charles City-County Library District, for example, said of the more than 1.1 million people who walked in the doors last year, only six requests were made by three people questioning the content of a book. Sorth said that no state funding is going toward the suit and that the ACLU is providing free legal aid. Storytime for Toddlers - 9:30am at Withers. If approved, the budget cuts would do real harm to communities across the state, particularly in rural areas that rely on state funding due to small tax bases, Missouri librarians have said. Olin Library exhibits second original Declaration of Independence And this is the first time Ive felt uniform solidarity, Kohlburn said. Federal court documents also say Sparks group distributed at least a kilogram of methamphetamine every day for nearly a year in the Kansas City, Springfield, St. Joseph, and St. Louis areas between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 12, 2018. The original rule allowed anyone to be able to challenge access to books. The proposal drew a sustained rebuke from libraries across the state. U.S. Libraries are a community hub where people can get assistance with a variety of services, including help with taxes during tax season, and computer and internet services. David Dayen refutes Missouris argument that its state agency MOHELA will be harmed by the debt relief plan. Controversy over story time at Henry County, Mo., Library Residents in the town complained that the library didnt have quality material on former President Donald Trump and that LGBTQ books were on display. The Albert George Branch Library (Needville) will close June 29-July 4 for minor repairs. Rent The Pointe (3rd floor) at Missouri City Branch Library? The decision comes as the student debt payment pause is slated to end, yanking away a chance at relief for millions. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. And it hurts their kids. The bill forbids teachers and staff members from discussing LGBTQ topics with students in grades K-12. The comments also led to Ashcroft changing a provision in the rule that focused on books that would appeal to the prurient interests of any minor., Now, the rule says no funds shall be used to purchase material that is child pornography or pornographic for minors.. Google Pay. January 28, 2021 Oregon: Driftwood Public Library Extends COVID-19 Closure Through February 5 (via DPL) January 21, 2022 Missouri: Columbia Public Library Temporarily Closing Due to Staffing Shortage (via KOMU) January 20, 2022 [] We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and . We often only know a few months out what our advertising revenue will be, which makes it hard to plan ahead. (And no matter how our work is funded, we have strict guidelines on editorial independence.) That challenges a 2022 state law prohibiting sexually explicit content in school libraries. ACLU sues Missouri sues school district over removing 8 books from Thats why, even though advertising is still our biggest source of revenue, we also seek grants and reader support. FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. ! ordinarily mild-mannered actor LeVar Burton, who hosted the popular PBS childrens program Reading Rainbow for decades, tweeted in response to the budget bill. And we cant do that if we have a paywall. If the bans arent as effective as theyd hope, they escalate to threatening to defund local libraries. The books being removed do not match any colloquial or legal definition of obscenity or porn or pornography, Meehan said. I think a rule of this magnitude deserves an open and transparent discussion. Ralph Yarl, the Missouri teen who was shot in the head after ringing the wrong doorbell, has spoken out for the first time in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America." Defunding public libraries would have significant consequences for rural libraries, Missouri Library Association President Otter Bowman said. If you also believe that everyone deserves access to trusted high-quality information, will you make a gift to Vox today? All of these incidents involve disputes over what Republicans deem inappropriate for children, though libraries usually have safeguards in place, according to Meehan. Submit a letter to the editor. So theyd be penalized twice. Any decrease in funding could also increase the already high turnover rate for library employees due to lower wages and force some locations to close on some days or run on limited capacity. University of Missouri system to end race-based scholarships after A federal jury convicted Sparks in November. Missouri Public Library Closures Due to COVID-19 Updated April 15, 2020 Library Name Branch Name. tried to dissolve the local library system. Get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day. Others were more direct in their criticism of the state GOP's actions against libraries. Chris Walker is a news writer at Truthout, and is based out of Madison, Wisconsin. . If there is no state aid to match, then they dont get federal funds. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Health Sciences Library Building Closing for Library Renovation You can also contribute via. Any school official, including librarians, who fails to comply with the law could be fined up to $2,000 and/or could be imprisoned for up to a year. Missouri's GOP-controlled House of Representatives voted this month to eliminate all library funding from its budget. Trevor Sparks escaped from theCass County jailon Dec. 6, while awaiting sentencing on drug crimes. Missouri House Republicans want to defund libraries. Here's why Conservatives Won a Landslide. The Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library is now CLOSED. 'Despicable and Dangerous': Missouri Republicans Vote to Defund State's He also enjoys graphic design, pop culture, film, and comedy. This is a far cry from the picture being painted in the media and by politicians and in no way justifies this overreaching action, wrote library board president Stacia Alvarez. According to the lawsuit, the law violates students First Amendment rights. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Its disturbing that the Houses decision to defund our libraries has become this political message. The lawsuit argues the Missouri law violates the First Amendment. It hurts Missouris librarians. He can be found on Twitter: @thatchriswalker. To protect libraries, we need to fight defunding as hard as we fight book bans. The Kansas City Public Library has closed its locations on Sugar Creek at 102 S. Sterling Ave., and on Trails West at 11401 E. 23rd St. effective immediately, after a staff member tested. This helps your books find a new home, and you might get something cool in return. Marie, an NCMC alum, holds as BSW (Bachelors of Social Work) and has been employed at NCMC for 21 years. At first I was in disbelief and then my blood ran cold because I thought of the terrible impact this would have, particularly on smaller libraries, but for everyone across the board. According to Bowman, most libraries already have policies in place to prevent sexually explicit materials from being a part of their collections, particularly when it comes to childrens sections. Under terms of that committee, the matter must be decided by March 10 whether a hearing is held. What is the rush to sexualize children and teens when they are yet so immature and incapable of handling situations that could ruin their lives going forward, wrote Kristina Klein, who did not provide an address. The stripping of funds for public libraries was donein retaliation over a lawsuitbrought forward by the Missouri Library Association (MLA), which, along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), is suing the state over a draconian law that bans hundreds of titles in public school district libraries, including books that discuss LGBTQ issues, racial justice and the history of the Holocaust. PEN America, a national nonprofit that aims to protect freedom of expression, released. Others support the idea, arguing that more controls are needed over content when it deals with questions of sexuality. Chris Walker is a news writer at Truthout, and is based out of Madison, Wisconsin. Outstanding Employee for June 2023 - North Central Missouri College Rileys decision is key to whether a 10-member panel of members of the House and Senate take testimony on an issue that drew an estimated 20,000 comments in support and in opposition to the rule Ashcroft proposed last year. They finally backed down after community. Those attending the program will have an opportunity to create their own secret message by arranging flowers in a tussie-mussie posy. Oops. The wedding website designer who brought the case has also never once made a wedding website. The Missouri law that librarians are currently challenging in court bans materials that the state has deemed sexually explicit from schools, including school libraries. To support all of these services, the state has consistently allocated more than $3.5 million each fiscal year since 2020. In March, the Sumner County Library Board in Tennessee voted to fire a library director after accusations of unkind treatment toward evangelist Kirk Cameron at a conservative library event. Library staff will talk about the meanings of different flowers and the history of how people have communicated with each other with flowers. Among the more than 20,000 pages of emailed comments, library officials slammed the plan. Associated Press articles: Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. Trevor Sparks escaped from the Cass County jail . As the right-wing fervor grows, can you help us defend truthful information and uplift the stories of movements for justice? Its not possible for me in my role to lay eyes on all 16,000, Riley said. After digging up a 1930s-era slot machine, a . There was a problem saving your notification. The original content of this program is licensed under a. We've been working all year to prepare for our library renovation and the time has come for us to close.
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