Tovia Smith
Stories
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National
Biden administration adds Title IX protections for LGBTQ students, assault victims
The new rules also broaden the interpretation of Title IX to cover pregnant, gay and transgender students. They do not address whether schools can ban trans athletes from women's and girls' teams.
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National
American Library Association report says book challenges soared in 2023
Overall, the number of individual titles challenged in both school and public libraries spiked by 65% — the highest level ever recorded by the ALA.
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Arts & Life
In Georgia, a bill to cut all ties with the American Library Association is advancing
Several other states have made moves to disassociate from the nation's oldest library professional association. But Georgia's bill, the first of its kind in the nation, goes further than the others.
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National
The nation's last official lighthouse keeper retires this week
For 20 years, Sally Snowman has kept watch over Boston Light, which first illuminated Boston Harbor in 1716. She's the country's last Coast Guard lighthouse keeper and is retiring at the end of 2023.
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National
In the battle over books, who gets to decide what's age-appropriate at libraries?
There are efforts to change how decisions are made about which books libraries should stock and which section they belong in. Some advocate using a national rating system like the one used for movies.
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National
School book bans show no signs of slowing, new PEN America report finds
The number of bans and restrictions in the U.S. rose 33% in the last school year, according the the report. Florida had more bans than any other state.
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National
The plot thickens: The battle over books comes at a cost
No longer are just books under fire, but also the library administrators, teachers and long-beloved librarians who are defending them.
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World
What we know about the search for the missing Titan submersible
The hunt continues for the submersible that went missing on Sunday while journeying to view the sunken Titanic. "Banging" noises detected by rescue crews have caused them to expand their search.
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Politics
Library funding becomes the 'nuclear option' as the battle over books escalates
Some libraries are now facing an existential threat: They could lose their public funding over books deemed inappropriate for young readers.
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National
Wellesley students vote for the school to accept trans and nonbinary applicants
Students at Wellesley College voted this week that the women's school should accept trans and nonbinary applicants. Wellesley's president says there will be no change in policy.