Operation Phobos

Right-wing activists have been working in recent years to remove what they say are objectionable books from local libraries -- but it turns out that a tiny number of them are responsible for most of the book ban requests.

New laws imposed by right-wing state legislatures have been a driving force behind a rise in book bans since the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, a national free expression group reported Thursday.

The Department of Education is warning that a Georgia school district's ban of books related to race and sexual orientation creates a "hostile environment" for students that could constitute a violation of federal civil rights law, reported The Washington Post on Monday.

The authors of bills in both legislative chambers say their bills’ aim is simple: keeping sexually explicit content off school bookshelves. But opponents say the legislation is vague and broad enough to wreak havoc.