(CBS DETROIT) – A pair of bills in the Michigan House, introduced by Democrats, aim to make it more difficult to implement book bans in our state. 

The bills would set requirements before books could be removed from shelves at community and district libraries but not school libraries.

“Depending on what they’re banning, I mean, if they’re banning pornography, I’m all for it, but if they’re banning our history, I’m against it,” said Doug Freeman, who was at the East Lansing Public Library on Tuesday with his granddaughter. 

The bills, also called The Freedom to Read Act, would limit who can challenge library materials to community residents, require challenges to certify they have read or watched the material they want removed, require library directors to decide what is on the shelves and only allow libraries to approve removals if the material has been determined to be obscene by the United States or Michigan Constitution. 

“In a way, it’s better to view it as more of a conversation between patron and library because we want to hear their voices, and a lot of times folks are just wanting to be heard and this is sometimes the way they feel most able to be heard,” said Chrissie Evaskis who works as a collection development librarian at the East Lansing Public Library. 

Evaskis-Garrett says that while libraries like hers already use some of the requirements outlined in the bill package, she feels it’s a good idea to make them law. 

“There’s this idea that we’re just willy-nilly out here purchasing whatever books strike our fancy, and we’re really not so kind of having those things codified, I think not necessarily protects us but the freedom of information in general,” said Evaskis-Garrett. 

Freeman doesn’t want to see one person make decisions about which books go on the shelves. He says it’s important to think of his granddaughter. 

“I want her to know the true history of our country,” he said.

MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee mom confronted the man who, she says, sold vaping devices to her underage son. Reason Hill wants businesses that sell to minors to be held accountable.

“I found out that this gas station was selling my son tobacco products, selling him vapes — he’s only 14,” explained Hill, a concerned mother who has worked as a nurse and says she knows the dangers of vaping.

“I’ve seen what it does to kids,” she said. “I’ve seen them have tubes in and out their body, on breathing machines.”

Watch: Milwaukee mom confronts an employee who sold vapes to her 14-year-old son

Milwaukee mom confronts an employee who sold vapes to her 14-year-old son and demands accountability

It’s why she didn’t hesitate to confront an employee of the Lover’s Lane Petro Mart who, she believed, sold vapes to her underage son.

She used her cellphone to record the confrontation and shared the video with Milwaukee police. Police confirmed to TMJ4 that they investigated and issued the employee a citation with a $691 fine.

MPD also filed a report ensuring the underage sale violation will be considered when the business is due for a tobacco license renewal.

Hill says it’s not enough. “Honestly, I feel like their tobacco license should be taken. My son is not the only one they’re selling vapes to, and there are a lot of kids in this area.”

Last year, the city of Milwaukee adopted an ordinance to limit where new vape and smoke sellers can open, blocking them within 1,000 feet of a school.

The village of Greendale has similar zoning restrictions and an ordinance that goes a step further—businesses can have their license revoked if they’re repeatedly caught selling vaping products to minors.

“We pride ourselves on being a very pro-business community, but we also want there to be basic regulations being followed,” explained Mike Hawes, Greendale village manager.

He says in the past 13 months, one particular shop, Smoke On, has been issued five citations for selling to minors. Last week, it led to the business surrendering its license to sell electronic vaping devices. “These are pretty basic standards that are in place for them to follow, and the other businesses have been able to follow it,” Hawes added.

When TMJ4’s Andrea Albers stopped at Smoke On, she was told the business had been sold, and the new owners didn’t want to speak to TMJ4.

The shop is about 600 feet from Martin Luther High School. Because it existed before Greendale’s zoning ordinance, it was grandfathered in. The village anticipates the new owner will apply for a new vape license but says it is no longer protected.

“We have advised them that according to our ordinance, we will not issue a new vape license to a business located within 1,000 feet of a school,” reiterated Hawes.

Hill applauds the repercussions in Greendale and wants Milwaukee to take note. In the meantime, she has a message she wants parents to hear: “We’re all our kids have. You know? At the end of the day—be responsible, get on stuff like this. This shouldn’t be happening, and put a stop to it. That’s it.”

Hill also reached out to Milwaukee Alderman Lamont Westmoreland, and he responded to her call for accountability. “I have a ZERO tolerance policy when it comes to selling any tobacco or vaping products to minors, and if I could ban all sales of those products in Milwaukee, I would do so tomorrow. In my view, these products are poison and are a menace to the health and wellness of our community,” Alderman Lamont Westmoreland said in a statement, noting that tobacco/vaping licenses are applied for at the city but are ultimately approved by the State of Wisconsin.

“I have worked closely with the Milwaukee Health Department, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the State of Wisconsin to address this issue and hold people accountable, and I will continue to do so. We must make it MUCH harder for a tobacco and vaping license holder to stay in business if they are caught selling to minors, and I will push for changes that give more control to local officials so we can better prevent outlets that are looking to sell this poison to our kids.”

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MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis woman is recovering in the hospital with several broken bones after a hit-and-run crash.

Julia Klatt Singer, a Minneapolis preschool teacher, poet and painter, said she was crossing Central Avenue at Second Street East on a green light after 4 p.m. last week. A large black SUV approached her as she was halfway through the crosswalk, she said.

“I just remember flying through the air and as I was flying through the air, I was thinking, ‘This was not how I’m going to die.’” said Singer.

Soon after, a crowd gathered around her to help. So too, Singer said, did the driver of that SUV.

“I heard a voice, I didn’t see the person, say, ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you.’” she said.    

But not long after, Singer said the driver disappeared. 

Singer is now laid up at Hennepin County Medical Center, covered in bandages and medical equipment. Her injuries include a broken heel and knee, and a fractured hip and vertebrae.

She has now been through two surgeries.

“I know he didn’t mean to hit me, but he just wasn’t paying attention,” said Singer.

Singer said she is incredibly lucky to be alive and is grateful to say she will eventually be back walking and biking.

She thinks whoever hit her got overwhelmed, scared and fled.  

It’s time now, she said, for that person to take accountability.

“I know it would make it so much easier for my family members because they feel pretty powerless, and they know what a long road of rehab I have, and it would just feel better to have that person come forward and say they had done it,” said Singer.

Minneapolis police said they are still investigating. So far, there have been no arrests.