Texas
Texas residents are suing their county after books were removed and library board dissolved
The lawsuit, filed Monday in US District Court docket for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio, claims county officers eliminated books from the cabinets of the three-branch public library system “as a result of they disagree with the concepts inside them” and terminated entry to hundreds of digital books as a result of they may not ban two particular titles.
“Public libraries usually are not locations of presidency indoctrination. They don’t seem to be locations the place the individuals in energy can dictate what their residents are permitted to examine and study. When authorities actors goal public library books as a result of they disagree with and intend to suppress the concepts contained inside them, it jeopardizes the freedoms of everybody,” the lawsuit states.
Llano County Choose Ron Cunningham, county commissioners Jerry Don Moss, Peter Jones, and Linda Raschke; library system director Amber Milum and 4 members of the Llano County library board, Bonnie Wallace, Rochelle Wells, Rhonda Schneider, and Homosexual Baskin, are named as co-defendants within the case. They didn’t reply to CNN requests for remark. Llano County commissioner Mike Sandoval, who can also be named as a defendant within the swimsuit, declined to remark.
Within the lawsuit, Leila Inexperienced Little, a mom who lives in Llano County, and the opposite six plaintiffs argue that county officers eliminated a number of youngsters’s books final August in response to complaints from a gaggle of group members who described them as inappropriate. These titles embrace “Within the Night time Kitchen” by Maurice Sendak and “It is Completely Regular: Altering Our bodies, Rising Up, Intercourse, and Sexual Well being” by Robie H. Harris.
In an electronic mail to Cunningham and others, Wallace requested “all of the pastors to become involved on this. Maybe they will arrange a weekly prayer vigil on this particular subject. … Could God shield our kids from this FILTH,” the swimsuit alleges.
The lawsuit alleges the county suspended entry to e-books as a result of they “have been unable to take away two Krause Record books that offended their politics and private sensibilities,” dissolved its current library board and appointed Wallace and others who pushed for e-book removals, and closed the advisory board conferences to the general public.
Inexperienced Little, one of many residents who introduced the lawsuit, beforehand instructed CNN her group of anti-censorship residents attended county conferences, wrote letters to officers and requested public information in efforts to “cease the censorship.”
Along with attorneys’ charges and a court docket order declaring that the defendants violated their constitutional rights, the lawsuit seeks an injunction tailor-made “to finish Defendants’ efforts to monopolize {the marketplace} of concepts, and to make sure that as soon as once more there’ll ‘be the fullest practicable provision of fabric presenting all factors of view in regards to the issues and problems with our occasions,’ for all Llano County library patrons.”
The potential influence
“It’s a disgrace that this pointless tradition struggle has led to this, however we applaud the efforts of those people to make the most of the justice system to talk up and say with a transparent voice ‘sufficient is sufficient,’” Robinson stated. “We did not ask for this combat, however we’re definitely not going to put down and let subjective opinion and politics prohibit the liberty to learn.”
For Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America’s Free Expression and Schooling program, the lawsuit in Llano County may have a major influence on the present local weather and function a reminder of the constitutional protections that folks across the nation have.
Friedman instructed CNN there was “a sort of abrogation of responsibility” to uphold the First Modification and there was “little or no resistance” from officers when there are calls for to take away supplies from college or public libraries.
“Whether or not that is within the college board or whether or not that is in a library, any individual desires one thing gone and it seems to be going. At their conferences, there isn’t any resistance, there isn’t any friction, there isn’t any one in a few of these rooms saying ‘effectively, maintain on a minute, let’s ensure we train due diligence, due course of, take into account the sort of range of opinions as individuals who our establishment serves,’” Friedman stated.
NORTH TEXAS — In a couple of days, temperatures are expected to drastically drop. This weekend is a good time to get prepared.
Richardson homeowner Stephanie Brownell is now preparing her home for freezing temperatures while it’s still pleasant outside.
“I don’t like cold weather, so I’ve come out and I wrapped all my faucets and then put covers on them,” she said.
She’s also moved all her potted tropical plants inside.
“So for this freeze you’re going to want to bring in anything that’s tropical, tender vegetation such as house plants, and things like that,” Fort Worth Botanic Garden Senior Director of Horticulture Keith Brock said. “Most of your annuals will be fine.”
He said based on the forecast, water your plants now if you can.
“Water has insulating quality,” he said. “It also makes sure that plants are not under stress because like water, you want your plants in good shape when we get these kinds of temperatures. I would start no later than tomorrow.”
He said for the most part, outdoor plants don’t need to be covered. However, if there’s any concern based on the type of plant you have, you can always throw a frost cloth or an old sheet on it.
Brownell said her gardenias are vulnerable to the cold. She’s making the preparations now, hoping they pay off in the coming days.
After a quiet period in the NCAA transfer portal around the holidays, the Texas Longhorns are active again with a report from 247Sports that head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff are expected to host Florida State Seminoles transfer edge Marvin Jones on Friday.
Florida State EDGE transfer Marvin Jones Jr. is expected to visit Texas today, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.
The former five-star recruit, who is coming off a visit to Oklahoma, ranks as the third-best uncommitted defensive player in the portal. Had four sacks this year.… pic.twitter.com/pE8FUnd99M
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 3, 2025
The son of 10-year NFL veteran and former Florida State standout Marvin Jones, the younger Jones has one season of eligibility remaining. Jones previously took a visit to Oklahoma.
A 6’5, 255-pounder out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage in the 2022 recruiting class, Jones was ranked as the No. 24 player nationally and the No. 3 edge, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He chose Georgia over 32 other offers, taking official visits to Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma, and USC.
In Athens, Jones tallied 16 tackles, including 5.5 for loss with 2.0 sacks, playing in 12 games in 2023, including a start in the SEC Championship Game, recording 12 tackles, 4.5 for loss with 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry as a sophomore.
Jones transferred back to his home state to play for his father’s alma mater as a junior, but departed Tallahassee after the Seminoles finished last in the ACC with a 2-10 record overall and 1-7 mark in conference play. At Florida State, Jones started in nine of his 11 appearances despite some injury issues, totaling a career-high 25 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. Jones totaled 16 pressures and 17 defensive stops, including two sacks among four total pressures against Cal.
Texas has a need for edge at the edge position with the departure of Barryn Sorrell following the 2024 season and the entrance of junior Justice Finkley into the NCAA transfer portal. 247Sports ranks Jones as the third-best available defender in the portal.
The Memphis basketball team’s early season schedule has been one of the strongest in the country.
It has also featured an array of contrasting styles and looks. Coming off a commanding road victory over an FAU team that is more offensive-oriented, now the Tigers (11-3, 1-0 AAC) turn their attention to North Texas (11-3, 1-0), which prefers to focus more on defense.
The Mean Green travel to Memphis for a game Sunday (4 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2). It will be the only regular-season meeting between the two.
North Texas is coming off a come-from-behind win at home over UAB on Tuesday. The Blazers were the preseason favorite according to a poll of the AAC’s coaches to win the league. The Tigers earned a win over FAU on Thursday.
Here are three things to keep an eye on ahead of Sunday’s game.
The ‘blessing’ of having Dain Dainja
Memphis big man Dain Dainja feasted on FAU in the second half, scoring all 16 of his points during a 6:54 span.
The former Illinois and Baylor player is averaging 11.4 points per game (fourth on the team), and he’s doing it off the bench.
Coach Penny Hardaway has called it a “luxury” to have a player of Dainja’s caliber playing a reserve role. On Thursday, he went with a new word.
“What a blessing to have Dain Dainja coming off your bench,” he said. “At any time, he can get going. When he got his fourth foul, I left him out there and went with the two bigs (Dainja and Moussa Cisse). They did really well. Dain adds a different layer, because he can score the ball in bunches.”
How to capitalize on momentum
Memphis’ Tyrese Hunter said there was plenty of room for improvement after the FAU win.
The senior guard, who scored 20 points, rattled off a list of things: Keep the confidence level high, pay attention to the scouting report, and maintain the same energy level for a full 40 minutes.
But there was one item very clearly at the top of the list.
“Learn from your mistakes,” he said.
The Tigers committed 19 turnovers and gave up 25 points off those miscues. They also gave up 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points for FAU.
North Texas basketball scouting report
It’s all about the defense for North Texas.
The Mean Green are second in the nation in steal percentage (15.1%). Eight different members of the roster have registered 10 or more steals through 14 games, led by Latrell Jossell’s 23.
But the Mean Green can create turnovers in other ways. North Texas is fourth in the country in turnover percentage defense (24.4%), and its opponents are averaging 15.1 turnovers per game.
The latter is a top-50 mark in Division I. But Memphis has overcome turnover-minded teams. The Tigers committed 13 turnovers versus Ole Miss and 16 against Missouri but won both of those home games comfortably.
Scoring points is not something North Texas emphasizes. The Mean Green has put up more than 73 points just twice since early November and has only topped 80 points once this season against Mississippi Valley State. That’s partially because of personnel. But it’s also a result of coach Ross Hodge’s philosophy. North Texas plays at one of the five slowest paces in the country, which was also the case last season.
Memphis basketball score prediction vs. North Texas
Memphis 77, North Texas 68: The Mean Green can be a feisty bunch. But the Tigers at home will be more than they can handle.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group.
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