Southwest
'Libs of TikTok' creator appointed to Oklahoma library advisory committee
The creator of social media account Libs of TikTok was appointed to a position in the Oklahoma State Department of Education on Tuesday.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced that Chaya Raichik was appointed to the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s (OSDE) Library Media Advisory Committee (LMAC).
Walters posted a press statement on his X account, adding that he appointed Raichik because she was on “the front lines showing the world exactly what the radical left is all about – lowering standards, porn in schools, and pushing woke indoctrination on kids.”
Walters sent Fox News Digital a statement about the appointment.
“Chaya Raichik and I have developed a strong working relationship to rid schools of liberal, woke indoctrinators, union smut peddlers, and Epstein Island advocates. Oklahoma is ground zero to take back our schools from the radical leftists. I am proud to have her as a fierce defender of conservative values,” he said.
Chaya Raichik, creator of the TikTok account LibsOfTiktok, speaks during a news conference outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photographer: Anna Rose Layden/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
‘LIBS OF TIKTOK’ CREATOR, CHAYA RAICHIK, NOW HELPING FAMILIES TO ‘SPOT PREDATORY BEHAVIOR’
Walters’ office explained to Fox News Digital that the LMAC is a “volunteer advisory board” hand-picked by the superintendent himself. It consists of parents, librarians, and English literature teachers.
The committee was established to guide the Oklahoma State Board of Education in their curation of books and materials within K-12 schools and is “aimed at removing pornographic or sexualized content from public schools in the State of Oklahoma.”
Raichik is the woman behind the “Libs of TikTok” social media account, which gained popularity for exposing controversial elements in the education system, such as sexually explicit material in books.
“Libs of TikTok” often reposts TikTok videos of left-wing users espousing their thoughts on cultural and racial issues.
“We will get porn out of schools,” Raichik said in reaction to the announcement.
Raichik formerly worked as a real estate agent in Brooklyn. She launched @LibsofTikTok on X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2021.
“Libs of TikTok” has garnered over 2.8 million followers since its creation.
LIBS OF TIKTOK FOUNDER SAID SHE’S DONE HIDING BEHIND ACCOUNT: ‘I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE FIGHT THIS AGENDA’
The book ban issue has been prevalent in red states such as Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina, where local school boards took up the issue. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Walters’ decision came after he called for eliminating “woke” library standards from Oklahoma schools, guidelines developed by the American Library Association.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted in March last year to require schools to notify parents about their child’s gender identity or pronouns and to ban “pornographic material” and “sexualized content” from school libraries.
Both policies were proposed by Walters.
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters called for eliminating “woke” library standards from Oklahoma schools, guidelines developed by the American Library Association. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
The appointment of Raichik was met with push back from some lawmakers, with one questioning Raichik’s qualifications.
Democratic state Rep. Mickey Dollens questioned Walters’ decision to appoint someone who he claimed lacked an educational background to the advisory committee.
“Why did Superintendent Walters appoint a social media influencer to the state’s Library Media Advisory Committee? What are her qualifications? Is she a librarian? No. Education background? No. Does she even live in Oklahoma?” Dollens said. “No. Is she a right-wing extremist social media influencer responsible for perpetuating repeated bomb threats on Oklahoma public schools? Yes. We cannot overlook why Superintendent Walters made this controversial appointment,” he said.
Read the full article from Here
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
-
A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
-
San Diego, CA3 minutes agoCounty Leaders Still Eyeing County-Backed Tax Hike
-
Milwaukee, WI6 minutes agoWe must have answers before awarding new wastewater contract | Opinion
-
Atlanta, GA11 minutes agoSemi-truck, train collide in fiery crash in SW Atlanta
-
Minneapolis, MN18 minutes agoReform, money and trust: Council members’ key criteria for Minneapolis’ next police chief
-
Indianapolis, IN21 minutes agoCiara Myst is Indianapolis’ shapeshifting superstar on social media, too
-
Pittsburg, PA26 minutes agoWoman accused of stealing nearly $300,000 from Penn Hills refrigeration company
-
Augusta, GA33 minutes agoAugusta leaders take another look at downtown paid parking
-
Washington, D.C36 minutes agoDC unveils new government website to ‘eliminate alphabet soup’ – WTOP News
