Idaho

Why I’m Thrilled My Pulitzer-Winning Book Has Been Banned

Published

1 year ago

February 17, 2023

I’ve to confess that just a few days in the past, once I first noticed the record of books banned in colleges in Kuna, Idaho, I used to be somewhat stunned, given it was revealed again in 1991. Even so, I used to be thrilled to be no 1—Maybe a revival was coming my means! Then I noticed that my e-book, A Thousand Acres, was on the high as a result of the record was alphabetical, not so as of shockingness. However it’s a good record to be on—Toni Morrison! Judy Blume! Thanks, banners!

Most authors know that banning books can improve gross sales, so right here’s hoping. So far as I do know, the one different time A Thousand Acres was banned was in Texas, not lengthy after publication. The rationale given was as a result of intercourse and violence within the e-book. Hmmm. Perhaps the writer ought to have written on the title web page “This novel is rated R. These below 17, have to be learn to by a guardian.”

Most mother and father additionally know that when your youngster is a teen, as quickly as you inform her or him to not do one thing, they go straight exterior and do it. A neighbor who lives up the hill behind our home recalled the occasions he noticed one in every of our sons sitting on the roof and smoking (properly, at the least our son wasn’t contaminating the indoor air—and he doesn’t smoke anymore). So with a bit of luck numerous youngsters in Kuna will learn the record, scratch their heads, and hitchhike to Boise to get a duplicate.

I had thought of writing a contemporary retelling of King Lear for some time earlier than I truly did it, however then I used to be driving by means of northern Iowa, from Minneapolis, and I regarded round and mentioned, “Oh, right here’s the place I ought to set that Lear e-book!” There was loads of farm land for a father and his three daughters to struggle over.

After I wrote A Thousand Acres, my objective was to not disrespect Mr. Shakespeare (or Uncle Invoice, as I name him) however to offer King Lear’s daughters Goneril and Regan a voice. So, is the concept of ladies telling their very own tales and having their very own opinions an issue in Kuna?

Oddly sufficient, my grandmother grew up in Idaho, and she or he cherished it—particularly the small city of Hailey, which is about 100 miles east of Kuna. My grandmother went to Albion State Academics Faculty, and taught elementary faculty in Shoshone, the place she met my grandfather. She by no means had any issues expressing herself, and by no means stopped any of her kids and grandchildren from studying, writing, and having their very own opinions. I feel she can be embarrassed on the concept of e-book banning in her much-beloved state.

A Thousand Acres is just not a YA novel, but when it’s important to learn Hamlet or King Lear in highschool (and I did), then you already know that even when your personal life is secure and nice, the lives of many individuals will not be—“To be or to not be” appears to be a query for lots of youngsters as of late. So are the parents in Kuna going to ban Uncle Invoice, too?

What you be taught from literature is just not despair however how despair feels and works, tips on how to perceive that issues and moods that you’re having will not be yours alone—different folks have the identical issues (and animals, too—why aren’t they banning Black Magnificence?)

The 2 primary characters of A Thousand Acres, Ginny and Rose, have completely different responses to the trauma they’ve endured—one is vengeful and the opposite one is considerate and, in some sense, forgiving. Which one is being banned?

Oh, properly. I assume that the banners in Kuna need their teenagers to return to studying the Bible. There’s nothing like struggle, human sacrifice, homicide, rape, and genocide to perk a child up. To not point out animal sacrifice—nobody within the Bible appears to have been a vegan (Let’s not neglect Hebrews 9:22—“with out the shedding of blood there isn’t any forgiveness”.

Perhaps the subsequent e-book banned in Kuna can be Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation: The Definitive Basic of the Animal Motion. Oh, proper—wildlife hunters and gun house owners are 61 p.c of the inhabitants (that’s 1.1 million gun house owners). Properly, I hope they ban it, as a result of then perhaps these teenagers will learn it.

Maybe the e-book I’d ban is the Bible, however why trouble? All of the books floating round on the planet find yourself within the palms of people that learn them, do their finest to grasp them, and make up their very own minds. Everybody ought to have the liberty to try this.

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Idaho

Missing 12-year-old girl returns home – East Idaho News

Published

2 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Missing 12-year-old girl returns home – East Idaho News

UPDATE

The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office reports the girl has returned home.

ORIGINAL STORY

BLACKFOOT – The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help in finding a 12-year-old who ran away.

Dorothy Nunez left her home around 6 p.m. Monday on a blue BMX-style bike from the area of 1550 North. She was riding toward the river near 715 East, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dorothy has shoulder length blonde hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black dress that is long in the back with cut off sleeves.

Anyone with information on Dortothy’s whereabouts is asked to call the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 785-1234.

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Idaho

New library legislation sparks outrage and protests from Idaho Democrats – Local News 8

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2024

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New library legislation sparks outrage and protests from Idaho Democrats – Local News 8

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)—Idaho Democrats have launched a statewide day of protests in response to the new library bill that went into effect Monday morning.

Protestors have gathered outside of libraries across the state to protest the enactment of House Bill 710.

The law is intended to prevent minors from obtaining age inappropriate material. Under the new legislation, parents or children to take legal action if libraries don’t move the materials to a section designated for adults only.

If found at fault, the library must pay a mandatory $250 fine, and complainants can be awarded uncapped damages.

State Democrats have called the law a “direct attack” on Idahoan freedoms.

“The library book bounty, passed by Republican politicians, is a direct attack on our freedom to make decisions for ourselves and our families,” said Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea. “We are standing up to protect our libraries from the book banners, support our librarians, and ensure that our children have access to a broad range of books that reflect diverse perspectives.”

As part of the day of action, Democrats say they are calling out the GOP legislators who voted for the bill. Local News 8 reached out to several state representatives for comment.

Representative Wendy Horman says the law defines “obscene” using the Miller test (A primary legal test established by the Supreme Court for determining whether a book or other form of expression is pornagraphic).

Horman denies claims by state Democrats that the law is the equivalent of a book ban. She believes the new legislation is necessary for keeping mature material out of the hands of minors.

“We’re not preventing parents if they want to go to the bookstore and buy these books to show their children or request, from the library,” said Horman. “Back in the day, pornography used to be in the checkout stands in grocery stores, and, there were laws passed that said you just need to put it behind the counter. And that’s the equivalent of what we’re asking here, is that children be protected from, materials that are obscene and inappropriate for their age.

In the last five years, the number of challenged books in American libraries has risen exponentially.

In 2020, a total of 156 books were challenged. In 2023 that number rose to 4,240 according to the American Library Association.

For a full list of challenged and banned books, click HERE.

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Idaho

Idaho Transportation Department seeks feedback on draft seven-year transportation plan

Published

16 hours ago

July 1, 2024

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The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking feedback on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The ITIP outlines the state’s transportation priorities and guides investment decisions for the next seven years through 2031. ITD encourages everyone to review the draft and provide comments July 1-31.

Transportation projects included in the draft ITIP range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of new guardrail. Projects are located throughout Idaho’s 44 counties and involve all modes of transportation. Project selection is determined through technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

Visit itd.idaho.gov/funding to view an interactive map to learn about projects and submit a comment through the portal.

This draft ITIP shows plans for $6.9 billion in funding, including $200 million dedicated to pavements and $100 million dedicated to bridges each year.

Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney confirmed, “With the growth of traffic accelerating the need for improvements and the impacts of inflating costs since 2020, the added annual investment in highway pavement and bridge repairs proposed in this draft ITIP plan will provide the Idaho Transportation Board effective options to consider looking ahead for Idaho.”

Comments can be emailed to itipcomments@itd.idaho.gov, recorded at 208-334-8063 or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Abby Peterson
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID  83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be available at regional offices and provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department at 208-334-4455.

All comments will be reviewed and incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate. Responses will be sent by September.

After approval by the Idaho Transportation Board in September, the ITIP will then be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency in October.

Public input is crucial in ensuring that the ITIP includes the prioritized needs of Idaho’s communities.

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