Ban

Lawsuit Against Florida School District’s Book Ban Granted Permission to Proceed by Federal Judge

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A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit against a Florida Panhandle school district can move forward over its removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities from library shelves. The Pensacola-based judge ruled on Wednesday that the writers’ group PEN America, publisher Penguin Random House, banned authors, and parents have standing to pursue their claims under the First Amendment’s free speech protections. However, the judge denied a claim under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The federal lawsuit alleges that the Escambia County School District and its School Board are violating the First Amendment … Read more

Federal Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Escambia County School District’s Book Ban to Continue, Protecting Free Speech Rights

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Pensacola, Florida – A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the Escambia County school district violated free speech rights by removing and restricting books in school libraries. The lawsuit, filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, five authors, and seven parents, seeks the return of all challenged and banned library books to the shelves. During a hearing at the federal courthouse in Pensacola, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II listened to arguments from both sides regarding the dismissal of the case. Wetherell ultimately decided to move the case … Read more

Tucson Judge Denies Request for Jury in Transgender Sports Ban Case, Prolonged Legal Battle Continues

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Tucson, Arizona – Republican Tom Horne’s efforts to limit transgender girls’ participation in school sports teams faced another setback last week. A Tucson judge denied his request for a jury trial. Horne, the state’s public schools chief, had asked federal Judge Jennifer Zipps to allow a jury for the case. He argued that regular Arizonans would not make the same mistake as Zipps, who had temporarily blocked a 2022 law prohibiting trans girls from playing on teams that align with their gender identity. In response to Horne’s petition, Zipps concluded that the case did not … Read more

South Korea Implements Ban on Dog Meat Slaughter and Sale by 2027, Ending Centuries-Old Tradition

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SEOUL (AP) — South Korea has passed a new law aiming to phase out the slaughter and sale of dogs for meat by 2027. The centuries-old practice of eating dog meat will finally come to an end under this legislation, which has been introduced to align with changing societal attitudes towards the consumption of dogs. In recent decades, the popularity of dog meat has declined significantly, particularly among young people who actively avoid it. The law makes it illegal to raise or slaughter dogs for consumption, as well as to distribute or sell dog meat. … Read more