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Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Texas House passes school library bill, intensifying US battle over who decides what students read
The Texas House gave preliminary approval on May 27, 2025, to a bill that would shift significant control over public school library materials from professional librarians to school boards and parents. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The bill, known as Senate Bill 13, was passed in an 87-57 vote and now heads back to the Senate for final approval. The legislation is part of a growing national debate over what books students should be allowed to access in public schools. Supporters argue the bill gives parents and local communities more say in their children's education, while critics warn it could lead to overbroad bans on important literary and historical works. Bill gives school boards final authority on book removals Senate Bill 13 would grant school boards, rather than librarians, the final authority to approve or remove books from school libraries. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the bill establishes a process for responding to complaints about library materials and allows school boards to either make final decisions themselves or delegate responsibility to local school advisory councils. These councils could be formed if 20% of parents in a district sign a petition — a requirement added in a House committee. The original Senate version had mandated the creation of such councils outright. The bill also includes detailed definitions of 'harmful material' and 'indecent content,' which prompted concern among Democratic lawmakers. They warned that vague language could lead to the banning of classic titles such as The Catcher in the Rye, Lonesome Dove, and even the Bible. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Debate over 'community values' and censorship risks During House floor discussion, Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, warned the bill's language requiring that approved books align with 'local community values' could enable small but vocal groups to drive decisions. 'If your answer to 'could Romeo and Juliet be banned,' if it is anything other than 'of course not,' then that is a serious problem,' Talarico said, as quoted by the Texas Tribune. Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, expressed concern that what may be considered inappropriate for a five-year-old may not be for a 17-year-old, highlighting the danger of a one-size-fits-all approach. According to the Texas Tribune, she warned the bill could result in sweeping bans based on inconsistent standards. Amendments fail, while parental rights are emphasized Several proposed amendments to soften the bill's language around profanity and indecency were rejected. Rep. Brent Money, R-Greenville, unsuccessfully proposed reducing the threshold for creating advisory councils from 20% of parents to just 50 signatures, and restricting membership to petition signers only, the Texas Tribune reported. Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, the bill's House sponsor, defended the legislation, saying it prioritizes children over controversial books. 'We should cherish and value our kids more, and Senate Bill 13 will do exactly that,' Buckley said, as quoted by the Texas Tribune. He dismissed fears of banning classics as a 'red herring.' Bill linked to broader effort to restrict explicit content The bill builds on House Bill 900, passed in 2023, which aimed to keep 'sexually explicit' materials out of school libraries. That law was partially blocked by a federal appeals court over its proposed book rating system. Opponents, including library advocates and civil rights groups, warn that SB 13 could create administrative delays, as school boards will be required to rule on each book within 90 days of a complaint. During the 2023–24 school year, Texas schools banned roughly 540 books, according to PEN America. SB 13 is among the legislative priorities of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. With its approval by the House, the bill now returns to the Senate for final passage.
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Millionaire contestant forced to guess tricky £32k question – but would you get it?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up A WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire player was forced to make a guess after burning through half their lifelines - would you have got it right? Air traffic controller Mike Hayes from Altrincham made it through to the famous black chair and all the way up to the £125k question. 3 Jeremy asked the £32k question - which left Mike momentarily stumped Credit: ITV 3 After using half his lifelines on the previous question, Mike was reluctant to use up any more, so he took a guess Credit: ITV But it was the £32k question that left him momentarily stumped. Host Jeremy Clarkson read: "Which literary character is the narrator of the J.D Salinger novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'? The choices were: Nick Carraway, Scout Finch, Holden Caulfield, Esther Greenwood. Despite reading the novel 30 years ago, Mike struggled to recall the author. After using half his lifelines on the previous question, Mike was reluctant to use up any more. So, he took a punt without using any of his remaining lifelines and guessed Holden Caulfield. Jeremy said: "It's funny how these facts live in our heads. That was correct, well done." Later in the show, Mike reached the £125k question - but with no lifelines remaining. So, he decided to happily walk away with the whopping amount money. The episode also featured contestant Faridah Oyetunji, a bio medical science student from Abbey Wood. Millionaire player forced to make a guess after using lifeline on 'easy' £2k soap question - would you have got it correct- She made it through to the famous black chair after winning fastest finger first. Faridah struggled from the start and had to use her audience life line to answer the £300 question. Jeremy asked: "Which of these are traditionally swapped by opposing players at the end of a football match? The choices were Shirts, Shorts, Boots or Socks and not being a big football fan, the audience helped her correctly choose shirts. Hardest Quiz Show Questions Would you know the answers to some of quizzing TV's hardest questions Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Earlier this year, fans were left outraged after what they described as the "worst" question in the show's history. Host Jeremy Clarkson asked: 'From the 2000 awards ceremony onwards, the Best Actress Oscar has never been won by a woman whose surname begins with which one of these letters?' The multiple choice answers were between G, K, M and W. In the end, and with the £32,000 safe, player Glen had to make a guess and went for G. It turned out to be correct as Nicole Kidman, Frances McDormand and Kate Winslet are among the stars who have won the Best Actress gong since 2000. - Earlier this year, fans were left outraged after what they described as the "worst" question in the show's history. Host Jeremy Clarkson asked: 'From the 2000 awards ceremony onwards, the Best Actress Oscar has never been won by a woman whose surname begins with which one of these letters?' The multiple choice answers were between G, K, M and W. In the end, and with the £32,000 safe, player Glen had to make a guess and went for G. It turned out to be correct as Nicole Kidman, Frances McDormand and Kate Winslet are among the stars who have won the Best Actress gong since 2000. The 1% Club - Viewers of Lee Mack's popular ITV show were left dumbfounded by a question that also left the players perplexed. The query went as follows: "Edna's birthday is on the 6th of April and Jen's birthday falls on the 15th of October, therefore Amir's birthday must be the 'X' of January." It turns out the conundrum links the numbers with its position in the sentence, so 6th is the sixth word and 15th is the fifteenth word. Therefore, Amir's birthday is January 24th, corresponding to the 24th word in the sentence. - Viewers of Lee Mack's popular ITV show were left dumbfounded by a question that also left the players perplexed. The query went as follows: "Edna's birthday is on the 6th of April and Jen's birthday falls on the 15th of October, therefore Amir's birthday must be the 'X' of January." It turns out the conundrum links the numbers with its position in the sentence, so 6th is the sixth word and 15th is the fifteenth word. Therefore, Amir's birthday is January 24th, corresponding to the 24th word in the sentence. The Chase - The ITV daytime favourite left fans scratching their heads when it threw up one of the most bizarre questions to ever grace the programme. One of the questions asked the player: "Someone with a nightshade intolerance should avoid eating what?" The options were - sweetcorn, potatoes, carrots - with Steve selecting sweetcorn but the correct answer was potatoes. She then had to use Jeremy as her second lifeline when she was asked to name the thoroughfare that connects Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House. But Faridah made it to her safety net of £1000 by confidently answering the next question that came along. However, the £2000 question confused her, when Jeremy asked: "Which recurring TV soap character has been played by Lisa Riley since 1995." The choices were Mandy Dingle, Kim Tate, Tracy Barlow or Sharon Mitchell. Faridah said: "I've got absolutely no clue, I'm not a soap fan." She then decided to use her third lifeline and go 50-50 and was left with A and C - Faridah then took a guess at Mandy Dingle, which was correct. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire airs on ITV and ITVX. 3 Faridah had to use her third lifeline to help her answer a soap question Credit: ITV
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Millionaire contestant forced to guess tricky £32k question – but would you get it?
A WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire player was forced to make a guess after burning through half their lifelines - would you have got it right? Air traffic controller Mike Hayes from Altrincham made it through to the famous black chair and all the way up to the £125k question. Advertisement 3 Jeremy asked the £32k question - which left Mike momentarily stumped Credit: ITV 3 After using half his lifelines on the previous question, Mike was reluctant to use up any more, so he took a guess Credit: ITV But it was the £32k question that left him momentarily stumped. Host Jeremy Clarkson read: "Which literary character is the narrator of the J.D Salinger novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'? The choices were: Nick Carraway, Scout Finch, Holden Caulfield, Esther Greenwood. Despite reading the novel 30 years ago, Mike struggled to recall the author. Advertisement more millionaire questions After using half his lifelines on the previous question, Mike was reluctant to use up any more. So, he took a punt without using any of his remaining lifelines and guessed Holden Caulfield. Jeremy said: "It's funny how these facts live in our heads. That was correct, well done." Later in the show, Mike reached the £125k question - but with no lifelines remaining. Advertisement Most read in Reality So, he decided to happily walk away with the whopping amount money. The episode also featured contestant Faridah Oyetunji, a bio medical science student from Abbey Wood . Millionaire player forced to make a guess after using lifeline on 'easy' £2k soap question - would you have got it correct- She made it through to the famous black chair after winning fastest finger first. Faridah struggled from the start and had to use her audience life line to answer the £300 question. Advertisement Jeremy asked: "Which of these are traditionally swapped by opposing players at the end of a football match? The choices were Shirts, Shorts, Boots or Socks and not being a big football fan, the audience helped her correctly choose shirts. Hardest Quiz Show Questions Would you know the answers to some of quizzing TV's hardest questions Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Earlier this year, The 1% Club - Viewers of Lee Mack's popular ITV show were left The Chase - The ITV daytime favourite left fans scratching their heads when it threw up She then had to use Jeremy as her second lifeline when she was asked to name the thoroughfare that connects Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House. But Faridah made it to her safety net of £1000 by confidently answering the next question that came along. Advertisement However, the £2000 question confused her, when Jeremy asked: "Which recurring TV soap character has been played by The choices were Mandy Dingle, Kim Tate, Tracy Barlow or Sharon Mitchell. Faridah said: "I've got absolutely no clue, I'm not a soap fan." She then decided to use her third lifeline and go 50-50 and was left with A and C - Faridah then took a guess at Mandy Dingle, which was correct. Advertisement Who Wants To Be A Millionaire airs on ITV and ITVX. 3 Faridah had to use her third lifeline to help her answer a soap question Credit: ITV
Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Britain was obsessed with Princess Diana — not any longer
The traditional biography is dead. That soup to nuts, start with the birth, end with the death, 'all that David Copperfield kind of crap', as Holden Caulfield put it in The Catcher in the Rye, 'but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.' Him and publishers alike. Writers have been playing with the biographical format for a long time, from Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy to Alexander Masters's Stuart: A Life Backwards. The vogue today is, instead of getting bogged down in the subject's life, to focus on their place in cultural history. The great benefit to readers is that biographies are no longer just about one person, but about all of us. 'How does this relate
Associated Press
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Award-Winning Author Sets Two-Part Multi-State Book Tour
'50 States' Author Richard R. Becker will visit 10 states in 14 days. LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, May 2, 2025 / / -- Award-winning author Richard R. Becker will sign copies of his books, ' Third Wheel ' and '50 States,' during a two-part national book tour and road trip encompassing 10 states in 14 days. The first part of the tour will begin at the end of May and include Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah. The second part is in the planning stages and will include Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, or Iowa between August 25 and 31. 'Third Wheel' is a gritty, heart-wrenching coming-of-age thriller of betrayal, redemption, and the search for hope in the morally gray desert suburbs of 1980s Las Vegas. The novel has received seven literary awards, including best literary thriller of the year in 2024. It is sometimes described as landing somewhere between 'The Outsiders' and 'The Catcher in the Rye.' '50 States' is a collection of short stories that capture the human condition and how perception shapes reality. Together, they provide a character-driven sampling of the American experience over the last 60 years — the kind and the cruel, the heroic and the criminal. The collection has received four literary awards, including best short story collection. Author Richard R. Becker - 2025 Book Tour Schedule, Part 1 May 24 - The Atlas Collective in Moline, Illinois May 25 - Lion's Tooth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin May 27 - Paperbacks and Pieces in Winona, Minnesota May 28 - Barnes & Noble in Sioux Falls, South Dakota May 29 - Books-A-Million in Rapid City, South Dakota May 30 - Bookin' It in Casper, Wyoming May 31 - Barnes & Noble Sandy in Salt Lake City, Utah Becker's book tours generally coincide with cross-country trips to pick up and drop his daughter off at college. She studies art and psychology at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., and plays softball for the school. 'This year's book tour is similar to last year, except broken into two parts, one in May and another in August,' said Becker. 'It's a great opportunity for me to meet indie bookstore owners, bookstore managers, and readers in places I may never have had a chance to visit.' In March, Becker visited Barnes & Noble in Reno, Nev. as a warmup for the tour. He sold more than 30 books at the event. Along with Barnes & Noble - Reno, Thistle & Nightshade, an independent bookstore, also carries signed copies of his books in Reno. 'I'm thrilled that the first part of the tour is set, allowing me to make inquiries for the second part of the tour in August,' said Becker. 'While the first signing will be held in Flagstaff, Arizona, the second route was planned to include Kansas stops like Dodge City or Lawrence, as many readers have told me they want to meet more authors.' During book tours, Becker chronicles his trips in real-time across several social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. During the tour, Becker said he will reveal some details about his upcoming second novel, a literary thriller, which is anticipated to be released later this year. When Becker is not writing fiction, he works as president of Copywrite, Ink., a 35-year-old strategic communication and writing services firm. He has many other interests, including travel, acting, and spending time with family. He is married and has two adult children. To follow Richard R. Becker and keep up with his events, announcements, and behind-the-scenes tour moments, visit for social network listings. Find bookstores that carry signed copies of his books at Copywrite, Ink. - Books. Richard R Becker Copywrite, Ink. +1 702-370-8111 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
