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February 7, 2026

Georgia librarians face jail time for not censoring ‘obscene’ books under new bill

New legislation making its way through Georgia’s assembly seeks to punish libraries and librarians for “harmful materials.” If passed, the bill could force state libraries to self-censor controversial materials, specifically for kids.  Senate Bill 74, sponsored by Sylvania Republican Sen. Max Burns, would change current state law. As it stands, school and university libraries are […]

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February 7, 2026

Goodbye, Factbook: CIA shuts down world reference publication after six decades

For more than 60 years, people seeking raw, country-by-country economic and demographic data have turned to the CIA’s World Factbook. But this week, the “gold standard” for global statistics went dark. On Wednesday, without explanation, the agency quietly shuttered the online reference, replacing it with a farewell note that urged readers to “stay curious about […]

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February 7, 2026

Key figure in deadly attack on US compound in Benghazi arrested

A man identified as a key participant in the 2012 attack that killed four Americans in a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, is in custody, the Department of Justice said Friday.  Zubayar Al-Bakoush, a member of an extremist militia in Libya, had been wanted by the U.S. for more than a decade, The Associated Press […]

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February 7, 2026

Report of attempted whitewashing at Mississippi civil rights monument under dispute

The National Park Service is accused of pulling material from a civil rights monument in Mississippi to whitewash language labeling the murderer a racist. A conversation with a local parks employee didn’t back that allegation up.  Mississippi Today published two stories Thursday asserting that an anonymous NPS staffer initially removed visitor brochures at the Medgar […]

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February 7, 2026

States target church protests with new criminal and civil penalties

Numerous states have introduced legislation in the last week that would create stiffer penalties for protesting at churches. The proposed bills come after journalist Don Lemon was arrested while covering a protest in Minnesota that disrupted a church service. Kentucky proposal State Rep. Mitch Whitaker in Kentucky has proposed HB 540, which would make interference […]

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February 7, 2026

Bills in multiple states aim to shut out ex-ICE agents from public-sector jobs

State legislatures across the country are churning out proposals to limit what Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can do on the job. But some lawmakers are taking it even further, looking to prevent agents from taking on other government jobs once their time with ICE is over. Two state lawmakers, one in California and […]

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February 7, 2026

Hegseth says Defense Department is cutting ties with Harvard

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the department is severing its academic ties with Harvard University. This means that starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the Pentagon will discontinue graduate-level professional military education, fellowships and certificate programs at the school. Military personnel currently attending classes will be able to finish them. “For too long, […]

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February 6, 2026

Olympic ice, ICE and The (rebranded) Ice House: Storylines to watch from Milan

While the opening ceremony officially takes place Friday evening in Milan, Italy, competition for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics is well underway. Many have their eyes on the Olympic ice for curling, ice hockey and figure skating, but Italians and Americans are watching a different kind of ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A […]