Local but Overlooked News: Learning who is behind books being banned at Wisconsin schools

Teri Barr joins The Maggie Daun Show for a new “Local but Overlooked News” segment and shares what she’s learning about book bans at schools across Wisconsin; plus, why police are checking pawn shops for a crook’s recent haul of music gear

New records requests for information about banned books

It’s a topic recently discussed on The Maggie Daun Show, and now we’ve learned the Wisconsin Chapter of the ACLU is filing open records requests at six school districts across the state. It’s an attempt to learn more about the impact the national campaign to ban some books may be having at schools here.

The school districts receiving the first round of requests: Menomonee Falls which is west of Milwaukee, Howard-Suamico in Northeast Wisconsin, Waukesha, the District of Elmbrook in the Brookfield area, and Kenosha.

The legal director for the Wisconsin Chapter says their requests are being fueled by concerned residents and parents, and they want to know who is making the decision to ban certain books.

A news release from the ACLU of Wisconsin states a letter is being sent to the school districts along with the open records requests and notes that removing books from school libraries threatens the First Amendment rights of students and their families.

The Supreme Court upheld more than 40 years ago “local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.”

The Wisconsin Chapter is asking school officials for an immediate response including any list of books removed from libraries since January of 2021.

Police keep an eye on pawn shops for stolen music equipment

A Madison musician is hoping someone knows what happened to or has information about his stolen equipment, including his entire drum set. 

Matt Allen says crooks broke into his car, which was parked in his driveway. It happened just before Allen was leaving for a show. Several thousand dollars worth of his music gear is gone.

Police are now checking music stores and pawn shops to see if the suspects have tried to sell any of the equipment.