The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from residents of Llano County, Texas, in a case challenging the removal of 17 books by local officials from the county’s public library system.

The justices’ decision lets stand a previous ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which sided with Llano County officials who had removed books they deemed objectionable.

Driving the news: The controversial book removals included titles addressing topics such as race, LGBT identity, transgender issues, slavery in the United States, puberty, and bodily functions. • Notable among the removed books is Maurice Sendak’s 1970 children’s book “In the Night Kitchen,” targeted due to illustrations featuring nudity. • The dispute began in 2021, when some residents asked the Llano County li

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