Monday, May 13, 2013
Legislation to allow gay marriage in the state cleared its final hurdle Monday, May 13. With Gov. Mark Dayton expected to sign the bill as soon as tomorrow, Minnesota will become the 12th state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The Minnesota Senate approved H.F. 1054 Monday, May 13, clearing the way for Minnesota same-sex couples to marry in the state. The 37 to 30 vote, which was seen as the last hurdle for the legislation, makes Minnesota the 12th in the United States to recognize same-sex marriages in state law. Democrats, known locally as the DFL party, hold a 39-28 advantage in the Minnesota Senate. Debate began shortly after noon Monday, with the Republican Party introducing a pair of amendments to the bill, both of which were voted down by state Democrats, who control the Senate. It quickly moved to speeches invoking personal feelings and relationships surrounding the House bill. Join Maplewood-Brentwood Patch for more community news or join us on …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The president of the Brentwood library board said she has no problem keeping it in the library.
The Brentwood Library board could vote on the contested book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, before its next scheduled meeting. Brentwood resident, James Vandervoort, said in the Oct. 15 library board meeting the book is about gay marriage, and wants it removed from the library. Board president Sheila Lenkman said library director Vicki Woods suggested an early email vote, but Lenkman said not enough of the board has weighed in to know if that could happen. The next scheduled meeting is Nov. 12. A vote was on the agenda for the Oct. 8 and 15th meetings, but there wasn’t a quorum at either one. Lenkman said she’s in favor of not voting early. “We had two people say that they thought we should just stick with the date, because it looks suspicious …
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
A resident's daughter brought the book home, and now he wants it removed from the library.
The Brentwood Public Library hasn’t had a book challenged in the seven years that Ellen Walther has been on the board, but a children’s book that touches on the subject of gay marriage is now under consideration to be removed. Brentwood resident James Vandervoort’s daughter brought home the book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, without his knowledge, and now he wants it removed from the shelves. He met with the library board (though not a quorum) Monday, Oct. 15, to make his case. "The purpose of the book is to help foster acceptance, and to glorify homosexual marriage," he said. "I think that’s a realistic synopsis of what the book is about." Using gerbils as characters, a girl (gerbil) is upset because her favorite uncle is getting married, and …
Monday, October 1, 2012
Censorship is alive and well, as highlighted by Banned Books Week. The Maplewood and Brentwood library directors try to have books for everyone.
The importance of the First Amendment and the concept of "intellectual freedom" might not always be readily apparent to most kids, but Banned Books Week is a great opportunity to make those lessons come alive for children—and adults Banned Books Week is held annually during the last week of Sept. (Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2012). The week is an occasion for libraries and bookstores across the U.S. to help folks realize just how real and ongoing a problem censorship is. More than 11,000 books have been challenged (though not necessarily successfully censored) since 1982, the inaugural year of Banned Books Week. According to the American Library Association (ALA), the vast majority of challenges to books are initiated locally by parents, likely in …
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Even if you disagree, do you agree the company has a right to take a stand? Will you still "eat mor chikin"?
The nationwide media storm over the anti-gay-marriage stance by the president of Chick-fil-A came home to roost in the St. Louis area last week as local stores saw record traffic and huge crowds. Most of the visitors said they supported the stance taken by Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy in the Biblical Recorder on gay marriage. Later, in an interview on the topic, Cathy said: "As it relates to society in general, I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than You as to what constitutes a marriage.'" On Wednesday, a day conservative commentators dedicated toward showing support for Chick-fil-A, crowds gathered at the restaurant in the Chesterfield Valley and in Arnold. The …
Mike Horton
9:59 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
No one is talking about reading it in the classroom. Please stop adding issues that don't exist to the main conversation. more ›