Brad Ford

In a time marked by deep political polarization and a resurgent nationalism, the simple act of opening a book has become a quiet but powerful form of resistance. The ongoing debate over what children should read, and the rise of book bans in schools and libraries, isn’t some random trend. It’s a direct assault on the very tools that combat ignorance and prejudice: diverse stories, critical thinking, and empathy.

Photo: File A father and his two children were swept into the ocean on Saturday at Falcon Cove. Falcon Cove is located near Arch Cape, north of Oswald West State Park in Oregon. The father was holding his children, a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, when they were hit by a large wave that pulled them into the water. When police arrive, the father was struggling to get out of the water and the girl was farther out in the surf. A police officer pulled her out of the water.

The U.S. Supreme Court is tossing out lower court rulings in a lawsuit against an Oregon bakery which refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding based on the religious beliefs of the bakers. Those lower court rulings found the refusal of service violated the same-sex couple's rights. Melissa and Aaron Klein, owners of the now-closed Sweet Cakes bakery in Portland, ended up paying a $135-thousand judgment to the lesbian couple in 2013.