Two book challenges swatted down, possible repercussions from a third.

I doubt that anyone will be surprised to hear that Harry Potter is safe in Gwinnett County.  The challenger (who hadn't read the books), said:

"I knew what they were going to do, but it's good we live in a country where you can stand up for what you believe in," said Mallory, a former missionary. "God is alive and real and he says it (witchcraft) is an abomination. How can we say it is good reading material?"

Interesting that she appreciates free speech when it's her that's doing the speaking.  Now if she could only wrap her mind around the other-people-speaking part...

The Chocolate War will stay in the freshman curriculum in Salmon, Idaho, despite claims by a Lutheran minister that the book "violates civil rights by denying religious freedom". 

I honestly have no idea what he meant by that.  Maybe that it portrays some Christians unfavorably?  If we pulled every single book in that category, our libraries would be looking pretty meager.  The Chocolate War is a tough book -- I'm not disputing that.  I was wrecked the first time I read it.  I'm especially impressed that the school board was able to get over their personal feelings about the book to protect it:

Board member Pat Hurt said, "Emotionally, it's tough to read the hard and cruel things that happen in the book. I like books and movies that make you feel good, and this doesn't make you feel good."

But she also made the motion to accept a committee's recommendation that the book be allowed to return to the classroom.

Lastly, it appears that the Bless Me, Ultima debate isn't quite over in Colorado.  The teacher who assigned the book last year has been told that her contract is not being renewed.  While the administration hasn't released their official reason, students are angry about the announcement:

"I think it's because what happened last year upset the administration and brought a lot of negative media to them, and so they were angry," sophomore Sarah Setzer told the Daily Press. "They really don't have any reason. These are good teachers."

She also said that though school administrators had pledged to form a book-selection committee to review course material, little was accomplished. "None of the books were ever reviewed. The book ("Bless Me, Ultima") was never put back in school."

If the controversy stemming from Bless Me, Ultima is actually the reason behind the dismissal, that means that the complaint of ONE parent ultimately resulted in someone losing their job.  Wow.  That parent must be super-proud.