New York: Maddow takes a break
The Advocate reported on January 31 that out MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow will take a break from the widely viewed Rachel Maddow Show, potentially starting next week. The network's hosts and producers, the New York Times reports, say they are unsure if Maddow will return to the show as before, since her renewed contract with NBCUniversal gives her room to work on other projects.

The show will have fill-in anchors in Maddow's absence, but she will be present for special coverage, such as President Biden's State of the Union Address on March 1. According to People, one of her projects includes serving as an executive producer on Bag Man, a film directed by Ben Stiller and based on her book and podcast of the same name.

Wisconsin: Mayor withholds library funds over "complaints"
NBC News reported on January 28 that Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee has been accused of withholding $110,000 from a Madison County public library, because it carries books with titles or covers related to the LGBTQ+ community. McGee said that he had received complaints about three children's books and one adult book in particular.

In response, the Madison County Library System released a statement on its website, reaffirming that its mission is "to provide library resources and services necessary to meet the evolving informational, recreational, and cultural needs of the public, thus enhancing individual and community life." It went on to say, "Censorship has no place here in the Madison County Library System. Our library is for everyone."