“In the News” is published quarterly and provides a sampling of stories, articles, or reviews that reference or relate to beliefs, myths, and narratives in Southern culture since 1970.

“Tennessee Republicans advance bill targeting what students can call transgender educators” from The Advocate (March 19, 2026)

“The reason I brought it up is there is a teacher in our district that is wanting to become called by the wrong honorific,” [bill sponsor Rep. Aron] Maberry told the House Public Service Committee in February.

“Georgia woman faces murder charge after taking abortion pill” from Reuters (March 20, 2026)

“While ⁠other states have sought to prosecute women who had abortions, it is rare they are charged with murder ​as Moore was. It will be up to state prosecutors to decide whether to move forward with the case.”

“Leesville man could face 10 years in jail for lying about where he caught a fish, agents say” from KPLC-TV 7 (April 8, 2026)

“Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents saw Jeane and another man loading a bass boat onto a trailer while patrolling at the Hickory Ridge boat launch on March 15. Jeane offered to show the agents a 12-pound bass he had caught, saying it was his personal best and he planned to have it mounted.”

“SC senators approve expanding monument protections, banning QR codes for more info” from the South Carolina Daily Gazette (April 16, 2026)

“COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Senate voted to expand a 26-year-old law originally passed to keep Confederate monuments in place.

“The bill introduced by Sen. Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, and co-sponsored by 31 other Republicans would extend the protections under a portion of state law commonly called the Heritage Act to all memorials on public property in South Carolina.”

“Alabama maintains nation’s longest pre-K quality streak in new report” from al.com (April 25, 2026)

“The initiative focuses on strengthening the workforce, improving program quality, expanding family engagement and enhancing cross-agency data integration.”

“In major Voting Rights Act case, Supreme Court strikes down redistricting map challenged as racially discriminatory” from SCOTUSblog (April 29, 2026)

“The Supreme Court on Wednesday, in the case of Louisiana v. Callais, struck down a Louisiana congressional map that a group of voters who describe themselves as “non-African American” had challenged as the product of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. By a vote of 6-3, the justices left in place a ruling by a federal court that barred the state from using the map, which had created a second majority-Black district, in future elections.”

“Arkansas governor calls Legislature back to session to cut income taxes” from the Arkansas Advocate (April 20, 2026)

“The Republican governor wrote in her proclamation scheduling the session that Arkansas’ ‘financial stability, increased economic growth, healthy reserve accounts, and conservative spending policies’ meant that the top tax rates for individuals and businesses could be lowered.”

“Trust in North Carolina elections shaky a year after shift in control” from WRAL.com (May 3, 2026)

“Republicans who took control of the North Carolina elections board a year ago have sought to clean up voter rolls and improve election security. Yet North Carolinians remain skeptical of election administration in the state, new data shows.”

“New study warns Louisiana’s vanishing coastline is past the point of no return” from WWLTV.com