In a tense battle over book censorship, Pella residents voted Tuesday to protect the local library board's independence. About 51% of voters cast ballots against a measure to give City Hall officials oversight of the library's actions and budget, according to unofficial results. The non-binding referendum reached the ballot after some residents petitioned the library board to remove a "Gender Queer," graphic novel about gender fluidity, mirroring a national debate driven by conservatives over what books taxpayer-funded libraries should carry. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #Pella #Elections #IApolitics #IAvotes #BannedBooks