Defamation in the Sunshine State: President Donald Trump has refiled a $10 billion libel suit against The Wall Street Journal and News Corp in federal court in Florida, after a judge dismissed the earlier complaint for not meeting the “actual malice” standard. The case centers on a July 2025 WSJ report alleging Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday note in 2003; Trump’s team argues the paper recklessly disregarded whether the claims were true. Local publishing & reading: Orange County Library System is kicking off its 2026 summer reading challenge with a free book giveaway for kids up to 18 starting June 1, funded by the Friends of OCLS. Independent booksellers: A new American Booksellers Association report says independent bookstores are expanding again, with membership up more than 500 over the past year—highlighting pop-ups like Banyan Books in St. Petersburg. Florida media leadership: Hotspots Magazine names Bobby Blair its new executive director and publisher, aiming to expand the LGBTQ publication across print, digital, social, video, and live events. Community book culture: A Thomasville author is building a psychological thriller series through independent publishing, with the second installment slated for November 2026. Press freedom focus: A separate report revisits how U.S. courts handled a high-profile federal judge scandal, underscoring ongoing tensions around transparency and the press.