“Reading doesn’t have to be limited to Western literature or traditional formats,” Lynch said. “Children and adults alike should feel empowered to read whatever inspires them, whether it’s local stories, global narratives, comics, or educational texts.”

Residents in Fongshan District (鳳山區) are calling for a planned Kaohsiung MRT Yellow Line station to be named Cilaoye (七老爺 – Qīlǎoyé), saying the historic place name should be preserved as the line expands into the area.

The site will feature large inflatable water slides and paddling pools for children. Admission will be free for visitors who show receipts totaling NT$500 or more from participating businesses in Liugui.

The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau (高雄市政府觀光局) announced an expansion of its “Spring Picnic” (春日野餐趣) event at the Kaohsiung Green Park (果嶺自然公園) to coincide with the upcoming Labor Day long weekend from May 1 to May 3.

Fake posts claimed that numerous individuals in Kaohsiung had fallen ill and were hospitalized after consuming potato products. To enhance the credibility of the hoax, the suspect, police say, utilized generative AI to create realistic images of newspaper layouts and television news chyrons.

In happier news, a post from Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) noted that the fading rainbow colors at a crosswalk in the Pier 2 Art Center area have been restored to their original vibrancy.

This year’s theme, “Holding the land, returning to our roots,” reflects the community’s efforts to rebuild after the 2009 disaster while reconnecting with Taivoan traditions. Organizers say the event will include reenactments of traditional rituals, an environmental theater performance based on residents’ own life stories, concerts, and a local market.

The Liberty Times reports that Kaohsiung has 68 road sections or intersections equipped with automated traffic enforcement systems. From January to March, the Jhongjheng 1st Road location recorded 1,883 violations, the highest in the city.

Kaohsiung City Councilor Huang Wen-yi (黃文益) says the district’s street character makes it suitable for outdoor seating and night-time activity. He suggested allowing shops to place tables and chairs on sidewalks, provided pedestrian access and public safety are not affected.

The planned extension would run 26.2 kilometers south from Zuoying Station through Kaohsiung and into Liukuaicuo (六塊厝) in Pingtung. Most of the route would be built using shield tunneling, with other sections using cut-and-cover tunnels and elevated structures.