Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ian James

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 14h

Here is a reporter who deserves to be remembered.
kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-jo...

Ukrainian journalist Roshchyna posthumously named Press Freedom Hero

The IPI said Roshchyna's death on Sept. 19, 2024 "exposed the brutal treatment suffered by the dozens of Ukrainian journalists unjustly held by Russian authorities, and brought new urgency to the need...

kyivindependent.com

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 14h

New story by @ianjames.bsky.social + highlights options for ground-based, mobile water deployment before, and in early hours of, major fires.

An important space given frequent high winds.

And with currently zero systematic evidence on options and cost effectiveness

www.latimes.com/california/s...

After Palisades fire hydrants went dry, LAFD faced costly delays in getting more water

A report provides reveals additional ways fire crews were stymied in efforts to get enough water to fight the Palisades fire in January 2025. The call didn't go in for tanker trucks and when these arr...

www.latimes.com

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 14h

After fire hydrants lost pressure and went dry, the LA Fire Department faced costly delays in getting more water to fight the Palisades fire. @hannahfry.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s... @latimes.com

After Palisades fire hydrants went dry, LAFD faced costly delays in getting more water

A report provides reveals additional ways fire crews were stymied in efforts to get enough water to fight the Palisades fire in January 2025. The call didn't go in for tanker trucks and when these arr...

www.latimes.com

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Josh Moody @byjoshmoody.bsky.social · 1d

MIT rejects "compact" proposed by the Trump administration.
MIT prez wrote: it "would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution" and "is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...

Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart

orgchart.mit.edu

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Melissa Sanchez @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social · 1d

“I don’t want to be here anymore… What am I supposed to do?”

Trump wants them to self deport. They want to self deport. But many Venezuelans cannot leave … like this woman who told me she now plans to try to turn herself into ICE to get out of USA.

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

“I Don’t Want to Be Here Anymore”: They Tried to Self-Deport, Then Got Stranded in Trump’s America

Venezuelan immigrants signed up for a Trump-promoted app called CBP Home, which promised a safe and easy way to leave the country, and prepared to leave on their given departure dates. Those dates hav...

www.propublica.org

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 1d

The Colorado River Indian Tribes may soon become the third Indigenous government in North America to grant personhood rights to a river.

“The river is my grandfather.” @debkrol.bsky.social www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

Colorado River Indian Tribes may grant personhood rights to 'living' river

The Colorado River Indian Tribes may soon give their eponymous river personhood status, following moves by other tribes and Indigenous peoples.

www.azcentral.com

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Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 1d

A good way to think of this is it's the main vehicle that states use to stitch together a comprehensive understanding of public health shit - like outbreaks - that are happening in other parts of the country. It gives states a chance to prepare.

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Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 1d

Seen on LinkedIn: “Staff at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention across multiple programs being fired tonight, including all current (civilian) Epidemic Intelligence Service, and several people working on the Ebola response.”

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Reposted by Ian James

Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 4d

A 22-year-old Palestinian died in Israeli prison -- where he'd been held for a year and a half without charges.

His last two months, he was bed-ridden.

When he died, he weighed 88 lbs.

He was the 78th Palestinian to die in Israeli jail since Oct. 7, 2023.

www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

The statement also said Khdeirat had dropped his weight to approximately 40 kilograms (88 pounds).

According to the committee, a lawyer who visited him in August testified that Khdeirat had been bedridden for ove two months.

The PA's statement tallies 78 administrative detainees and prisoners who died in Israeli prison since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 1d

A Chicago TV journalist was pushed to ground and arrested during an ICE raid. Witnesses call arrest of Debbie Brockman by masked agents ‘absolutely horrifying’ www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Chicago TV journalist pushed to ground and arrested during Ice raid

Witnesses call arrest of video editor Debbie Brockman, a US citizen, by masked federal agents, ‘absolutely horrifying’

www.theguardian.com

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Peter Butler @peter-butler.bsky.social · 4d

Bloomberg research found wholesale electricity up ~270% in areas near data centers

It doesn't seem like nearly enough people are taking it seriously

One A.I. image isn't too much energy, but 5 million videos? Per day/hour/minute whatever. It's not sustainable

www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring

Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

www.bloomberg.com

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Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 1d

This Central Valley serpent is California's new state snake. Can recognition save it from extinction?

This Central Valley serpent is California’s new state snake. Can recognition save it from extinction?

For this humble brown reptile to rebound as successfully as other endangered species, conservation history shows that it will take combined efforts from the state, zoo and wildlife refuges, and biologists to increase numbers and preserve the state snake.

www.latimes.com

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Pam Kan-Rice @ucanrpam.bsky.social · 1d

NOAA said La Niña conditions had a 55% chance of remaining through at least December, writes @grace2e.bsky.social

“Central/SoCal will be favored to be drier than average, but even one or two ‘juicier-than-average’ storms could change that,” says Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu

Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 1d

La Niña is back. It could mean another dangerously dry winter for Southern California

La Niña has reemerged in the eastern Pacific, a climate pattern that typically drives dry winters across the U.S. Southwest. Last winter's weak La Niña helped push Southern California into drought, and experts say it could be even more dramatic this year.

www.latimes.com

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 1d

Facing a budget crunch, San Diego's mayor is cutting the city's climate programs. @voiceofsandiego.org voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/08/m...

Mayor Gloria’s Admin Ousts Climate and Sustainability Leader

The firing of the city’s Chief Sustainability Officer follows a pattern of weakening San Diego’s climate action arm.

voiceofsandiego.org

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 1d

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. "When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist." apnews.com/article/nobe... @apnews.com

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel committee praised her as a key unifying figure in the opposition, advocating for free elections and...

apnews.com

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Lila Seidman @lilaseidman.bsky.social · 3d

This was a story I knew straight off would be difficult to write. Emotions run high in discussions about wild horses, and it's no different with those roaming California's Eastern Sierra.

It's not hard to understand why. The horses are captivating, with their quiet strength and ethereal beauty.

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Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 3d

Authorities will announce an arrest in connection with the devastating Palisades fire, law enforcement sources said, and are expected to announce a cause of the blaze.

Arrest made in Palisades fire, sources say

Authorities will announce an arrest in connection with the devastating Palisades fire, law enforcement sources said, and are expected to announce a cause of the blaze.

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Ian James

Rachel Uranga @racheluranga.bsky.social · 3d

In the fire zones, an immigrant workforce warily carries out cleanup

@cshalby.bsky.social

www.latimes.com/california/s...

In the fire zones, an immigrant workforce warily carries out cleanups

Months after the Eaton fire, a largely immigrant workforce clears homes of ash and debris in Altadena amid health risks and threat of immigration raids.

www.latimes.com

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 3d

In conflict-ravaged Myanmar, the Trump administration’s cuts in aid are causing terrible suffering. “It is not only me — many more children in other camps have also died helplessly from hunger.” apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

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Stuart Leavenworth @sleavenworth.bsky.social · 4d

“Never before have we issued a joint public warning like this. But the unprecedented threat that RFK Jr’s policies pose to the nation’s health cannot be ignored.”

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.

We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Melissa Gomez @melissagomez.bsky.social · 4d

Californian detained on Gaza-bound flotilla deported to Jordan from Israel prison, by @suhauna.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Californian detained on Gaza-bound flotilla deported to Jordan from Israel prison

Israeli naval forces intercepted aid vessels headed to Gaza, taking into custody Southern California native David Adler, among other passengers and crew.

www.latimes.com

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Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 5d

Two of the most common climate misconceptions I see, even among knowledgeable folks, are that (1) most people aren't worried about climate change, and (2) if they were, they'd act.

Not true! Data show (1) most people are worried, but (2) they won’t act if they don’t know what to do-and most don’t.

A map of the world showing how levels of worry in most countries are greater than 70%. Source: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, International Public Opinion on Climate Change, 2023.

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Susanne Rust @susrust.bsky.social · 8d

Historic number of marine mammals died along CA coast this year. Anomaly? Or a sign that our oceans are changing too fast to support these guys? Hats off to the exhausted and traumatized volunteers working tirelessly since spring #marinemammalcenter #strandingnetwork www.latimes.com/environment/...

Marine mammals are dying in record numbers along the California coast

It's been a doozy of a year for marine mammals, who have been dying in record numbers along the California coast. Volunteer rescue crews are traumatized and fatigued, but refuse to give up.

www.latimes.com

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Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 10d

New research shows the glaciers of the Sierra Nevada have probably existed since the last Ice Age more than 11,000 years ago. The remnants of these glaciers are projected to disappear in the coming decades as temperatures continue to rise. www.latimes.com/environment/...

As California glaciers disappear, people will see ice-free peaks exposed for the first time in millennia

The glaciers of California's Sierra Nevada are disappearing as temperatures rise. Scientists recently found that the glaciers probably have never before melted in human history.

www.latimes.com

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