banner
LightNews
investigatewest.bsky.social
@investigatewest.bsky.social
2.4K followers 350 following 130 posts
As a nonprofit, collaborative newsroom, InvestigateWest’s mission is to produce high-impact journalism that holds power accountable, exposes injustice and empowers underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest: https://www.investigatewest.org/
www.investigatewest.org
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 13h
Our investigation has found:
-At least 59 documented allegations of staff sexually abusing imprisoned women since 2020. It's an undercount.
-37 prison workers accused in the last decade
-Of those, 18 were guards who resigned. 8 were fired.
www.investigatewest.org/staff-sexual...
Staff sex abuse in Idaho women’s prisons largely unchecked
InvestigateWest reporting exposes sexual abuse by guards, retaliation against victims and a system that fails to track the scope of the problem
www.investigatewest.org
2 2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 13h
In the first story, @wilsonc.bsky.social and Whitney Bryen look at the only women's prison guard sentenced to prison for sexual misconduct in the last decade. He served a nine-month alternative sentence. www.investigatewest.org/the-idaho-pr...
An Idaho prison guard preyed on women. The system hid it
This is the first installment in a new InvestigateWest series called “Guarded by Predators,” exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them
www.investigatewest.org
1 1
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 13h
Today we're excited to share a new series, Guarded by Predators, that we've been working on on for nearly a year investigating how sexual abuse by staff at Idaho's women's prisons has gone largely unchecked - www.investigatewest.org/guarded-by-p...
Guarded by Predators
A new series by InvestigateWest exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them.
www.investigatewest.org
1 6 7
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 2d
Oregon Health Authority announced this week that it will no longer pursue the program, pinning their decision on federal changes to Medicaid. www.investigatewest.org/oregon-aband...
3 4
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 3d
Police accountability advocates say his candidacy underscores a larger issue in Washington: The state’s only requirement for sheriff candidates is to complete basic law enforcement training within a year of taking office.
www.investigatewest.org/sheriff-cand...
WA sheriff candidate accused of domestic abuse, dishonesty
State Legislature failed to pass bill last session that would have disqualified him from running
www.investigatewest.org
2 2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 3d
Rape. Abuse. Cover-ups. Inside Idaho’s prisons, guards preyed on women — and the state hid it. "Guarded by Predators," a new series, coming Sunday, Oct. 12, at investigatewest.org.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X33K...
Guarded by Predators | Inside Idaho’s Prisons, Where Guards Get Away With Sex Abuse
YouTube video by InvestigateWest
www.youtube.com
2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 12d
Help us investigate how Trump’s immigration orders are impacting the Pacific Northwest - www.investigatewest.org/help-investi...
How are Trump's immigration orders impacting you?
Share your story with InvestigateWest reporter Rachel Spacek
www.investigatewest.org
1
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 12d
Ayúdenos a investigar cómo las órdenes de inmigración de Trump están afectando al noroeste del Pacífico - es.investigatewest.org/help-investi...
¿Cómo le afectan las órdenes de inmigración de Trump?
Comparta su historia con la reportera de InvestigateWest, Rachel Spacek
es.investigatewest.org
1 1 2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 12d
www.investigatewest.org/watchdog-ida...
1 3
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 13d
www.investigatewest.org/northwest-na...
1 5
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 16d
In June President Trump froze a program allowing Ukrainian immigrants to temporarily stay and work in the US. Now many must choose between waiting for a government response, working illegally, surviving on charity or leaving America entirely -
www.investigatewest.org/ukrainian-im...
Ukrainian immigrants caught up in Trump's immigration crackdown
Stuck in a “no-man’s land” of uncertainty, many who’ve fled the Ukrainian war have lost the right to work in America
www.investigatewest.org
1 4
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 16d
InvestigateWest seeks Oregon collaboration partners
www.investigatewest.org/investigatew...
Oregon newsrooms: Collaborate with InvestigateWest
It’s part of our effort to strengthen local investigative journalism and bolster small newsrooms
www.investigatewest.org
1
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 17d
A Christian Nationalist-led group with powerful allies in the pulpit and the Pentagon wants to reshape Idaho. Read more from @danielwalters.bsky.social - www.investigatewest.org/for-and-by-c...
A Christian Nationalist group wants to reshape Idaho
With powerful allies in the pulpit and the Pentagon, the Idaho Family Policy Center seizes its moment
www.investigatewest.org
1
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 18d
Some Washington state judges aren't ordering domestic abusers to turn over their guns, but a recent court ruling could resolve constitutional concerns about a firearm surrender law: www.investigatewest.org/some-washing...
Some Washington judges aren't making abusers surrender guns
Advocates hope a Court of Appeals decision will resolve constitutional concerns about a firearm surrender law
www.investigatewest.org
1 1
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 18d
Roughly $530 million of the $1.19 billion allocated to Northwest tribal nations in fiscal year 2024 — used to fulfill the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Native American and Alaska Native tribes — is at risk of being cut. www.investigatewest.org/northwest-na...
Report: NW tribes could lose nearly half of federal funds
Portland State University researchers say nearly half of federal funds allocated to Northwest tribes in 2024 is at risk under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
www.investigatewest.org
2 1
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 18d
www.investigatewest.org/northwest-na...
1 3 4
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 25d
Denys and his family made a new life in Washington away from the chaos of the war in Ukraine. But he and other Ukrainian immigrants are now stuck in limbo after the Trump admin froze a program giving them temporary legal status. bit.ly/47IzFQD
Ukrainian immigrants caught up in Trump's immigration crackdown
Stuck in a “no-man’s land” of uncertainty, many who’ve fled the Ukrainian war have lost the right to work in America
bit.ly
2 4
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 25d
Read the story by @daniellemdawson.bsky.social - www.investigatewest.org/rural-oregon...
Medicaid cuts could expand Oregon maternity care deserts
Most Oregon hospitals have been bleeding cash for years, and at least two are already set to close their obstetrics units
www.investigatewest.org
1
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 25d
Under drastic cuts to federal Medicaid spending, more families in rural Oregon could face similar challenges. With roughly half of all Oregon births covered by Medicaid, hospital administrators say more hospitals — already operating on thin margins — could shutter costly labor and delivery units.
1 2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 25d
After the maternity ward in Baker City, Oregon closed in 2023, Teela Banister and her husband had to drive nearly an hour to get to a hospital with an obstetrics unit. She ended up giving birth in this car, about halfway to the hospital. investigatewest.org/rural-oregon-t
1 3 10
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · 27d
Seattle activists seeking to preserve the city's tree canopy contend changes to a tree preservation ordinance are driving an escalation in the number of trees being removed by builders.
www.investigatewest.org/developers-t...
Seattle developers cutting trees faster under protection law
Mayor Harrell promised law would get Seattle “back on track,” but new street-tree planting data raises doubts
www.investigatewest.org
2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · Sep 10
NEW: Two years into Seattle's updated tree protection ordinance, the number of trees toppled for development escalated markedly in 2025, an analysis of city data shows.
Seattle developers cut down trees faster under protection law
Mayor Harrell promised law would get Seattle “back on track,” but new street-tree planting data raises doubts
www.investigatewest.org
1 1 2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · Sep 9
The state levied the seven-figure penalty days after we reported on how regulators failed to take steps to immediately stop the company from releasing more polluted stormwater into the South Yamhill River.

www.investigatewest.org/oregon-fine-...
Oregon wood treater fined $1 million for pollution
The penalty comes days after InvestigateWest found regulators investigating the pollution didn’t take steps to immediately stop it
www.investigatewest.org
1 2
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · Sep 8
Read their investigation: www.investigatewest.org/oregon-wood-...
How Oregon let a wood treater pollute a town's water source
Nearby tribe calls on state, federal agencies to end a “decade-long pattern of reckless violations”
www.investigatewest.org
investigatewest.bsky.social
investigatewest.bsky.social @investigatewest.bsky.social · Sep 8
"It took a major investigation by Kaylee Tornay and Aspen Ford of the nonprofit InvestigateWest to document the sorry record laid out here."
1