drew xolaya costley (they/she)
banner
drewcostley.bsky.social
drew xolaya costley (they/she)
@drewcostley.bsky.social
black, trans, disabled. asst. managing editor for @veritenews.org.

journalist covering the lgbtqia+ community, environmental, health, science.

signal is drewcostley.12

AP, OneZero/Future Human, SFGate, East Bay Express, UCBSOJ, UDC and Howard alum.
Pinned
hey y'all. i'm drew (@drewcostley on the other app + @fortheshadow on IG).

I'm a journo, photog, artist, sports and nature enthusiast, world builder, community nurturer, + a Black, disabled, queer, enby, trans human.

working on my escape from the other app. looking to build community here.

hiii.
We've got a great story from @halleparker.bsky.social today @veritenews.org on people getting end-of-life care training and death doulas. Check it out! veritenews.org/2025/11/25/n...
New Orleans group shows how to care for dying loved ones
Demand for home health care, including at-home hospice care, has skyrocketed since the pandemic. A New Orleans nonprofit is training people how to provide end-of-life care for dying relatives and comm...
veritenews.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Immigration agents have shown up to at least two schools in New Orleans in recent months as part of Trump's push to detain and deport immigrants from the U.S. In Sept., they were seen stationed where cars lined up to collect children leaving a school during dismissal.

veritenews.org/2025/11/21/n...
‘Schools are a safe place’:  Local schools prepare for fallout from Border Patrol operation in New Orleans - Verite News New Orleans
Chicago schools have seen heightened fear, dips in attendance in the midst of a recent Border Patrol surge. And now a similar surge is coming here.
veritenews.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
In heavily Hispanic Kenner, some residents on edge ahead of Border Patrol surge

The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly deploying 250 Border Patrol agents to the New Orleans area, echoing recent operations in Chicago and North Carolina.
In heavily Hispanic Kenner, some residents on edge ahead of Border Patrol surge
The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly deploying 250 Border Patrol agents to the New Orleans area, echoing recent operations in Chicago and North Carolina.
veritenews.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
Construction on Meta data center brings 600% vehicle crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana

An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
Construction on Meta data center brings 600% vehicle crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
veritenews.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
New Orleans ICE/border patrol tip line: 504-221-1499 PLEASE SHARE! #neworleans #ice #louisiana
November 21, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
Contact info for trusted indie media in New Orleans prepping for Border Patrol:
ALERT: @veritenews.org has started a tip line for people to report ICE/CBP sightings in the greater New Orleans area ahead of the upcoming deployment of Border Patrol agents to the region. If you see an enforcement action, raid, illegal detainment, etc., please let us know!
November 20, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Hey y'all, we started a tip line to get information about Border Patrol as they prepare to descend on the greater New Orleans area. Please let folx know!
ALERT: @veritenews.org has started a tip line for people to report ICE/CBP sightings in the greater New Orleans area ahead of the upcoming deployment of Border Patrol agents to the region. If you see an enforcement action, raid, illegal detainment, etc., please let us know!
November 20, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
ALERT: @veritenews.org has started a tip line for people to report ICE/CBP sightings in the greater New Orleans area ahead of the upcoming deployment of Border Patrol agents to the region. If you see an enforcement action, raid, illegal detainment, etc., please let us know!
November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
ALERT: @veritenews.org has started a tip line for people to report ICE/CBP sightings in the greater New Orleans area ahead of the upcoming deployment of Border Patrol agents to the region. If you see an enforcement action, raid, illegal detainment, etc., please let us know!
November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
Latinx people in Kenner are bracing themselves for the Border Patrol's anti-immigration enforcement as news spreads throughout Louisiana that the Trump administration could be sending people to metro New Orleans as soon as this week. More @veritenews.org.

veritenews.org/2025/11/19/b...
In heavily Hispanic Kenner, some residents on edge ahead of Border Patrol surge - Verite News New Orleans
The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly deploying 250 Border Patrol agents to the New Orleans area, echoing recent operations in Chicago and North Carolina.
veritenews.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
This #TransgenderAwarenessWeek, we're launching the Trans News Initiative - a nearly yearlong project dedicated to tracking and analyzing news coverage of trans communities across the United States.
transnewsinitiative.org
Trans News Initiative
A database and analysis of news coverage affecting trans communities.
transnewsinitiative.org
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
We finally know the identities of the 9 anonymous authors of the May HHS report on pediatric gender-affirming care. Surprise! It's stacked with people who make money advocating against pediatric gender-affirming care.

Here's our writeup from May: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
November 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Latinx people in Kenner are bracing themselves for the Border Patrol's anti-immigration enforcement as news spreads throughout Louisiana that the Trump administration could be sending people to metro New Orleans as soon as this week. More @veritenews.org.

veritenews.org/2025/11/19/b...
In heavily Hispanic Kenner, some residents on edge ahead of Border Patrol surge - Verite News New Orleans
The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly deploying 250 Border Patrol agents to the New Orleans area, echoing recent operations in Chicago and North Carolina.
veritenews.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:32 AM
von dutch and ed hardy were ugly
November 19, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Minnesota for soliciting sex from a minor
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say
According to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges, officers started the three-day sting on Nov. 5. They used several methods to find people who were attempting to solicit a 17-year-old girl for sex.
www.cbsnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:17 AM
co-opting, careerist cowards
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
I’ve been thinking and it’s kind of exceptional that not a single person said “Hey now” after the piggy comment.
November 19, 2025 at 1:36 AM
people who don't re-rack weights are such shit birds
November 19, 2025 at 2:44 AM
The Wizards city edition jerseys and court are giving Golden Lords (derogatory)
November 17, 2025 at 12:19 AM
It's Saturday. Tell someone you love that you love them, especially if that someone is you.
November 15, 2025 at 9:52 PM
podz got hustle and motor but he is so unreliable as a bucket getter
November 15, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Last week, Tulane U. police got into a physical altercation with protesters who were demonstrating against an event featuring two Israeli Defense Force soldiers. Protesters say they were choked, punched and hit in the stomach by police. Tulane denies any wrongdoing.

veritenews.org/2025/11/14/t...
Tulane protesters allege TUPD violence, university denies wrongdoing
Tulane University students and activists are alleging that the TUPD used violence to break up a protest opposing an event where members of the Israeli Defense Forces were giving a talk earlier this mo...
veritenews.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposting because this was a bombshell revelation and the reporter actually vetted the information to verify that the Orleans Parish clerk of the court, who's up for re-election on Saturday, lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in uncollectible forfeited bonds.
Darren Lombard, the clerk of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, is alleged to have lost half a million dollars in court and DA revenue through failure to secure forfeited bonds. @veritenews.org verified at least $200k was lost because of the clerk's office.

veritenews.org/2025/11/12/c...
Court clerk alleged to have lost 100s of thousands in bonds
Last Monday (Nov. 3), Calvin Duncan’s campaign released several emails, obtained through a public records request, in which the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office alleged that court clerk Darre...
veritenews.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Darren Lombard, the clerk of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, is alleged to have lost half a million dollars in court and DA revenue through failure to secure forfeited bonds. @veritenews.org verified at least $200k was lost because of the clerk's office.

veritenews.org/2025/11/12/c...
Court clerk alleged to have lost 100s of thousands in bonds
Last Monday (Nov. 3), Calvin Duncan’s campaign released several emails, obtained through a public records request, in which the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office alleged that court clerk Darre...
veritenews.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM