Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · 11d

Thanks for sharing, James!

Reposted by sam delgado

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 12d

This is an interesting and encouraging piece in @51st.news by @samdelgado.bsky.social .

There is a *lot* happening in DC. It is an engaged, improving place. Lots of problems, but lots of participation.

(Some day we'll have equal Congressional rights. But for now, DC solidarity.)

The 51st @51st.news · 15d

Invasive vines can be deadly for forests.

But this past year, scrappy groups of @chesapeakeclimate.bsky.social volunteers have helped save nearly 1,000 trees across green spaces in Southeast and Northeast D.C. alone, @samdelgado.bsky.social reports:

How volunteers are fighting the vines strangling D.C.'s trees

How local residents are restoring D.C.’s green spaces — and combating the effects of climate change.

51st.news

4 20 97

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · 14d

I have another story out with @51st.news this week. This time, about a intrepid crew of vine-fighting volunteers with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) who are reviving green spaces and history — one tree at a time. 🌳

51st.news/invasive-vin...

How volunteers are fighting the vines strangling D.C.'s trees

How local residents are restoring D.C.’s green spaces — and combating the effects of climate change.

51st.news

Reposted by sam delgado

The 51st @51st.news · 15d

Invasive vines can be deadly for forests.

But this past year, scrappy groups of @chesapeakeclimate.bsky.social volunteers have helped save nearly 1,000 trees across green spaces in Southeast and Northeast D.C. alone, @samdelgado.bsky.social reports:

How volunteers are fighting the vines strangling D.C.'s trees

How local residents are restoring D.C.’s green spaces — and combating the effects of climate change.

51st.news

2 30 120

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · 16d

Legal experts, community advocates, and residents told me that the mass presence of unidentifiable agents is creating wide-spread distrust, fear, and an opportunity for abuse to arise.

Read the full story at the link below ⬇️

The 51st @51st.news · 16d

It’s entirely legal for federal agents to hide their identity, but it’s not necessarily normal — and it’s taking a deep toll on D.C., @samdelgado.bsky.social reports.

D.C. residents are deeply disquieted by masked feds

It is legal for ICE and other agents to obscure their identity, but it comes at a cost

51st.news

26 66

Reposted by sam delgado

Rebecca Tushnet @rtushnet.bsky.social · 17d

A good ad on the DC Metro

ProPublica ad: “someone on this train has the next big story. Is it you?” With URL and Signal address

11 260 1.6K

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · 17d

My latest for @51st.news: how masked federal agents are taking a toll on DC residents and communities

The 51st @51st.news · 17d

“Is this MPD? Is this DEA? Is this HSI? Is this ICE? We don't know.”

After the surge of federal agents began, 60+% of D.C. residents said they felt less safe, but community members and lawmakers have been especially outraged by the presence of anonymous masked officers. 51st.news/masked-feds-...

D.C. residents are deeply disquieted by masked feds

It is legal for ICE and other agents to obscure their identity, but it comes at a cost

51st.news

1 15 43

Reposted by sam delgado

Joe Sudbay @joesudbay.bsky.social · 17d

@samdelgado.bsky.social at @51st.news really captures the mood in DC these days:

"President Trump’s thirty-day crime emergency may have ended, but life in D.C. is anything but back to normal."

51st.news/masked-feds-...

D.C. residents are deeply disquieted by masked feds

It is legal for ICE and other agents to obscure their identity, but it comes at a cost

51st.news

1 12 22

Reposted by sam delgado

Martin Austermuhle @maustermuhle.bsky.social · Sep 7

Today the Washington Spirit play at Audi Field, and before you go, read my new story in @51st.news about how Spirit fans have been leading the resistance to Trump's takeover of D.C.: 51st.news/dc-spirit-tr...

Washington Spirit games provide a field for Trump resistance

Women's soccer fans have taken to the stands with banners, flags, and pro-D.C. chants.

51st.news

2 19 58

Reposted by sam delgado

Washington City Paper @wcp.bsky.social · Aug 8

Some D.C. tenants were relocated during demolitions with a promise they could return to the new buildings. Now they’re facing eviction notices for units that no longer exist. Contributor Suzie Amanuel investigates:

Evicted from Nowhere: D.C. Landlords Are Trying to Evict Tenants from Demolished Apartments

Some D.C. tenants were relocated while their buildings are torn down with the promise they can return to the new buildings. But now some landlords are trying to evict them from nonexistent…

buff.ly

2 2

Reposted by sam delgado

Nina B. Elkadi @ninaelkadi.com · Aug 11

Hey, today is a really great day to become a paid subscriber to @51st.news

8 23

Reposted by sam delgado

Russ Frankenstein (no relation) @russ41.bsky.social · Aug 7

Now through this weekend, I'll donate $1 to @51st.news for each:
- person who reposts this post
- new follower @51st.news ws gets
- new follower @maustermuhle.bsky.social gets
- new follower @christurdisani.bsky.social gets
- new follower I get

And tag/DM me your donation = I'll match it 1:1.

The 51st @51st.news · Aug 6

Three days remain to hit the goal in our campaign to hire @maustermuhle.bsky.social full-time.

We know there's a ways to go, but with less than half left to raise...we could reach it easy peasy if each person who donated asked one friend to give too. givebutter.com/SsQ8CG

Time to Grow The 51st

Help us hire Christina and Martin Full-Time!

givebutter.com

29 240 130

Reposted by sam delgado

Martin Austermuhle @maustermuhle.bsky.social · Jul 31

🐀 It’s an unpleasant reality of city life: Animals get run over or otherwise die, and someone has to clean them up. I met the two D.C. workers who spend their days doing this thankless-yet-critical job – and you’d be surprised just how busy they are. For @51st.news: 51st.news/dc-who-colle...

These two D.C. workers pick up the city's dead animals

A deceased deer, a run-over rat, a headless goat: someone has to get rid of them.

51st.news

2 19 76

Reposted by sam delgado

The 51st @51st.news · Jul 28

Martin’s hard at work today reporting on the council’s second budget vote — happening now!
Help us reach $50,000 by tonight (only a little more than $6k away!) to ensure we can hire Martin full-time, and continue delivering you this unbeatable budget coverage.
givebutter.com/SsQ8CG

Time to Grow The 51st

Help us hire Christina and Martin Full-Time!

givebutter.com

9 6

Reposted by sam delgado

NPR @npr.org · Jul 28

Hidaya Al-Motawaq's son is a year and a half old and weighs less than 10 pounds. Doctors warn of permanent damage to children's health due to chronic malnutrition from Israel's earlier blockade.

His name is Mohammad Al-Motawaq. He is 18 months old. And he is starving in Gaza

Hidaya Al-Motawaq's son is a year and a half old and weighs less than 10 pounds. Doctors warn of permanent damage to children's health due to chronic malnutrition from Israel's earlier blockade.

n.pr

22 170 310

Reposted by sam delgado

Grist @grist.org · Jul 28

A long-awaited rule to protect workers from heat stress moves forward, even under Trump.

While labor experts say the regulation is progressing quickly, advocacy groups wonder what has taken so long.

grist.org/labor/federa...

#Heat #Workers #Unions #Politics #Climate #Policy #BosPoli

A long-awaited rule to protect workers from heat stress moves forward, even under Trump

While labor experts say the regulation is progressing quickly, advocacy groups wonder what has taken so long

grist.org

1 6 23

Reposted by sam delgado

The 51st @51st.news · Jul 25

Per usual, Congress is interfering in local affairs. This time, a new congressional rider could prevent D.C. from suing oil companies over climate change. 51st.news/dc-lawsuit-o...

Republicans try to bar D.C. lawsuit against oil companies

Even some advocates for D.C. autonomy were surprised by how targeted and specific the new policy rider is.

51st.news

2 4 10

Reposted by sam delgado

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · Jul 25

A hearing on a Hagerstown mother’s deportation ends in tears

For the first time since being taken into custody by ICE in May, Hagerstown mother and salon owner Mong Tuyen Thi Tran appeared in court.

buff.ly

1 9 11

Reposted by sam delgado

Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · Jul 19

Louisville Public Media has now raised:

$444,000.

In a little more than one day. Dunno, I’m pretty speechless. And I guess I’ll still be employed here for awhile. Can’t thank everybody enough who donated!

Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · Jul 18

We at Louisville Public Media just lost $376,000 due to Congress passing the rescission bill last night to claw back funds from public media across America. Today we’re asking those who value our work to help make up those funds in an emergency drive so we can maintain the staff/services we provide:

Louisville Public Media

Donate now and help Louisville Public Media educate, connect, engage, entertain and inform our community. Support local, independent media. Become a member today with a gift of $15 per month or any am...

donate.lpm.org

2 46 180

Reposted by sam delgado

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · Jul 17

An entrepreneur had big plans for a West Baltimore grocery store. Then rent came due.

An entrepreneur had big plans for a grocery store. Then rent came due.

Mario Minor, a former concert promoter with no experience opening a grocery store, sold Poppleton residents in Baltimore City a dream.

buff.ly

4 8

Reposted by sam delgado

umbellifer @apiaceae.bsky.social · Jul 15

6-year member of the Farm Alliance of Baltimore here to let you know that they are currently fundraising for this very program! Donate here or please share
farmalliancebaltimore.org/digging-in/

3 75 110

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · Jul 14

I might be biased bc I've had the pleasure of writing for this incredible newsroom, but I really think that if you care about our city, you should invest in it by funding local journalism. These stories can't be told otherwise!

Send some $ to the @51st.news fundraiser
and become a paying member!!

The 51st @51st.news · Jul 14

The 51st recently hired our first salaried employee (!) by bringing Christina on full-time as Executive Editor. Now, we need to hire Martin as our full-time reporter!!! You can help us get there by tossing a few dollars (or more...) to our fundraiser. 🥳 51st.news/help-us-hire...

Help us hire Martin Austermuhle!

The 51st is growing — but we can’t do it without you.

51st.news

3 15 73

Reposted by sam delgado

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · Jul 2

For @civileats.com, I visited the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm in Baltimore, where food-curious residents in historically redlined neighborhoods are trained to become urban farmers.

Now, this work is at risk due to funding cuts by USDA.
civileats.com/2025/06/30/c...

Can This Baltimore Academy Continue to Train Urban Farmers?

At Black Butterfly Teaching Farm, Baltimore locals learn to build a climate-resilient food system. Funding cuts now jeopardize that mission.

civileats.com

4 37 100

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · Jul 2

With the Trump admin's anti-DEI agenda, some groups have thought about removing language around equity and justice to avoid being targeted or stripped of grants.

For the Black Butterfly Urban Farmer Academy, that simply just isn't an option.

3 16

sam delgado @samdelgado.bsky.social · Jul 2

The term "Black Butterfly", coined by Morgan State professor Dr. Lawrence Brown, refers to the eastern and western regions of Baltimore — shaped like a pair of butterfly wings — where the city’s majority Black population lives. These residents face the brunt of environmental hazards.

2 4 18