Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Jul 18

Floods happen and they can be deadly. So what should Princeton, NJ residents know about their own risks? Read the full story at TAPinto Princeton.

#princeton #flooding #turnarounddontdrown

www.tapinto.net/towns/prince...

When Princeton Floods: What Every Resident Should Know

Princeton, NJ - This summer’s Texas tragedy, where more than a hundred people died in a flash flood, brings renewed focus to a risk faced by many communities, including Princeton. Floods happen,...

www.tapinto.net

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Jul 16

Princeton's crash report for June is in. Last month, 4 pedestrians were hit by cars on crosswalks. Also, a cyclist in the protected bike lane on Washington Street suffered a concussion when a car turned in front of him. This is the 8th month we've summarized our town's crash records.

June Crashes in Princeton: 4 Pedestrians, 1 Bicylist Hit by Cars

Princeton, NJ — Pedestrians continue to have a tough time on Princeton’s roads. Last month, there were three cases of pedestrians being struck on crosswalks. In one of those cases, the driver hit...

www.tapinto.net

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Jun 12

Princeton's crash report for May is in. Three pedestrians were struck by cars on crosswalks. Two cyclists also collided with cars. One of those cyclists was a 12-year old on a crosswalk. www.tapinto.net/towns/prince...

#zerovision #pedestriansafety #princeton

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · May 19

Surprisingly (to me), Princeton's hit+run rate is 14% of all crashes, which tracks with the national estimates of 15% of all crashes. I'd love to see more data on hit+runs. They account for a quarter of all pedestrian traffic deaths in this country, and countless more serious injuries.

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · May 19

I've been wading through Princeton's vehicle crash reports every month for six months and keep coming across drivers hitting a person or another car and then driving off. I began to wonder how frequent these hit+runs are. It turns out to be much higher than I'd thought ..

Fleeing the Scene: Princeton Grapples with a Persistent Rate of Hit-and-Runs

Princeton, NJ — Two weeks ago, the Princeton Police Department’s Facebook page lit up when the cops asked for help. They were seeking a red Subaru, whose driver had struck a pedestrian on a...

www.tapinto.net

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Reposted by Carolyn Jones

Ankit Panda @nktpnd.bsky.social · May 10

I'll just take this moment to point out that the US Institute of Peace, just a few weeks ago, contained one of the finest concentrations of US expertise on India and Pakistan, and crisis management in South Asia.

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · May 10

This is so dire, and the intergenerational gap between those making choices now and those who'll live with the consequences is even more upsetting. I wonder if there's a way to make senior policy-makers care about their legacy?

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · May 8

You might think the Princeton Public Library is just a place for books—but did you know it’s also where you can stay cool, get support during a power outage, or find prep gear ahead of a storm? It’s kind of our town’s hidden gem for climate resilience. ❤️📚 Full story here:

When Power Goes Out, Princeton Can Head to the Library for Things (Not Just Books) That Can Help

This story was produced in collaboration with CivicStory as part of the Ecology Civics Reporting Project.Princeton, NJ — Memories of the night Hurricane Sandy swept into town still give some...

www.tapinto.net

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Apr 30

Despite rising awareness of fragile ecosystems, many gardeners still struggle to source the plants preferred by their local birds and bees. My latest story highlights a local ecosystem rescue mission 🌱

Princeton's D&R Greenway Is On a Rescue Mission -- To Save Native Plants

This story was produced in collaboration with CivicStory (www.CivicStory.org) as part of the Ecology-Civics Reporting Project.” (www.SRhub.org)Princeton, NJ — If Tina Notas seems attached to the...

www.tapinto.net

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Apr 28

Volunteers in Princeton are out in challenging conditions — rain, darkness, and traffic — to help salamanders migrate.
Their safety is just as much a priority as the survival of the salamanders. It's a careful balancing act and next year's crossing is still an open question.

How To Save the Salamanders? In Princeton a Volunteer Brigade Helps Out

This story was produced in collaboration with CivicStory (www.CivicStory.org) as part of the Ecology-Civics Reporting Project.” (www.SRhub.org)Princeton, NJ — It was 9 pm and Inge Regan was...

www.tapinto.net

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Apr 2

During semi-routine testing, the Princeton school district found seven water fountains with lead levels about regulatory standards. They're all at the elementary schools. One fountain was 8x above the safety limit, but it took the district 19 days between getting the results and switching them off.

Excess Lead Found in Seven Drinking Fountains at Four Princeton Elementary Schools

Princeton, NJ — Parents of Princeton Public Schools recently learned that several school water fountains registered high levels of lead contamination.Seven water outlets at four elementary schools...

www.tapinto.net

Reposted by Carolyn Jones

Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · Mar 24

Here at Princeton, we’re amplifying our university president’s leadership. It’s time for everyone - faculty, students, staff - to speak out.

tl;dr: rights can’t be blackmailed.

From me and science colleagues:
www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2025...

To stop intimidation, Eisgruber needs your help

When targeting one institution is a bald attempt to divide and conquer, as is the case with Columbia, it is essential for a coalition or group of institutions and individuals to stand up together.&nbs...

www.dailyprincetonian.com

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Mar 13

This crash report comes in the wake of a devastating crash on Tuesday involving a pedestrian and a left-turning driver. Princeton prides itself on being a walkable community, but the crash stats suggest pedestrian safety is not (yet) a sure thing.

A composite bar graph showing the number of cases of a crash involving a pedestrian, biker, or scooter/skateboarder relative to the total number of crashes.

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Mar 13

Princeton's February crash stats are in. Yet again, a pedestrian was struck on a crosswalk, as was an electric skateboarder. We also had two crashes after drivers ran red lights. One of these intersections was already in the spotlight as an especially dangerous place.

Crashes: 1 Pedestrian, 1 Skateboarder Struck by Cars on Princeton Streets, Plus Drivers Running Red Lights and Failing to Yield

Princeton, NJ — In our monthly traffic reports, we summarize the crash investigation documents prepared by the Princeton Police Department. Unless otherwise indicated, those involved in the crashes...

www.tapinto.net

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Mar 5

I keep thinking of the recent @nyc.streetsblog.org video about how Paris became bike-friendly. I was living in Paris for some of that time and it was extraordinary to see how bike advocates capitalized on a major event (covid) to push through change. Lots to learn there!

Friday Video: The Untold Story Behind the Paris Bike Boom — Streetsblog USA

Yes, Anne Hidalgo deserves a lot of the credit — but the unsung heroes are the advocates who pushed her to do more.

usa.streetsblog.org

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 27

Oh wow, that's scary! It raises questions about how widespread the effects of toxic sludge will be, as well as how many people don't know about the risks if they're not getting their private well water tested 😳 Thanks for this reporting!

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 27

Hey, journos! If you're looking for on-the-ground info about what's going on with the NIH and science funding freezes, these two LA-based researchers are keeping track. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-lY...

Science update with Anne and Alex 02262025

YouTube video by anne churchland

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Carolyn Jones

Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · Feb 18

This is a big difficulty. Universities are scared of going up against Mump. The better path is for investigators (i.e. grant recipients) or affected employees to bring suit, ideally through their professional society or by banding together.

If anyone knows of such an activity please let me know.

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · Feb 18

Where Are the Lawsuits Over the Chainsawing of NIH and NCI? talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/where...

Where Are the Lawsuits Over the Chainsawing of NIH and NCI?

There’s one point that has come up, sometimes explicitly but more often...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 18

Thanks Jesse!

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 15

Princeton (and much of New Jersey's water) tastes odd again. This time, we can blame both drought and ice for that salty glass of tap water. Um, drink up?

Princeton’s Water Tastes Odd Again -- This Time Blame the Weather

Customers of New Jersey American Water have again noticed the tap water tastes strange. But unlike last December, when the industrial chemical, alpha-pinene, leaked into the waterways from a...

www.tapinto.net

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 11

Thanks for the great reporting, @newjerseymonitor.com, as well as for noting the Princeton angle!

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 11

Consumer rights are on the chopping block at a federal level, but a bill moving through the NJ legislature aims to protect the little guy - in this case, barring deceptive practices like Uber's move to block a lawsuit brought by a couple hurt in a serious crash. newjerseymonitor.com/2025/02/11/n...

N.J. couple's legal fight with Uber inspires bill to fight 'deceptive' practices • New Jersey Monitor

Lawmakers say companies should not be able to use "opaque" terms and conditions to avoid legal battles with their customers.

newjerseymonitor.com

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Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 11

Princeton's January crash stats are in ... three pedestrians struck on a crosswalk (yet again!) and one biker hit when a car passed too close. Also, a handful of weather-related crashes and two cases of seriously scary driving. Be safe on the roads, y'alls, no matter what town you live in.

January Crashes: 3 Pedestrians Struck in Princeton Crosswalks; 7 Weather-Related Crashes; 1 Lovelorn Reckless Driver

Princeton, NJ — In the third of our monthly traffic reports, we summarize the crash investigation documents prepared by the Princeton Police Department.Unless otherwise indicated, those involved in...

www.tapinto.net

Carolyn Jones @carolyn-jones.bsky.social · Feb 9

"Ironically, this has been the greatest teambuilding exercise of my career, forging bonds in a way that no ropes course has ever managed." This piece from an OPM insider is chilling. She describes what it's like for staffers as DOGE rips through their work. I'm glad Slate granted her a pen name.

I Work in the Office Carrying Out the Government Purge. Here’s What I Want You to Know.

We’re as freaked out and angry as everyone else.

slate.com

Reposted by Carolyn Jones

Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · Feb 9

Academics of all stripes should actively oppose the illegal order to reduce indirect cost reimbursements. This order violates both federal regulations and the Administrative Procedures Act. Implementation would hurt scholarship throughout all disciplines.
samwang.substack.com/p/indirect-c...

Indirect costs: not just for science

Three ways for scholars to fight the illegal attempt to undermine higher education.

samwang.substack.com

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