Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Katie Prout @katieprout.bsky.social · 6d

In honor of Spooky Szn, as a reminder to always fact check the official police narrative, & ESPECIALLY to never use a cop as your sole source for a story,

may I present to you this 1989 Chicago Tribune story about baby sacrifice in Chicago Forest Preserves:

www.chicagotribune.com/1989/02/26/s...

SATANIC CULTS GROWING IN PRESERVES

This is going to be an ugly little story about how some people use our forest preserve woods outside Chicago. It is not about goofy picnickers or drunken hijinks or the wanton, inexcusable slaughte…

www.chicagotribune.com

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · 7d

We're moving fast to launch our new site that will combine news from these neighborhoods as well as regional LA coverage. If you love LA and our mission to do better local news for people living in these neighborhoods, I hope you'll take a look at our job openings: www.localnewsforla.org/jobs

Jobs | Los Angeles Local News Initiative

We’re hiring! The L.A. Local News Initiative is looking for leaders who are passionate about the future of L.A. and local journalism.

www.localnewsforla.org

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · 7d

Exciting personal news! I've joined the LA Local News Initiative to work with Boyle Heights Beat and build new neighborhood newsrooms in Koreatown/Pico-Union/Westlake and South LA/Inglewood.

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

dell cameron @dell.bsky.social · 19d

Starbucks says surveillance clears an employee who’d been accused of writing “Loser” on a cup when someone ordered Charlie Kirk’s “favorite drink.”

The accusation was originally posted by a Republican party official. It forced the store to shut down for safety.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/19/v...

The controversy started with a post Tuesday from Jacqueline Garretson, who, according to her X bio, is the Illinois state director for The Conservative Caucus and previously worked as a staffer for failed Republican attorney_general candidate Thomas DeVore.
Garretson wrote that a relative, whom she later identified as her mother-in-law, ordered the Mint Majesty tea with two honeys — an order known to be Kirk's favorite drink - from the
Starbucks. When the order was completed, the cup had "Loser" written on it, Garretson said.

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 20d

NEW: More than 500 pages of #FOIA docs @zhirji.bsky.social @davey.bsky.social & I obtained from FEMA detail previously unreported threats against personnel in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene & Milton, including the swatting of then-FEMA Director Deanne Criswell
🎁 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

This document details extraordinary steps taken to protect Deanne Criswell, the head of FEMA during hurricanes Helene and Milton. Criswell was a subject of a swatting incident

The document says: Secretary Mayorkas determined that there was a clear and present danger to Deanne Criswell, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and that home-to-work transportation was essential for the performance of the duties of the FEMA Administrator. Because of recent serious threats to Administrator Criswell, he authorized her use of a government vehicle for home-to-work transportation ineluding use of an appropriate security detail provided FEMA and the Transportation Security Administration at FEMA's request."

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Emily Ramshaw @eramshaw.bsky.social · 21d

“Violence that is rooted in gendered issues is a huge predictor of — and possibly the biggest predictor, in some studies — of trajectories that lead to mass violence,” Miller-Idriss told The 19th. “Over half of mass shooters are targeting a partner.”

Want to stop political violence? Start by addressing hostile sexism

In her new book, an expert on violent extremism lays out evidence that gender-based bigotry fuels hate — so national security officials need to do something about it.

19thnews.org

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

L.A. TACO @lataco.bsky.social · 22d

After claiming Gabby Giffords, the retired American politician turned gun-control advocate, also attended the event at Damian with Tucker Carlson, a staffer confirmed that she wasn't even in Los Angeles at the time.

Full story: lataco.com/rick-caruso-...

By @shoton35mm.bsky.social

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · 26d

thinking about all the incredibly talented internet culture reporters who've been laid off and/or gone independent and how much big media orgs could really use them right now

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

HuffPost @huffpost.com · 27d

Kirk, who was fatally shot while on stage at a speaking event, lit a path for the future of Trumpism.

Charlie Kirk Brought Hard-Right Politics To A New Generation

Kirk, who was fatally shot while on stage at a speaking event, lit a path for the future of Trumpism.

www.huffpost.com

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · Sep 8

The hotel and airline bankrolled challenge to the Olympic wage *did not qualify* for the ballot according to the LA County Registrar.

This means the city’s Olympic wage ordinance , $25/hour beginning this year and $30/hour by 2028, goes into effect for tourism workers immediately

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ALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CITY OF LOS ANGELES
) SS
CERTIFICATION OF INSUFFICIENCY
REFERENDUM PETITION TO REPEAL ORDINANCE NO. 188610
I, PETTY F. SANTOS, Interim City Clerk of the City of Los Angeles, hereby certify to the Los
Angeles City Council: that the signatures submitted with the Referendum Petition referenced above have been examined by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (County Registrar); that based on the County Registrar's examination, the Referendum Petition does not contain the number of valid signatures of registered voters of the City required under City Charter Section 461(a) and therefore the Referendum Petition is INSUFFICIENT; and that the attached summary from the County Registrar represents a true, correct, and complete summary of the County Registrar's examination of the Referendum Petition.
Ordinance No. 188610 shall take effect upon the date of this Certification pursuant to City
Charter Section 461(c).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the City of Los Angeles
this 8th day of September, 2025.
lettlitk
PETTY F. SANTOS
INTERIM CITY CLERK
for,

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
September 5, 2025
Jinny Pak, Division Manager
City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Clerk, Election and BIDS Division
555 Ramirez Street, Space 300
Los Angeles, California 90012
Dear Jinny Pak:
We have completed the signature verification submitted on July 9, 2025, for A Referendum Petition Seeking to Overturn Ordinance 188610 Increasing Wages and Healthcare Benefits for Hotel and Airport Workers and Hotel Worker Training.

140,774

140,774

84,007
56,767

2,339
117,607

17,082
The results of the signature verification are as follows:
Number of signatures filed
Number of signatures verified
Number of signatures found sufficient
Number of signatures found not sufficient
Not sufficient because duplicate
Number of signature withdrawal requests
Number of signatures withdrawn
Please call Tiffany Olsen, Head, Data Entry and Signature Verification at
(562) 462-2376 if you have any questions regarding the signature verification of this petition.
Jerome Jordan to
EAN C. LOGAN
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
County of Los Angeles
Digitally Signed using ClerkSign (Document: 0231ca68-45cd-4287-b48a-3c7128bf5cbd

Petition Statistics
9/3/2025 4:03:49PM
LA CITY REF SEEKING TO OVERTURN ORD INCREASING WAGES ORD 188610
Petition ID: 19639
Total Sigs Required
Total Sigs Submitted
Total Sample Size
Total Sigs Verified
140,774
140,774
140,774
OCADD
ADD
AEV
AGE
CAN
FP
MADD
MAX
MS
MS2
MSPET
NADD
NR
OD
RD
SIG
WD
TOTAL
TOTAL VALID:
OUT OF COUNTY ADDRESS
Total
DIFFERENT ADDRESS
Total
INFO ENTERED BY CIRCULATOR
Total
UNDERAGE AT SIGNING
Total
CANCELED
Total
FATAL PENDING
Total
PO BOX/MAILING ADDRESS
Total
MAX NUMBER OF TIMES SIGNED
Total
MISCELLANEOUS
Total
PRINTED SIGNATURE
Total
MISSING SIG ON PETITION
Total
NO ADDRESS
Total
NOT REGISTERED
Total
OUT OF DISTRICT
Total
INVALID REGISTRATION DATE
Total
MISMATCH SIGNATURE
Total
WITHDRAWN SIGNATURES
Total
TOTAL CHALLENGED
249
6,898
5
18
1,933
695
164
2,339
76
211
135
28
18,054
4,342
1,625
2,913
17,082
56,767
84.007
ESSVR. LLC —2025
9/3/2025 4:03-49PM
R802.01
Page 1 of 1

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · Sep 5

Another campaign finance scandal emerging while we wait for the mayor to emerge is peak Adams administration

THE CITY @thecity.nyc · Sep 5

NEW: Text messages reviewed by THE CITY show how business leaders and political allies collected big bucks for the mayor’s campaigns, which took advantage of a loophole to keep them from being disclosed.

www.thecity.nyc/2025/09/05/s...

The Secret Bundlers Behind Eric Adams' Campaign Fundraising Revealed

Text messages reviewed by THE CITY show how business leaders and political allies collected big bucks for the mayor’s campaigns, which took advantage of a loophole to keep them from being disclosed.

www.thecity.nyc

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Isabela Dias @isabelaalhadeff.bsky.social · Sep 5

In another loss in the courts for Trump, a federal judge just blocked the administration from revoking legal status from hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and Haitians in the United States. Judge Chen ruled that the termination of TPS exceeded the DHS Secretary’s authority and violated the law.

Trump is making thousands of rule-abiding immigrants undocumented

Inside the largest delegalization campaign in modern US history.

www.motherjones.com

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

tanya chen @tanyachen.bsky.social · Sep 4

Hello! I'm conducting research on BIPOC communities throughout Central Illinois on their media intake and their trust/distrust of mainstream (predom white) news sources. if you are or know someone who'd be good to talk to please get in touch

(could be a neighbor, parent, auntie, old school teacher)

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · Sep 4

NEW: A Texas mother recently became the first woman to sue for wrongful death of an embryo from abortion pills; past cases had aggrieved male partners suing.

But in a wild counterclaim, the Marine she accused of “drugging” her hot chocolate says she made it all up and there was no coercion

Texas Man Accused of Putting Abortion Pills in Partner’s Drink Claims She Made It Up, Countersues for $100 Million

The 34-year-old Marine alleges that the woman who sued him for wrongful death lied about a coerced abortion, and that there were political motives behind her lawsuit.

www.autonomynews.co

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

High Country News @highcountrynews.org · Sep 3

Firefighting veterans believe the management team overseeing fire crews played a key role in handing team members over to immigration authorities, shares Stateline.

buff.ly/CicG9BT

Firefighters question leaders’ role in ICE raid near Bear Gulch Fire - High Country News

Firefighting veterans believe the management team overseeing fire crews played a key role in handing team members over to immigration authorities.

www.hcn.org

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · Aug 28

things you don't ever expect to see in print "It is unusual for federal border agents to make arrests during the fighting of an active fire, especially in a remote area."

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Federal agents arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire

Federal agents showed up northeast of Lake Cushman to check identification of crew members fighting Washington's largest active wildfire.

www.seattletimes.com

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · Aug 27

Especially nausea-inducing to hear updates on a school shooting on the car radio as you drop your own kids off at school

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · Aug 26

ok i did not think i'd actually get an answer to this

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · Aug 26

do you think the officials in the cabinet meeting know that taylor swift is engaged

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · Aug 22

meghan and i have been saying this

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Olivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · Aug 19

New from @iamleslierangel.bsky.social and me:

Rep. Nicole Collier spent the night held hostage in the Texas House. Then four enraged women — many of them mothers — refused to leave her side overnight. The slept in jail; are banned from Capitol grounds for a year.

thebarbedwire.com/2025/08/19/h...

‘Women Have Always Been on the Front Lines.’ How Five Women at the Texas Capitol Stood Up to ‘Fascism.’

Rep. Nicole Collier, a Fort Worth Democrat, spent the night held hostage in the Texas House. Four enraged women refused to leave her side.

thebarbedwire.com

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · Aug 19

thank god we've got Fire It Up www.youtube.com/watch?v=-172...

Jonah Prill - Fire It Up (From “American Song Contest”) (Official Audio)

YouTube video by Atlantic Records

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · Aug 18

LAPD’s liability settlements are defunding the budget to the point that the city can’t find $1 million to cover legal services for immigrants.

www.latimes.com/california/n...

City officials want to fund immigration defense. The budget crisis makes it hard

"Why is it that we can't find the money for this?" asked Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez during a Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging and Disability Committee meeting on Aug. 1. "It appears that level of urgency is not being transmitted through this report, because when we're in other situations, we find the money."
Jurado piggybacked off her colleague.
"This is an immigration legal crisis," she said, adding that she felt
"disappointment, frustration and, frankly, anger with the outcome here that we can't find a single dollar to support immigrant communities and this legal defense fund."
"I find it really hard to believe that the CAO couldn't find any money for it," she said in an interview.

RepresentLA, which has served nearly 10,000 people, provides free legal representation for undocumented immigrants facing removal proceedings, as well as other services such as help with asylum applications. Some attorneys are on staff, while others are outside counsel.
In April, Bass said in her State of the City speech that the city would "protect every Angeleno, no matter where you are from, no matter when you arrived in L.A... because we know how much immigrants contribute to our city in so many ways. We will always stand strong with you."
But behind the scenes, the city's financial struggles put even the initial $1 million for RepresentLA in jeopardy, with the mayor proposing to slash it to zero for this fiscal year.

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Claudia Koerner @claudiakoerner.bsky.social · Aug 15

feeling validated that i wasn't the only one struggling to find it at first

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Reposted by Claudia Koerner

Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · Aug 15

The White House Twitter feed is now basically the old “black crime” tab from mid-2010s Breitbart. The editor of Breitbart back then was Steve Bannon, and a young senate staffer named Steven Miller was feeding him content from white nationalist sites. www.splcenter.org/resources/gu...

Stephen Miller: The Breitbart Emails

Before the 2016 election, White House senior adviser Stephen Miller regularly emailed Breitbart News editors. Hatewatch evaluated more than 900 of those correspondences. This series includes Hatewatch...

www.splcenter.org

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