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In Katrina's wake, one New Orleans community thrives as another still fights for survival

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Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Aug 28

In New Orleans, Broadmoor and the Lower Ninth Ward tell competing stories of recovery since Hurricane Katrina. One emerged stronger than before. The other remains entrenched in a battle for survival. Rick Jervis reports from New Orleans for @usatoday.com ⁦‪ www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Two New Orleans neighborhoods tell competing stories of recovering from Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago.

I went back to see if New Orleans' culture survived Katrina. Here's what I found.

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Aug 28

Tomorrow marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast. ⁦ @usatoday.com national correspondent Rick Jervis covered a lot of the early rebuilding efforts‬⁩. He went back to see if New Orleans' culture survived Katrina. Here's what he found. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago, many wondered whether the city's unique culture - particularly food and music - would survive.

LA banned the N and C words from council meetings. Does the First Amendment allow that?

Reposted by Duane Gang

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Aug 13

The LA city council recently banned the N-word and C-word in its meetings, saying the terms have disrupted the proceedings "on many occasions."

But groups like @thefireorg.bsky.social, @facoalition.bsky.social and @aclu.org say the rule violates free speech.

My latest for @usatoday.com:

The council called it a "narrowly focused rule" to curb ongoing disruptions during its meetings. But some First Amendment groups are concerned.

From Bibles to prayer groups: What Trump's new religion memo for federal workers means

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Reposted by Duane Gang

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Aug 7

The Trump admin's memo about fed. employees' right to religious expression says, among other things, they can talk to others about "why (their) faith is correct."

But that's nothing new, experts said. The new memo is, however, less concerned w/ potential harassment, they said.

More @usatoday.com:

Trump's administration previously touted guidance Clinton's administration issued in 1997 on federal employees' right to religious expression at work.

Wait a bluegrass-pickin’ minute: Canadians are making Old-Fashioneds without Kentucky bourbon?

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Aug 3

Canadians have pulled American alcohol from the shelves. So how does one make an Old Fashioned without Kentucky bourbon? Kentucky-native and Old Fashioned connoisseur
Michael Collins of @usatoday.com decided to find out. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Canadians are exploring new ways to make a classic cocktail after pulling American booze from their shelves to protest Donald Trump's tariff policies.

Farmers are facing a fork on Trump's immigration highway. So what's next?

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 27

Immigration raids and deportations are roiling American farms. For @usatoday.com, @chriskenning.bsky.social talks to farmers about what they see as the path forward. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Across the country, Trump’s immigration raids have roiled farms and farming communities – with cases of worker shortages and fears of unpicked crops.

Trump is seeking to reshape higher education. Meet the man he wants leading the charge.

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Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 27

The Trump administration is seeking to dramatically reshape higher education across the U.S. For @usatoday.com, @chrisquintana.bsky.social takes a deep dive looking at the man Trump wants leading the charge. www.usatoday.com/story/news/i...

Trump's pick to oversee higher ed was a vice president for a company that paid $13 million to settle accusations it defrauded the student aid system.

Can Trump deport visa holders over their speech? Federal judge will soon decide

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Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 21

The latest from @brieannafrank.bsky.social on the @usatoday.com First Amendment beat. Reporting from Boston. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

U.S. District Judge William Young, who previously blocked the administration's termination of NIH grants, presided over the two-week nonjury trial.

He signed away his home for a school that was never built. His family is fighting back.

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Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 20

From @usatoday.com national columnist @suzyscribe.bsky.social: George Houston was pressured to sell his land in 1968 for a new middle school. It was never built. Now, his family is fighting back -- and changing state law in Washington along the way. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

George Houston was pressed to sell his land in 1968. Like many Black Americans, it cost him a chance to build generational wealth for his children.

Reposted by Duane Gang

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Jul 16

Smoky Hills @pbs.org is a rural station that sits in the heart of Kansas wheat country. It's among the places that advocates fear could be hardest hit if the Senate votes to claw back $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

My latest for @usatoday.com:

With just word-of-mouth warning, a man raced 25 miles to save guests at his Texas RV park

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Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 11

With just word-of-mouth warning, a man raced 25 miles to save guests at his Texas RV park. From @usatoday.com's Rick Jervis on the ground in Center Point, Texas. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Center Point, Texas, RV park owner David Chambers said he was stunned not to have had a better warning as floodwaters rose.

See how the Texas floods unfolded and why Camp Mystic was in a hazardous location

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 11

From the talented @usatoday.com graphics team. How the deadly Texas flooding unfolded. www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...

Maps show how heavy rainfall and rocky terrain helped create the devastating Texas floods that have killed more than 120 people.

A flood killed his entire family in 2015. Now, he's joined search efforts in Texas.

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 7

In 2015, this Texas man lost his entire family in flash flooding. Since then, he has felt called to join search-and-rescue efforts after other deadly natural disasters. Now, he's in Kerrville. Powerful story from @usatoday.com's Rick Jervis. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Jonathan McComb was the sole family member to survive a Texas flooding in 2015. Now, he's in Kerrville searching for victims in from the latest flooding.

Reposted by Duane Gang

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jun 17

Brief update, Senate version would cap the college endowment tax at 8% instead of the House's max rate of 21%. Also, only three tax tiers now, instead of four. Religious carveout remains in place, via Senate Finance Committee: www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-ne...

A jailbreak, a monthlong manhunt and a push to fix New Orleans’ broken lockup

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jun 16

It's been one month since the brazen jailbreak in New Orleans. With 2 escapees still on the run, @chriskenning.bsky.social in this deep dive takes us inside the escape, the manhunt and the push to fix a broken jail system. @usatoday.com www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

The 10 men broke out of a New Orleans jail in an escape straight out of Hollywood. Now, with two escapees are still on the run 30 days into the search.

'No Kings Day' protests planned for June 14 with aim to reclaim the American flag

Reposted by Duane Gang

Sarah D. Wire @sarahdwire.bsky.social · Jun 11

'No Kings Day' protests planned for June 14 with aim to reclaim the American flag www.usatoday.com/story/news/n... via @usatoday.com

The 1,800 "No Kings" protests across the country are meant to express frustration over President Trump's actions that organizers say are authoritarian.

How the Supreme Court could still reshape religious liberty with decisions in two cases

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Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jun 3

The US Supreme Court is still to rule on two more cases that could have significant impact on religious liberty and the First Amendment. @brieannafrank.bsky.social explores the issue for @usatoday.com. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

The court deadlocked in a case that would have created the first religious charter school, but two other significant religion cases remain.

With a war on Harvard raging, religious colleges get big tax break in Trump spending bill

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · May 29

Today for @usatoday.com, @chrisquintana.bsky.social and @brieannafrank.bsky.social explore the religious exemption in the big college endowment tax hike included in the White House spending bill. Will every religious institution qualify? www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Trump's spending bill, now headed to the Senate, would exempt religious colleges from a big tax increase on endowments.

Orleans Parish DA blasts inmate search delays as prosecutors face safety worries

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Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · May 23

From @chriskenning.bsky.social and @photojmorgan.bsky.social on the ground in New Orleans as the city remains on edge amid the manhunt for five remaining jail escapees. The DA blasts delays in gathering fingerprint and DNA and demands the sheriff preserve documents. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

As the search for five remaining escapees continues, Orleans Parish DA Jason Williams says there were delays in evidence gathering at the jail.

How 'money, power or greed' ripped the Nooksack 306 from their homes - and their tribe

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · May 22

Wonderful storytelling by @usatoday.com national columnist @suzyscribe.bsky.social. She is embarking on a series about what home means. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Elizabeth Oshiro was a member of the Nooksack Indian Tribe. A part of the family. Welcome to live on their tribal land. Until she wasn’t.

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · May 20

This is a good example of looking deep into a nonprofit organization's tax forms. @chrisquintana.bsky.social reports on how much Liberty University paid out to ex-president Jerry Falwell Jr. to end litigation stemming from his resignation back in 2020.

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · May 20

Liberty University and its former president Jerry Falwell Jr. settled years of legal fighting in 2024. At the time, both sides said they reached an agreement without sharing details. But newly filed tax forms reveal Falwell is set to receive roughly $15M.

White smoke at Vatican, phones blowing up in Chicago: Their old classmate Robert is pope

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · May 11

Really nice storytelling and reporting from @usatoday.com and @chriskenning.bsky.social and @michael-loria.bsky.social about Pope Leo XIV and his early years in Chicago. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Those who knew Pope Leo XIV as a younger man say his path to the papacy has prepared him well for the challenges ahead.

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · May 5

I am staying in Nashville so I’ll no doubt get to work with folks here from time to time still, and I'll continue cheering on The Tennessean and getting the paper at home and online! 4/4

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · May 5

Going forward, grateful to all my new
@usatoday.com colleagues for the opportunity and the chance to help showcase and elevate the fantastic journalism USA TODAY is providing readers across the U.S. 3/