Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · 9d

A loving tribute to a life well lived and to a bygone era in journalism.

www.wsj.com/us-news/mari...

Marilyn Hagerty, Whose Column on Olive Garden Went Viral in 2012, Dies at 99

It was a simpler time online, her son recalls—and his no-nonsense mother broke through the noise for all the right reasons

www.wsj.com

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · 22d

I once listened to a man object to a playground being built across the street from him because he didn't want to listen to the shouts and cries of happy children.

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Aug 14

Democratic governors aren't leaping to opt into the new federal tax credit scholarship program, but only two have said no outright. One is "excited" at the possibilities. But will federal rules give them the flexibility to shape this program?

www.chalkbeat.org/2025/08/13/f...

Guess which Democratic governor is ‘excited’ about the federal tax-credit scholarship

Most Democratic governors have yet to say whether they will opt their states into the new voucher-like scheme backed by federal tax credits. One advocate likened the situation to making lemonade out o...

www.chalkbeat.org

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Aug 6

Yes, I did just block someone for talking shit about my grandma. We can know better and do better without taking a grotesquely simplified evil view of strangers' grandmas.

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Aug 6

Forgot the link: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/n...

Columbia and Brown to Disclose Admissions and Race Data in Trump Deal

www.nytimes.com

Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Aug 6

The Trump administration is also scrutinizing admissions at Brown and Columbia, looking at grades, standardized test scores and race of admitted students and rejected applicants for evidence of secret affirmative action.

Mikhail Zinshteyn @mzinshteyn.bsky.social · Aug 6

This is the first legal action seeking to force NSF to undo the 300 grants they suspended at UCLA last week.

Also, read my story to see how the NSF accused UCLA of doing affirmative action because it uses holistic admissions. That was a justification in suspending the grants.

Mikhail Zinshteyn @mzinshteyn.bsky.social · Aug 6

NEW: A federal judge today ordered lawyers for the Trump administration to explain why last week’s suspension of about 300 UCLA grants by the National Science Foundation does not run afoul of that judge’s June order barring the agency from terminating additional grants.

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Aug 6

I remember this idea of not hitting kids when you're angry coming up once with my grandmother, who absolutely spanked my dad and his siblings. She responded, "Of course you hit them you're angry! What kind of monster hits a kid when they're NOT angry?!"

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Mikhail Zinshteyn @mzinshteyn.bsky.social · Aug 6

This is the first legal action seeking to force NSF to undo the 300 grants they suspended at UCLA last week.

Also, read my story to see how the NSF accused UCLA of doing affirmative action because it uses holistic admissions. That was a justification in suspending the grants.

Mikhail Zinshteyn @mzinshteyn.bsky.social · Aug 6

NEW: A federal judge today ordered lawyers for the Trump administration to explain why last week’s suspension of about 300 UCLA grants by the National Science Foundation does not run afoul of that judge’s June order barring the agency from terminating additional grants.

‘Immediately rescind’: UC researchers ask judge to undo Trump’s UCLA grant suspensions

After the National Science Foundation suspended UCLA research grants, the UC claims that decision violated a court order.

calmatters.org

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Anna Merlan @annamerlan.bsky.social · Aug 5

We could have had cancer vaccines, and instead the United States will contribute nothing whatsoever to mRNA research, condemning millions of people worldwide to unnecessary illness and death

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · Aug 5

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces he will cancel $500 million in vaccine development projects.

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Aug 6

What happens to happiness after age 10? I love being a mom to older kids / young adults.

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Erin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · Aug 3

Did you feel the North Jersey/Manhattan earthquake? Fill out the USGS “Did you feel it?” form and participate directly in SCIENCE - help them learn more about earthquakes! 🧪

earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/...

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Jul 31

Possibly my single greatest pet peeve on this and all related platforms. POST THE LINK!

Ashton Pittman @ashtonpittman.bsky.social · Jul 31

People, I'm begging you: If you post a screenshot of a paragraph from an article, AT LEAST include a link to the article.

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Jul 31

Penny Schwinn was supposed to bring expertise and education bonafides to Trump's Education Department. Cultural conservatives back in Tennessee had other ideas. www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/31/p...

Penny Schwinn is no longer Trump’s nominee to be No. 2 at the Education Department

Some hoped Schwinn, a former state schools chief, would lend expertise to Trump’s efforts to give states more power over education. But cultural conservatives in Tennessee opposed her nomination.

www.chalkbeat.org

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Jul 28

Sharing this story in Slack almost feels like its own HR violation. So much secondhand embarrassment.

www.oklahoman.com/story/news/e...

Board members say naked women on TV in Ryan Walters' office during closed session

Two Oklahoma State Board of Education members say scenes of naked women were on a TV screen visible to them during a closed session.

www.oklahoman.com

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Jul 27

This is just mean. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Venezuelan Little League team denied travel visas to U.S. for World Series

The Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, will not be able to participate in the Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina this year.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Jul 23

I don't put a lot of stock in "did it the right way" rhetoric, period, because immigration laws were so different in the past, but in this case, Gabe Evans' grandfather was in a nearly identical position to the people whose deportation Evans supports today.

Chase Woodruff @chasewoodruff.bsky.social · Jul 22

Colorado Republican Rep. Gabe Evans has centered his pro-Trump political identity — and his support for mass deportation — on the story of his Mexican-American grandfather, who he has repeatedly said immigrated “the legal way.”

Documents show that isn’t true.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans misrepresented family’s immigration history | Colorado Newsline

U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans of Colorado has mischaracterized the story of how his Depression-era ancestors immigrated to America.

coloradonewsline.com

Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Jul 23

Feeling very grateful today because my father is 90-95% going to maintain his track record of having 10 fingers.

For someone who's been a cabinetmaker for nearly 50 years, it's an impressive track record. Things looked dicey yesterday, but the hand surgeon is pretty optimistic.

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Andy Kenney @andyknny.bsky.social · Jul 22

Very funny interview as Gov. Polis cancels his pedestrian bridge...

Polis: "I'll chain myself to the Capitol plaza if needed, to prevent construction of the walkway."

@ryanhasaquestion.bsky.social: "Governor, the only person you would chain yourself to oppose is your previous self."

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Ryan Warner @ryanhasaquestion.bsky.social · Jul 22

JUST IN: Gov. Polis scuttles walkway near the state Capitol.

87,000 people responded to a survey, 93% opposed.

"I'll chain myself to the Capitol plaza, if needed, to prevent construction of the walkway," says Polis, who was its initial and rare champion.

Plans have cost ~$1 million, he says.

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The Associated Press @apnews.com · Jul 22

The Pentagon has ordered U.S. Marines to leave Los Angeles after more than a month in the city.

Pentagon withdraws 700 Marines from Los Angeles

The Pentagon has ordered U.S. Marines to leave Los Angeles after more than a month in the city. The 700 Marines were deployed on June 9 during protests against the administration’s immigration policies.

bit.ly

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Erica Meltzer @ericameltzer.bsky.social · Jul 20

I had nearly this exact exchange with my 15-year-old when she asked me if I knew what Jubilee was.

"Uh, I know what jubilee is, but I have a feeling you're talking about a different jubilee."

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Kyle Clark @kylec.bsky.social · Jul 20

Online voting on Governor Polis’ $28.5M Capitol pedestrian bridge project closes at midnight Monday. I appreciate that he included my commentary opposing the project on his online survey page. www.co150walkway.com/feedback

Feedback — Colorado 150 Walkway

www.co150walkway.com

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Jacob Kornbluh @jacobkornbluh.bsky.social · Jul 20

The National Education Association board rejected a resolution by union members to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League over its Israel advocacy.

forward.com/fast-forward...

Nation’s largest teachers union rejects move to cut ties with ADL

The National Education Association rejected a resolution to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League over its Israel advocacy.

forward.com

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Ariel Edwards-Levy @aedwardslevy.bsky.social · Jul 20

A dynamic we've seen in polling even before Trump re-took office: support for deportation tends to erode when pollsters specify that people without criminal records or longtime residents will be among those affected. Now, support is dropping as people see what that looks like in practice.

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