Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Grant Ashley

EL PAÍS @elpais.com · 10d

España ha vetado el tránsito por las bases de Rota (Cadiz) y Morón de la Frontera (Sevilla) de aviones o buques de Estados Unidos cargados con armamento, munición o equipos militares para Israel

España veta el paso por Rota y Morón de armamento de Estados Unidos para Israel

Los seis cazas F-35 entregados en los últimos meses por Washington han utilizado la base de Las Azores

elpais.com

8 64 210

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Gino Fanelli @ginofanelli.bsky.social · 29d

A protest against ICE in the Park Avenue neighborhood appeared to provoke the federal agents to leave a roofing job site.

www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

ICE agents in the Park Ave neighborhood spark large-scale protest

The group shouted “shame” and "Gestapo,” and applauded as agents in the ICE-led action drove a Border Patrol SUV away on four flat tires, which had been slashed.

www.wxxinews.org

3 39 160

Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · Aug 31

I interviewed Ani DiFranco for @buffalonews.com ahead of her concert tonight at Terminal B. We talked about her Broadway debut, her new album and what she’s expecting from her first trip to Buffalo since the pandemic. Check it out while there’s no paywall!
buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Ani DiFranco: Buffalo will 'always be my home'

The folk singer said she “can’t wait” to see what a revitalized downtown and new immigrant populations have done for the city.

buffalonews.com

3 4

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · Aug 17

It’s true. If I had learned this… I dunno, 35 years ago?… I’d have had a very different writing career.

Hannah Vardit @hannahvardit.bsky.social · Aug 16

hi this is my favorite writing advice, it's from former simpsons writer john swartzwelder (i think about the crappy little elf all the time) www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

screengrab of a portion of new yorker interview with former simpson's writer john swartzwelder:
Mike Sacks: How much time and attention did you spend on these scripts? Another “Simpsons” writer once compared your scripts to finely tuned machines—if the wrong person mucked with them, the whole thing could blow up.
Swartzwelder: All of my time and all of my attention. It’s the only way I know how to write, darn it. But I do have a trick that makes things easier for me. Since writing is very hard and rewriting is comparatively easy and rather fun, I always write my scripts all the way through as fast as I can, the first day, if possible, putting in crap jokes and pattern dialogue—“Homer, I don’t want you to do that.” “Then I won’t do it.” Then the next day, when I get up, the script’s been written. It’s lousy, but it’s a script. The hard part is done. It’s like a crappy little elf has snuck into my office and badly done all my work for me, and then left with a tip of his crappy hat. All I have to do from that point on is fix it. So I’ve taken a very hard job, writing, and turned it into an easy one, rewriting, overnight. I advise all writers to do their scripts and other writing this way. And be sure to send me a small royalty every time you do it.

34 66 720

Reposted by Grant Ashley

BTPM NPR @btpmnpr.bsky.social · Jul 26

The new legislation allows the city to seize illicit products, shutter unlicensed businesses, hold landlords accountable and impose five-figured daily fines. https://www.btpm.org/local/2025-07-26/buffalo-illegal-dispensaries-enforcement-law

Buffalo Common Council seeks to crack down on illegal dispensaries

Buffalo city officials can now shutter illegal dispensaries, seize and destroy illicit products, and levy five-figure daily fines.

www.btpm.org

1 1

Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · Jul 26

Looking for horses, art, steampunk or jazz in WNY this summer? Check out my latest for @buffalonews.com at the link or in tomorrow’s print edition:

buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Discover rodeo, steampunk and sculptures at festivals throughout WNY

Take a short drive out of Buffalo to enjoy a varied selection of summer events, festivals.

buffalonews.com

3

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Saeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · Jul 19

Nathan Lane should’ve gotten an Oscar for “The Bird Cage.”

25 37 610

Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · Jul 19

I’m back for the summer as the weekend host on @btpmnpr.bsky.social! Tune in to 88.7 FM or stream the show online at btpm.org

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Buffalo Toronto Public Media

BTPM is your local public media station, serving the communities of Western New York and Southern Ontario.

btpm.org

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · Jul 18

JUST IN: The Justice Department's bid to relesae Epstein grand jury info comes with a huge caveat that it will seek to redact not just victim info but other "personal identifying information." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

790 2.2K 6.5K

Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · Jul 10

My latest for Investigative Post has a serial cop impersonator, a "livid" Common Councilmember, bad blood between neighbors and the plea deal that put the nail in the coffin of a 28-year-old Buffalo establishment.
Behind the closing of Club Marcella: www.investigativepost.org/2025/07/10/b...

The story behind why Buffalo's Club Marcella closed

The owners insist they weren't to blame for the violence that plagued their club. Cops, public officials and victims' lawyers disagree.

www.investigativepost.org

1 1

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · Jul 3

NEW: In first public account, Kilmar Abrego Garcia details weeks in Salvadoran prison CECOT. Says he was subjected to 'severe beatings,' psychological torture & soiled himself. Also says jailers confirmed his tattoos have no gang meaning. w/@kyledcheney www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

Kilmar Abrego Garcia describes ‘severe beatings’ and ‘psychological torture’ in Salvadoran prison

Abrego submitted a harrowing and detailed account of abuse after the Trump administration illegally deported him.

www.politico.com

43 630 1.4K

Reposted by Grant Ashley

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jun 2

Breaking News: Antonio Delgado, New York’s lieutenant governor, said he would take on Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year’s Democratic primary. https://trib.al/8q4hdyT

Antonio Delgado, Hochul’s No. 2, Will Challenge Her in Governor’s Race

Mr. Delgado, New York’s lieutenant governor, said he would take on Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year’s Democratic primary because her tenure had lacked “bold, decisive” leadership.

trib.al

8 23 120

Reposted by Grant Ashley

David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · May 27

NEWS: NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sue Trump White House over effort to ban federal funding for NPR & PBS

The lawsuit calls Trump's executive order "textbook retaliation" for protected free speech - threatening public radio

My story:

www.npr.org/2025/05/27/n...

NPR and Colorado public radio stations sue Trump White House

NPR and three Colorado public radio stations are suing the Trump administration over the president's executive order seeking to ban the use of federal money for NPR and PBS.

www.npr.org

26 350 1.6K

Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · Apr 8

ICE has cancelled the visas of 13 current and former UB students, per The Spectrum. University admin says the “exact reason for each visa revocation” is “unclear.”

www.ubspectrum.com/article/2025...

ICE cancels 13 UB students’ visas; reasons unknown

Four current UB students and nine recent graduates studying on F-1 visas had their immigration status terminated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week, the university confirmed Tuesday even...

www.ubspectrum.com

Reposted by Grant Ashley

The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · Mar 4

Businesses in Buffalo, N.Y. brace for tariff impact, prepare to lose Canadian customers

Restaurant owners in the city worry a trade war could cost them a majority of their income

www.theglobeandmail.com

6 15 36

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Mar 1

The main photo on the Cuomo for Mayor website is him in front of the giant foam COVID mountain he had his staff make and paint for a press conference prop.

www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/p...

1 1 5

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · Feb 23

From a FOIA perspective, "the entire federal workforce should write down and email what they did last week" is extremely funny

190 1.6K 10K

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Alberto Cairo @albertocairo.com · Jan 20

"I dislike the labeling of journalism as “storytelling.” Long anecdotal lead paragraphs and endless narratives worthy of [...] The Thousand and One Nights are not my idea of what news is supposed to be." @sulliview.bsky.social nails it, as always: margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/everything...

Everything wrong with Big Journalism in six words

The deeper meaning of the Washington Post's new mission statement

margaretsullivan.substack.com

14 37 150

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · Jan 10

Merchan: Through that lens, this court must determine a lawful sentence. After careful analysis, the court determines that the only lawful sentence that permits sentence without encroaching on the legal protections of the presidency is an unconditional discharge. Therefore, I impose that sentence.

99 180 740

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · Jan 4

I have now seen the Ann Telnaes cartoon of Jeff Bezos's supplication before Donald Trump more often today than I've seen any other cartoon during the entire rest of the year.

So, well played, Washington Post.

85 1.1K 4.5K

Reposted by Grant Ashley

Casey Seiler @caseyseiler.bsky.social · Jan 2

BREAKING: The state Attorney General's Office will recuse itself in the case of Robert Brooks, who died after being brutally beaten by guards at Marcy Correctional. The Onondaga County DA has been tapped to take over. www.timesunion.com/capitol/arti...