Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

john hilliard

@iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social

290 followers 150 following 35 posts

Reporter for the Boston Globe. Consumer of coffee. https://www.johnhilliard.net/

www.johnhilliard.net

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by john hilliard

Chris Serres @chrisserres.bsky.social · Jul 18

“If people can’t get out of detention on bond, it means people are looking at weeks, maybe months, maybe years where their human rights are being violated on a regular basis,” Sarah Sherman-Stokes, a professor of immigration law at Boston University, said.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/18/m...

‘Catastrophic’: Mass. lawyers say new ICE policy will deny immigrants due process, strain detention facilities - The Boston Globe

A July 8 internal memo directs ICE officers to detain people who entered the country without permission for the duration of their deportation proceedings.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Andrew Deck @andrewdeck.bsky.social · Jul 2

Law360 is requiring all stories pass through an AI "bias indicator" before publication.

The new policy came weeks after an executive from its parent company, LexisNexis, accused the newsroom of liberal bias in its Trump admin coverage. My latest for @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/law3...

Law360 mandates reporters use AI “bias” detection on all stories

The policy was announced after an executive accused the newsroom of bias in its Trump administration coverage.

www.niemanlab.org

john hilliard @iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social · Jun 25

It’s a place where staff notice when a student got caught in the rain walking to school and offer them dry socks, where students insist as part of a “week of joy” on helping organize their teachers’ offices, and where many students and families wish they could stay longer. @bostonglobe.com

BPS closes its last middle school, following national trend of consolidating campuses - The Boston Globe

Standalone campuses for grades 6-8 are becoming rarer across the country and Boston has undertaken a broad effort to shift students to schools for grades 7-12.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Yvonne Abraham @yabraham.bsky.social · Jun 23

This is heartbreaking, and so well-told, by @iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social

As questions linger, family and school grieve for Boston 5-year-old killed in April bus crash - The Boston Globe

There have been few answers in the nearly two months since a Boston Public Schools bus struck and killed Lens Joseph on April 28.

www.bostonglobe.com

john hilliard @iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social · Jun 19

Fifty years ago, the United States made a pledge: No child, no matter how complex their disability, would be deprived an education.

That pledge never came true.

via @bostonglobe.com

Autistic children denied schooling amid lack of federal funding

The federal government has never fully funded special education, leaving schools across the country ill-equipped to teach children with severe disabilities. Today the US government contributes a mere ...

apps.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

The Boston Globe @bostonglobe.com · Jun 9

California Governor Gavin Newsom told MSNBC he plans to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration to roll back the National Guard deployment, which he called “an unconstitutional act.” Follow live updates.

California Governor Gavin Newsom says he’ll sue Trump over National Guard deployment to LA. Follow live updates. - The Boston Globe

Newsom said he believed the president was required to coordinate with the state’s governor before ordering such a deployment.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

The Boston Globe @bostonglobe.com · Jun 9

The woman fired from her job at Boston City Hall last month amid a controversy over a domestic violence arrest claims Mayor Michelle Wu unfairly cut her loose in an attempt to contain an election-year scandal.

Former Boston City Hall staffer claims Wu administration fired her in order to protect top aide - The Boston Globe

The woman fired from her job at Boston City Hall last month amid a controversy over a domestic violence arrest alleges that her boyfriend’s supervisor, cabinet chief Segun Idowu, propositioned her.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

The Boston Globe @bostonglobe.com · Jun 9

The number of people living on the streets and in shelters has risen sharply across Massachusetts over the past several years. Nowhere has that surge been more pronounced than in the mid-sized cities that ring Greater Boston.

As housing costs rise in Boston, homelessness soars in the cities that surround it - The Boston Globe

Boston’s housing crisis is rippling outward, hitting places like Brockton and other Gateway Cities and putting longtime residents there on the streets.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

The Boston Globe @bostonglobe.com · Jun 9

Each year, thousands of Massachusetts drivers face the possibility of losing their legal authority to drive because of unpaid tolls and other debts unrelated to road safety. Sometimes the only fix carries an insurmountable cost.

‘A real cycle of debt.’ The RMV has marked millions of licenses for non-renewal due to unpaid fees. - The Boston Globe

The state Registry of Motor Vehicles placed driver’s licenses in non-renewal status nearly 3 million times during a five-year period because of unpaid tolls and other debts unrelated to road safety, a...

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

The Boston Globe @bostonglobe.com · Jun 9

More than 12,000 Harvard alumni, 21 state attorneys general, and two dozen universities, including five Ivy League schools, filed or plan to file amicus briefs backing Harvard in its court battle with the Trump administration, court records showed.

21 state attorneys general, multiple universities, alumni to back Harvard in court battle against Trump - The Boston Globe

Two dozen universities, including five Ivy League schools, plan to file an amicus brief, including six that joined the coalition in a filing Monday, court records show.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Roibeárd Meillear @beaniebob.bsky.social · Jun 8

Journalism is not a crime
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

British photojournalist hit by non lethal rounds during Los Angeles protests

Nick Stern to undergo surgery for wound sustained during the standoff between police and anti-Ice protesters

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by john hilliard

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Jun 7

Federal immigration authorities carried out enforcement activities at businesses across Los Angeles on Friday, prompting clashes outside at least one location as authorities threw flash bangs to try to disperse a crowd that had gathered in protest.

Immigration authorities carry out enforcement activity across Los Angeles amid crowds of protesters

Federal immigration authorities carried out enforcement activities in Los Angeles on Friday. Some clashes broke out as crowds gathered to protest the activity.

Reposted by john hilliard

The Onion @theonion.com · Jun 5

Please Like Me

It can be strange, sometimes, to be me. I’m the wealthiest man on the planet, for starters. Leaders across America, and indeed the world, look to me as a visionary driving technological progress in ar...

Reposted by john hilliard

Amanda Milkovits @amandamilkovits.bsky.social · Jun 5

I was in shock, I didn’t know what was going on.’ Milford teen released from ICE detention after immigration judge’s ruling www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/05/m...

‘I was in shock, I didn’t know what was going on.’ Milford teen released from ICE detention after immigration judge’s ruling - The Boston Globe

The arrest has unleashed outrage at federal officials and an outpouring of support for Marcelo Gomes da Silva and his family.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Ryan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · Jun 5

When you went to the Iowa Writers Workshop but ended up in journalism

Reposted by john hilliard

New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · Jun 4

NEFAC's Justin Silverman and Gregory V. Sullivan recently spoke to @iamjohnhilliard.bsky.social at @bostonglobe.com about why we're left in the dark about a bus operator who struck and killed a 5-year-old boy. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/04/m... #opengov

Reposted by john hilliard

Niki Griswold @nikigriswold.bsky.social · Jun 2

ICYMI: Boston wanted tax-exempt institutions to chip in more to help pay for city services, by reforming its 'payment in lieu of taxes,' or PILOT, program. Under Trump, it’s looking unlikely. #bospoli

My latest for @bostonglobe.com
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/31/b...

Boston wanted tax-exempt institutions to chip in more to help pay for city services. Under Trump, it’s looking unlikely. - The Boston Globe

Amid the Trump administration's cuts, top City Hall aides have indicated Boston is backing off from immediately asking nonprofits for substantially larger PILOT payments.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

The Boston Globe @bostonglobe.com · Jun 2

ICE officials said they originally intended to arrest the father of Milford High School student Marcelo Gomes da Silva when they detained the teen over the weekend.

Immigration officials say they intended to arrest father of Milford teen instead - The Boston Globe

Immigration officials said Marcelo Gomes da Silva was driving his father’s car on Saturday when ICE agents pulled him over.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Aidan Ryan @aidanryan.bsky.social · Jun 2

A few GBH updates:
- Layoffs heavily impacted the children’s media and education department, which suffered from the Trump admin canceling the Ready to Learn grant program
- Eight staffers from “The World” radio program were laid off
- Two newsroom employees were laid off

Aidan Ryan @aidanryan.bsky.social · Jun 2

GBH is laying off 45 employees, about 6 percent of its staff, due to federal funding cuts and rising costs as revenue remains flat. The job cuts come less than a month after it laid off nine employees from its WORLD Channel. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/02/b...

GBH lays off 6 percent of staff due to funding cuts, rising costs, and stagnant revenues - The Boston Globe

Combined with layoffs last month at WORLD Channel, the cuts amount to 7 percent of GBH’s total workforce.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Peter Bailey-Wells (he/him) @baileywells.bsky.social · Jun 1

“I don’t care that they’re 18 — he’s just a kid."

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/31/m...

‘He’s just a kid’: ICE detains Milford High student on his way to volleyball practice, administrator says - The Boston Globe

The student, a junior whose name hasn't been released, had been in the country since he was 5 years old, a school administrator said.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · May 31

Page One in Des Moines.

@jemsinger.bsky.social

Reposted by john hilliard

NBC News @nbcnews.com · May 30

Sen. Joni Ernst was repeatedly pressed on cuts to Medicaid in the House's budget bill at a town hall in her home state, pushing back on an attendee who said the cuts would lead to deaths.

"People are not — well, we all are going to die, so, for heaven’s sakes," she said.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst defends proposed Medicaid cuts: 'We all are going to die'

Her comment came in response to an attendee who yelled that proposed GOP cuts to Medicaid would cost lives.

Reposted by john hilliard

emmaplatoff.bsky.social @emmaplatoff.bsky.social · May 30

There's no shortage of issues to debate in this year’s Boston mayor’s race. But so far, the one taking center stage is money: who’s giving it, who’s spending it, whose dad has a lot of it, and how much of it is funding attack ads.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/30/m...

with @nikigriswold.bsky.social

Personal wealth, outside spending take center stage as Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft compete in fiery Boston mayor’s race - The Boston Globe

Outside spending and immense private wealth are hardly new concepts in Massachusetts politics. But the sums reported so far could set the city on a course to its most expensive mayor’s race yet.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

tiana woodard (she/her) @tianarochon.bsky.social · May 23

in 2020, dozens of boston group pledged to spend $$$ towards racial equity. but where did it go?

@vincedixon.bsky.social and i tried to figure out where a billion of those dollars went. but it’s painstakingly hard to do so.

for @bostonglobe.com:

After George Floyd’s murder, Boston groups pledged $1 billion toward equity causes. Where did it go? - The Boston Globe

Dozens of Boston organizations pledged to fund racial equity. The Globe tried to track the commitments down.

www.bostonglobe.com

Reposted by john hilliard

Chris Serres @chrisserres.bsky.social · May 27

The Boston Globe interviewed more than two dozen young scientists since March who say they are weighing whether to leave the United States — or abandon scientific research entirely — because of the Trump administration’s widening assault on scientific research.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/27/m...

Trump cuts to medical research spark fears of ‘massive brain drain’ of young scientists - The Boston Globe

Many students say they may leave the country or abandon scientific research entirely as their career options shrink.

www.bostonglobe.com