Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 8d

Today we published the 2nd in my extreme heat series, looking at Arizona's progress since its statewide plan.

This time, it's all about whether Arizona's Chief Heat Officer has made a difference, or just made busy work for experts already leading heat responses: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 8d

Check back tomorrow for the second in the series

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 8d

@azcentral.com @sejorg.bsky.social @ejtodaynews.bsky.social @coveringclimatenow.org @asuhealthsolutions.bsky.social @uarizona.bsky.social @willhumble.bsky.social

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 8d

Big story out today launching a 3-part series I’ve been working on most of the year — looking at where Arizona’s extreme heat responses have improved since Gov. Hobbs’ plan…and where they have not.

First up: Is Arizona doing enough with heat-related hospital data?👇🏼
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

While awareness about heat death rates grows, attention to underlying causes of heat-related hospital visits lags, experts say, as temperatures rise.

www.azcentral.com

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Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD

Emily Atkin @emorwee.bsky.social · 15d

An article from a site called "Clean Tech Times" about Charlie Kirk and Big Oil money is trending in r/energy on Reddit

It's a completely plagiarized, unauthorized, unlinked version of an article I published the day before

I have no idea what to do about it except complain. It's so fucked up.

From the energy community on Reddit: Big oil’s shadow network pumped millions into Charlie Kirk’s culture war machine

Explore this post and more from the energy community

www.reddit.com

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 15d

Love when my climate stories feature propane ads...

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 15d

Note: If you were at the @sejorg.bsky.social conference in Tempe in April...this is what was going on when my lunch plenary with Crow got cancelled last minute. I couldn't disclose then, but a delay of this announcement forced us to pivot to a panel on challenges for journalists in the Trump era.

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 15d

🚨BREAKING: Arizona State Univ. just announced a $115 million donation, its largest ever, from former Walmart chairman Rob Walton. They're launching a new School of Conservation Futures.

My story, publ. as ASU Pres. Crow shares news at #ClimateWeekNYC, has details: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

ASU launches new School of Conservation Futures with record-setting $115 million donation

Arizona State University will also rename its College of Global Futures to honor donor Rob Walton, the former Walmart chairman.

www.azcentral.com

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 16d

📽️ WATCH: Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past 20 years studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.

RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 19d

Yeah it went well! Some of the trail is moderately technical and it handled fine, maybe partly bc the handlebars are crazy wide. That’s nice when you have a tent on them though. I hit my panniers on a few rocks squeezing thru techy spots, but that’ll get better once I get used to my new proportions.

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 19d

Thank you, I’m so glad I got to work with you on this!

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 19d

💕

Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 19d

Thank you @coveringclimatenow.org for the "#Climate in every beat" award! I'm happy to see this collab btw @azcentral.com & @19thnews.org on the intersection of climate concerns + abortion access get recognized.

Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

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Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD

Siri Carpenter @siricarpenter.bsky.social · 22d

If you're an early-career journalist, consider applying for @theopennotebook.bsky.social's paid, mentored fellowship and follow in the footsteps of @katherinejwu.com, @janehu.bsky.social, @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, @1juliarosen.bsky.social, @celiaford.bsky.social and many more! Deadline: 10/31.

The Open Notebook @theopennotebook.bsky.social · 23d

Applications are OPEN for our early-career fellowship program supported by the @bwfund.bsky.social!

Work with a mentor to plan, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook and become part of the TON team. 🧵

Early-Career Fellowship Program - The Open Notebook

Every year, The Open Notebook offers a paid, part-time fellowship program for early-career science journalists. This ten-month program offers fellows the opportunity to explore their career interests ...

www.theopennotebook.com

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 22d

I have a custom frame bag on order, but this is the basic setup on my Salsa Timberjack, @davidho.bsky.social. :)

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Press at Moms Clean Air Force @moms-press.bsky.social · 26d

"I started working on [climate] 60 years ago. And I will be working on it until my last breath, whenever that is," former Moms Arizona organizer Hazel Chandler tells @azcentral.com from hospice.

Read about Hazel's life in a feature by @joanmeiners.bsky.social: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

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Dara Lind @daralind.bsky.social · 29d

This isn’t at all surprising, given that it’s essentially been publicly reported that Stephen Miller ordered ICE to arrest first and ask questions later, but it’s still worth noting. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.

Under Trump administration, ICE scraps paperwork officers once had to do before immigration arrests

For years, officers were required to fill out "homework” before operations. But, one source noted, “it’s hard to fill out a worksheet that just says, ‘Meet in the Home Depot parking lot.’”

www.nbcnews.com

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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 29d

A student told her professor “President Trump’s laws state that there are two genders,” and that the lesson was “illegal” for contradicting that. It’s not. Executive orders are not laws.

Compliance with authoritarianism will not protect universities. Either we stand up for our missions or we fall.

Dan Hirschman @asociologist.bsky.social · 29d

Texas A&M’s President just removed a dean and department head from their positions after they supported a professor whose lesson on gender was challenged by a student. www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/a...

A&M Dean removed following student complaints over curriculum

The Department of Justice has also acknowledged the situation and said it would be investigating.

www.kbtx.com

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Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD

19thnews @19thnews.org · 29d

Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health. Trump’s EPA cancelled her work as climate threats continue to rise.

In a single email, the EPA ended her research into how climate change endangers children

Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health, but as climate threats continue to rise, the Trump administration cancelled her work.

19thnews.org

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · 29d

I’m doing a test overnight this weekend! Will grab some pics and report back.

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Jeff St John @jeffstjohn.bsky.social · Sep 8

PG&E's 'remote grid' program is using solar, batteries, and generators to replace long power lines crossing fire-prone territory for handfuls of far-flung customers— a niche case for utility-owned microgrids that could expand as grid costs rise:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
#energysky

Can utilities replace power lines with solar and batteries in remote…

Expanding the grid to reach far-flung customers can be a costly fire hazard. So utilities like PG&E are testing out microgrids using solar, batteries, and…

www.canarymedia.com

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · Sep 7

It is tempting. But I think journalists are pretty sensitive to the harms of doxxing people... :)

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AZ Sen. Priya Sundareshan @priya4az.bsky.social · Sep 7

What a beautiful tribute to Hazel Chandler and her lifetime of climate advocacy, even now as our progress is set backwards. So sad to hear she is in hospice now.

Thank you, Hazel, for everything you've done to help Arizonans breathe easier.

Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · Sep 7

Today, as part of my series on local climate leaders, I have a profile of Phoenix’s Hazel Chandler, who — even at the age of 79 & while fighting terminal cancer — is making time to stand up against the Trump administration’s rollbacks of climate work and policy.

—> www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · Sep 7

Today in "Hate mail chronicles of a #climate reporter"

Just heard from a reader who's repeatedly told me it's HILARIOUS that I think climate change is a real problem.

Not only did this man spell his own first name wrong...but it seems he's currently on trial in Tucson for fraud.

Good job Gerajd!

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Joan Meiners, PhD @joanmeiners.bsky.social · Sep 6

Heyo climate + outdoorsy folks!

I’m about to embark on a big reporting project & I’d love for you to follow along.

I’ll be riding my mtn bike across the entire state on the 850-mile Arizona Trail.

I’ll try to post here too but more updates & info can be found on IG @joan_bikes_arizona

Thank you!

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