Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 31

“This area is important for the long-term survival of the Joshua trees,” Rockwell said. “It’s that last refuge.”

Wildfire threatens Joshua trees in area considered a 'last refuge' for the species

The 20-acre fire is burning in the Covington Flats area of Joshua Tree National Park, an important region where experts say the trees are best suited to survive and reproduce in a warming climate.

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 30

The government’s own data, which was obtained by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and a team of journalists from Venezuela, showed that officials knew that only 32 of the deportees had been convicted of U.S. crimes and that most were nonviolent offenses, such as retail theft or traffic violations.

Trump Administration Knew Vast Majority of Venezuelans Sent to Salvadoran Prison Had Not Been Convicted of U.S. Crimes

Homeland Security records reveal that officials knew that more than half of the 238 deportees were labeled as having no criminal record in the U.S. and had only violated immigration laws.

www.propublica.org

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 30

President Trump may seek to deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants who recently entered the United States under a two-year grant of parole, the Supreme Court decided Friday.

Supreme Court says Trump may end legal parole given to 532,000 migrants from four countries

Trump revoked two large-scale Biden policies that extended temporary protection to migrants. "The court plainly botched this," Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a dissent.

www.latimes.com

Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Laura J. Nelson @laurajnelson.bsky.social · May 28

It's true -- we are having another round of layoffs at the L.A. Times, the second this month. The vast majority of this cash is already in the pipeline to folks who lost their jobs in early May. I'm hoping we can all dig a bit deeper to support the community journalists laid off this morning.

Gabriel San Román @gsanroman2.bsky.social · May 28

@laurajnelson.bsky.social has reopened a GoFundMe account to help our latest union brothers land on their feet.

Please consider donating: www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

Donate to Help support laid-off L.A. Times journalists, organized by Laura Nelson

The Los Angeles Times announced plans Friday to lay off 14 journalists, or a… Laura Nelson needs your support for Help support laid-off L.A. Times journalists

www.gofundme.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · May 28

Column: Are plans for the Joshua Tree Art Museum a desert mirage?

A foundation announced the groundbreaking for the Joshua Tree Art Museum, but public records reveal a more complicated picture.

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 27

In 2023, a Mexican girl with a life-threatening medical condition was allowed to enter the U.S. on humanitarian grounds. The Trump administration has now ordered her and her parents to leave the country. Her says that if her treatment is interrupted, “this could be fatal within a matter of days.”

4-year-old Bakersfield girl facing deportation could die within days of losing medical care

In 2023, a Mexican girl, 4, was allowed U.S. entry for lifesaving medical care. She and her parents, who live in Bakersfield, have been told they must leave.

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 24

Earlier this year, St. John's Community Healthy began surveying patients and found that hundreds were canceling appointments “solely due to fear of being apprehended by ICE.” It launched a home visitation program in March.

@melissagomez.bsky.social

Health clinics that service immigrants are making house calls on patients too afraid to leave home

St. John’s Community Health launched its home visitation program after learning that hundreds of patients were skipping appointments because they're afraid of getting caught up in federal immigration ...

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 24

The courthouse arrests escalate the administration’s efforts to speed up deportations.

@melissagomez.bsky.social and @racheluranga.bsky.social

Father ripped from family as agents target immigration courts, arresting people after cases dismissed

The Department of Homeland Security is asking to dismiss its own deportation cases, after which agents arrest immigrants as they leave the courtroom and pursue expedited removals, which require no hea...

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 20

Federal workers describe struggling with panic attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts. “Why doesn’t anyone care?”

White House officials wanted to put federal workers ‘in trauma.’ It’s working.

Federal workers describe struggling with panic attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts. “Why doesn’t anyone care?”

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Sammy Roth @sammyroth.bsky.social · May 20

Great reporting from @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social on how the Coachella Valley is actually succeeding at building affordable housing in CA: www.latimes.com/california/s...

In a state with a dire affordable housing shortage, does the Coachella Valley offer hope?

A decade ago, the posh resort communities of the Coachella Valley produced 38 units of affordable housing a year. Today, thousands of affordable units are planned or under construction in all nine des...

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 20

Thanks for sharing the story, Sammy!

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Daniel Michael Hernandez @longdrivesouth.bsky.social · May 17

A strikingly classical, perfectly composed photograph by Genaro Molina in this story. 📸 (Everyone in California should be conversant in agricultural news, ps!) #journalism www.latimes.com/california/s...

In America's 'salad bowl,' farmers invest in guest worker housing, hoping to stabilize workforce

In Monterey County, growers are building lodging for thousands of guest workers coming in on H-2A visas. Some advocates say it is an injustice for the farmworkers who've lived here for years, many in ...

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 16

Commentary from @calmatters.org: Rejection of Inland Empire warehouse project signals a retreat from California’s decadeslong boom

calmatters.org

Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 14

The governor’s spending plan, which will be released late Wednesday morning, calls for requiring all undocumented adults to pay $100 monthly premiums to receive Medi-Cal coverage and for blocking all new adult applications to the program as of Jan. 1.

Newsom calls for walking back free healthcare for eligible undocumented immigrants

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said his spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year will call for requiring all undocumented adults to pay $100 monthly premiums to receive coverage and for blocking all new...

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 12

In Monterey County, local growers have invested their own capital and often their own land to build at least eight housing complexes for thousands of guest workers.

with @melissagomez.bsky.social

In America's 'salad bowl,' farmers invest in guest worker housing, hoping to stabilize workforce

In Monterey County, growers are building lodging for thousands of guest workers coming in on H-2A visas. Some advocates say it is an injustice for the farmworkers who've lived here for years, many in ...

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Melissa Gomez @melissagomez.bsky.social · May 12

Trump administration investigates L.A. County over federal benefits for unauthorized immigrants

www.latimes.com/world-nation...

Trump administration investigates L.A. County over federal benefits for unauthorized immigrants

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles field office issues a Title 8 subpoena to California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants.

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Nathan Solis @tarantulaarms.bsky.social · May 10

Amalia Francisco, a 32-year-old immigrant from southern Mexico, shares a three-bedroom house in Salinas with her three brothers and other roommates. It often takes at least three or four families to cover the monthly rent of $5,000, she said.
@melissagomez.bsky.social @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social

In America's 'salad bowl,' farmers invest in guest worker housing, hoping to stabilize workforce

In Monterey County, growers are building lodging for thousands of guest workers coming in on H-2A visas. Some advocates say it is an injustice for the farmworkers who've lived here for years, many in ...

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 9

While Bianco has said he would repeal SB 54 if elected governor, the suit shows he's not waiting to do so from Sacramento. In joining Huntington Beach's suit, Bianco is going it alone as the sole Riverside County elected official or law enforcement member named as a plaintiff.

Riverside County sheriff joins lawsuit challenging California's immigrant protections

Bianco the only sheriff in the state who has joined the suit, which specifically names Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta as defendants.

www.desertsun.com

Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 8

Prosecutors subpoenaed a former Desert Sun reporter to testify in the bribery trial of the former Palm Springs mayor and a developer. The newspaper challenged the subpoena, saying forcing the reporter to testify would violate press freedoms.

Reporter may have to testify in ex-Palm Springs mayor Pougnet's bribery trial

A judge ruled Wednesday that a former Desert Sun reporter can be required to testify in the corruption trial of an ex-mayor and developer.

www.desertsun.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Melissa Gomez @melissagomez.bsky.social · May 7

DHS officials said welfare checks ensure that unaccompanied minors “are safe and not being exploited."
But advocates say some visits have led to children being forced to leave the country with deported parents or being removed from sponsors.
with Andrea Castillo
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Goal of welfare checks: Protect children or launch deportations?

Homeland Security officials have said welfare checks aim to ensure that unaccompanied children “are safe and not being exploited, abused, and sex trafficked.”

www.latimes.com

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Rebecca Plevin @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social · May 5

Thank you for featuring our @latimes.com story!

Alexander Russo @alexanderrusso.bsky.social · May 5

The best education journalism of the week was "Can $1,000 a month help more students land nursing careers?" by @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social Levin of the Los Angeles Times.

Other great stories we liked came from DMN, Hechinger, & CALMatters.

Best Journalism of the Week (05/02/25) t.co/XB6L0BMlGW

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Sammy Roth @sammyroth.bsky.social · May 2

More layoffs at the LA Times. Statement from our Guild: latguild.com/news/2025/5/...

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Hannah Wiley @hannahcwiley.bsky.social · May 1

My final story for the LAT ⬇️

Life after California’s death row: what happens when condemned inmates get a second chance

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Life after California's death row: What happens when condemned inmates get a second chance

Then-new Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on executions and ordered death row dismantled. Years later, inmates say they got a bittersweet new lease on life.

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

Jenny Jarvie @jennyja.bsky.social · Apr 30

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warns ICE: Immigration detention centers across state need 'significant improvements'

www.latimes.com/california/s...

California warns ICE: Immigration detention centers across state need 'significant improvements'

As Trump ramps up his deportation agenda, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta signaled that California would not let up on scrutinizing facilities for detained immigrants.

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Plevin

melissa-myrna.bsky.social @melissa-myrna.bsky.social · Apr 29

NEW: “Something went wrong,” a federal judge said Monday about Border Patrol's January operation in Kern County known as "Return to Sender." More in @fresnobee.com www.fresnobee.com/news/local/a...

Border Patrol can’t arrest people without a warrant in Central Valley, judge says

It’s a preliminary win for the United Farm Workers and ACLU lawsuit against the federal government after the January operation in Kern County.

www.fresnobee.com

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