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Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

10/ A year after Helene’s destruction, the Hills expect to move back in any day.
1000s of others aren’t even close.

Michelle now lives alone in a donated camper. Moving into a permanent home feels more unreachable than ever.

www.theassemblync.com/environment/...

A ProPublica and Assembly analysis of the more rural counties Helene pummeled found households that got the most aid had higher incomes.

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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

9/ FEMA did not respond to the news organizations’ requests for comment.

The agency previously told the U.S. Government Accountability Organization that it encourages all survivors with property damage to apply, and those with minimal damage are “driving down the average award amount.”

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

8/ The agency was working to improve its online application, but under the Trump administration, the team has disintegrated.

In January, the team had at least 10 people. Now, sources said, it’s down to two.

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

7/ FEMA has faced years of criticism from people applying for aid.
inconsistent payouts
an onerous application process
incomprehensible communication

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

6/ Michelle requested more rental assistance and uploaded an employer letter, a rental agreement, utility bills and a rent receipt. She called FEMA repeatedly.

In June, her husband died. She called in July, but wait times were over 2 hours.

She stopped calling.

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

5/ In Haywood County, Michelle & Jeff Parker returned to their home to find it had flooded with 8 feet of water. They had just rebuilt after flooding in 2021.

They applied for a buyout, seeking FEMA’s rental assistance to help while they’re displaced. One rental payment came.

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

4/ In Yancey County, the Hill family received $0 from their insurance but neared the maximum $42,500 payout from FEMA.

With school closed for nearly two months after Helene, the two-teacher family had time to push for FEMA aid, get estimates and upload documents.

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

3/ Disparities in who receives FEMA aid have long been known to researchers, like @sarahlabo.bsky.social , a Senior Fellow at @carnegieendowment.org, who studies and writes about disasters.

Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

2/ A year after Hurricane Helene ravaged Western NC, @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social & I reported on FEMA aid in the 10 counties where the storm hit hardest.

In some counties, the highest-income homeowners received 2-3x as much housing assistance as those with lower incomes.

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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 4d

1/ After a natural disaster, people often turn to FEMA for housing aid.

Income is not supposed to play a role.

A @propublica/@TheAssemblyNC analysis found in rural counties hardest-hit by Helene, the highest-income owners typically received more housing aid.

www.propublica.org/article/fema...

An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.

Americans increasingly see legal sports betting as a bad thing for society and sports

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John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 6d

% of US men under 30 who say legal sports betting is a *bad thing* for society

22% in 2022
47% in 2025

No other demographic group has seen a bigger increase.

Today, 43% of U.S. adults say the fact that sports betting is now legal in much of the country is a bad thing for society, up from 34% in 2022.

www.pewresearch.org

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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 11d

Must read: The Arduous and Unequal Fight to Get FEMA Aid After Hurricane Helene, by @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social w/ @theassemblync.bsky.social

Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene

An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.

Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene

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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 11d

One year ago, Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina. Since then, people who lost their homes have turned to FEMA for aid. Some are still slogging through red tape.
@jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social w/ @theassemblync.bsky.social

An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.

NC sheriff says deputies OK to cover faces, critics raise concerns

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Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · Aug 27

NEW: Reuters examined more than 500 local-court cases filed since the start of Trump's takeover of policing in D.C.

Nearly half of the cases involving federal agents have been for comparatively minor charges, including public drinking and marijuana.

www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

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Tyler Dukes @mtdukes.bsky.social · Aug 21

Charlotte-area deputies hid their identities with face coverings when they arrested 10 people on drug charges earlier this month, mirroring a technique now used by federal ICE agents. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c... (gift link)

Iredell County's sheriff defends deputies wearing face coverings, while critics worry it erodes public trust and lacks clear policy guidelines.

www.charlotteobserver.com

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Reposted

Robert Hernandez @webjournalist.bsky.social · Aug 19

This is a powerful piece of journalism.

“… each of the men were not only losing time, they were losing loved ones. They were missing major life moments that can never be recovered. Not only did the men say they were tortured during these four months; their families said they were too.”

ProPublica @propublica.org · Aug 19

NEW: Over the past four months, I documented the lives of five families whose sons had been imprisoned in El Salvador, including their long-awaited reunions.

This is how CECOT left a mark on my countrymen, their loved ones and Venezuela.

What I Witnessed as I Photographed the Disappearances and the Homecomings of My Countrymen

Over the past four months, a photojournalist documented the lives of five families whose sons had been imprisoned in El Salvador, including their long-awaited reunions. CECOT left a mark on the men,…

North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream

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The Assembly @theassemblync.bsky.social · Aug 14

In the Small Digital Organization Sports Reporting category,
@renlarson.bsky.social won for her story on the US Performance Center.
www.theassemblync.com/politics/oly...

Top legislators quietly allocated large state grants to attract Olympic organizations to the Charlotte area, with little to show for it.

Company Misspent $6.2 Million in State Funds to Lure Olympic Groups, Audit Finds

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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · Aug 14

An audit of $25 million awarded to the for-profit company found they misspent $6.2M state funds -- attempting to bill state taxpayers for alcohol, IRS late payment fees, interest, a personal vehicle, contributions to NASCAR driver Richard Childress' charity, etc www.theassemblync.com/politics/oly...

A state audit found the Charlotte-based U.S. Performance Center misspent nearly a quarter of the money awarded by the legislature.

North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream

renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · Aug 14

We wrote about the #ncga awarding a for-profit company and its nonprofit $55 million to lure Olympic teams and governing bodies to NC.

We found:
* funds were awarded w/o public discussion or economic development targets
* they paid themselves, politically-connected consultants, and board members

Top legislators quietly allocated large state grants to attract Olympic organizations to the Charlotte area, with little to show for it.

ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time

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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · Aug 14

Proud reporter moment. @theassemblync.bsky.social was awarded its first National Murrow Award. And it won its second.

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”

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404 Media @404media.co · Aug 14

BREAKING: ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time

🔗 www.404media.co/ice-adds-ran...

The texts were sent to a group called “Mass Text” and show ICE using DMV and license plate reader data in an attempt to find their target, copies of the messages obtained by 404 Media show.

www.404media.co

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Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · Aug 7

BREAKING: With #2030Census prep already underway, President Trump says he's instructed Commerce Dept to "immediately begin work" on a "new" census that excludes people living in the states without legal status from a count the 14th Amendment says must include “whole number of persons in each state”

I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

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Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · Jul 31

I'm quoted in this great piece diving into the closure of St. Andrews University in North Carolina and what it means for the local community. The Assembly is one of the best local sources for higher ed coverage in the country.

www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...

What Remains of St. Andrews

Following the sudden closure of St. Andrews University, Laurinburg grapples with the fallout and a now-empty campus.

Phil Berger has been the state’s most powerful politician for more than a decade. He no longer looks invincible.

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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · Jul 30

[email protected] knocked it out of the park reporting on #ncpol's most powerful man.

“You know as well as I do that you don’t scrape a pimple off a gnat’s ass w/o Bill Rabon & Phil Berger’s permission in the NC Senate,” state Sen. Bobby Hanig said.
www.theassemblync.com/politics/phi...

The Berger King