Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · 3d

Oh, hey 👋

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · 3d

The Lil AVCX roster has been making puzzles at a frenetic pace, so we decided to give them a bit of a break. In October, our 2025 editors will each contribute a puzzle. We kick off "Editor October" with a smooth-sailing 10x10 puzzle from Sally Hoelscher (@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social): "No Filter"

Crossword puzzle with 20-Across highlighted: [Tiny taste of Twinings tea]

7

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · 5d

It’s a great day for a crossword tournament! #midwestgridfest

A woman is holding a mug. The mug and her t-shirt rep the Midwest Crossword Tournament.

1 24

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · 19d

🥳

Carina @carinadarosa.bsky.social · 19d

@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social and I with today’s USA Today crossword. We’ll only swipe a bit of your time.

My USAT debut too!

puzzles.usatoday.com

Daily Crossword Puzzles | USA TODAY

Daily online crossword puzzles brought to you by USA TODAY. Start with your first free puzzle today and challenge yourself with a new crossword daily!

puzzles.usatoday.com

3

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · 20d

This! There are so many reasons to support AVCX … and you get fabulous crossword content. Such a deal!

AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · 20d

As we move toward our fall subscription drive, we hope you’ll consider supporting us in part bc we are an independent media company.

No, crosswords are not as vital as journalism. But yes, all content that we consume matters, and it should be as free as possible from corporate control.

1 5

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · 29d

This is a fun puzzle if I do say so myself! 🛶

Brian Callahan @oliogrids.bsky.social · 29d

@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social and I are 🌊 making waves 🌊 with today's USA Today crossword. Check it out here: puzzles.usatoday.com

3

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Sep 2

Do you have an AVCX subscription? If not, what are you waiting for?!?!

AVCX Classic @avcx.bsky.social · Sep 2

Last winter, AVCX ran a subscription drive to continue funding our expanded puzzle offerings. It worked great! We won’t need to do anything at that scale this year.

But we will run a mini-drive this fall to keep the old budget stable. So if you like what we do, please spread the word!

1 4

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Aug 6

Hey look, it's Lil member Katie and Lil graduates Lydia and Christina! Congratulations!!!

Midwest Crossword Tournament @midwestcrossword.bsky.social · Aug 6

We're beyond thrilled to present puzzles by this fantastic set of constructors at the second Midwest Crossword Tournament, October 4, 2025 in Chicago! Read more about them and register now at midwestgridfest.com

2025 Midwest Crossword Tournament constructors: Evan Birnholz, Kyle Dolan, Katie Hoody, Lydia Roth & Christina Bodensiek, Hemant Mehta, Taylor Johnson

1 9

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Aug 18

Put on your dancing shoes! Tonight we have an 11x12 puzzle by roster member Carina da Rosa (@carinadarosa.bsky.social) called "Sorry, Patrick Swayze, But I Put Baby in the Corner."

Crossword puzzle with 1-Down highlighted: [If this Jewish
deli bread were a game of Bop It, you might: Roll it! Fill it! Twist it! Braid it!] (5 letters)

1 2 6

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Aug 6

Come join us in Chicago and solve great puzzles by these folks!

Midwest Crossword Tournament @midwestcrossword.bsky.social · Aug 6

We're beyond thrilled to present puzzles by this fantastic set of constructors at the second Midwest Crossword Tournament, October 4, 2025 in Chicago! Read more about them and register now at midwestgridfest.com

2

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Aug 4

We predict that you will get much enjoyment from Ben Wilson's (@zerofiftyone.bsky.social‬) newest 11x11 puzzle, titled "These Books Are Worth a Fortune," in which Ben has embedded some sneaky extras for keen-eyed solvers.

Crossword puzzle with 22-down highlighted: [Musical instrument responsible for the phrase "pull out all the stops"] (five letters)

1 5

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

🐈Rex Parker🐈‍⬛ ✏️ 🧐 @rexparker.bsky.social · Jul 4

[extreme, exasperated sigh]

I know I know … try @avcx.bsky.social it’s daily (weekdays) and it rules

I like the Apple daily xword as well (top-tier people involved there)

Dawn of the Dead 💀 @502eire.lol · Jul 3

can somebody please make a good crossword app so my friends can stop funding this rag

jon ben-menachem @jbenmenachem.com · Jul 3

You know, when I heard that all of our personal data had been hacked, I didn't expect the first major use of it to be the NYT trying to fuck over Zohran but maybe I'm naive www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/n...

1 16

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Jun 14

Iowa City showed up. Even those of us who would have rather been at home by ourselves

Woman at a protest. Her sign reads, “Things are so bad the INTROVERTS are protesting”

1 12

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Jun 3

Have you heard about this puzzle?

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Jun 2

We're delighted to bring you the Lil AVCX debut of roster member Carina da Rosa (@carinadarosa.bsky.social‬), an 11x11 puzzle titled "Kitchen Confidential." We'll let you in on a secret; we think you'll find this to be an enjoyable, breezy solve.

Crossword puzzle with 16-Across highlighted: [Theater attendant who says to me, "Ma'am, this is row 2. You're in 42"] (5 letters)

1

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · May 26

We're excited to share this delightful 11x11 puzzle by new Lil roster member Ben Wilson (@zerofiftyone.bsky.social‬), entitled "Stack of Pun-Cakes." We hope you'll be as tickled by this first peek into Ben's sneaky wordplay mind as we are.

Crossword puzzle with 19-Down highlighted: [Punctuation mark frequently overused in AI-written essays]

1 9

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Rachel Fabi Ph.D. @fabioethics.bsky.social · May 9

Want to hear a cool story about reproductive justice, mutual aid, and crossword puzzles?

Let me tell you about These Puzzles Fund Abortion (www.abortionpuzzles.com / @tpfa.bsky.social), a crossword puzzle fundraiser that has raised over $350,000 in five years for abortion funds.
1/9

these puzzles fund abortion

www.abortionpuzzles.com

1 26 42

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · May 5

We're very excited to bring you the first puzzle from our 2025 roster of mentees. It's a 10x10 puzzle titled "Perfect Cubes" from Terry Sun, and we think you'll find it fresh and friendly!

Crossword puzzle with 10-Down highlighted: [Quippy name for Washington, Oregon, and California] (9 letters)

1 6

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Apr 20

There’s still time to support this fabulous cause and get puzzles made by wonderful constructors … and also one made by me 😉

These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · Apr 20

✨Constructor Spotlight✨

Sally Hoelscher (she/her, @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social) is a crossword constructor, editor, & blogger. Sally lives in Iowa, a state that is crossword-friendly, but needs to work on reproductive justice.

Go to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to get Sally’s puzzle and many more!

Photo of Sally smiling and holding her long-haired cat

5

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Apr 7

I made you a midi 😊

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Apr 7

Solvers everywhere are flocking to today's midi crossword, an 11x12 puzzle called "Birds Down Under," another feather in the cap of Lil's own Sally Hoelscher (@sallyhoelscher.bsky.social) .

Crossword puzzle with 9-Down highlighted: [Costume headgear that might be paired with a tail] (seven letters)

4

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Mar 26

Same! It must be important

Rachel Fabi Ph.D. @fabioethics.bsky.social · Mar 26

It's so weird, I was mysteriously added to this top secret group chat and someone dropped a link to a site where you can donate money to abortion funds in exchange for crossword puzzles. Has this happened to anyone else??

fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...

@tpfa.bsky.social

4

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · Mar 24

✨Clue of the Week✨

Today’s clue comes from @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social !

If you love puzzles and reproductive justice, be sure to check us out at fund.nnaf.org/tpfa !

1 4

Sally Hoelscher @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social · Mar 17

🥳

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Mar 17

It's a Lil AVCX first! Tonight's 11x11 midi, by Lil roster alumni Lydia Roth and Christina Bodensiek, titled "Stop Repeating Yourself!" is a meta puzzle. After you fill this grid, solve the puzzle-within-the-puzzle to find a one-word meta answer.

Crossword puzzle with 34-Across highlighted: [Flashy and fashionable -flashionable, if you will] (6 letters)

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · Mar 8

✨Constructor Spotlight✨

@darbyratliff.bsky.social (she/her) is a grad student/ constructor in STL, MO. She wishes that access to good gender-affirming healthcare was universally available to everyone. She’s thrilled to be on TPFA’s roster again.

Head to fund.nnaf.org/tpfa to solve Darby’s puzzle!

photo of Darby smiling and pointing to a dinosaur skeleton

2 10

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Mar 3

This week's puzzle is a breezy 11x11 called "Exposed Wood" from Lil AVCX alum Michael Berg. We think you'll enjoy its fun facts and happy vibes!

Crossword with 22-Across highlighted: ["Hamster ___ and the Gooey Kablooie" (fictional children's book from "Calvin and Hobbes")] (4 letters)

1 2

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

These Puzzles Fund Abortion @tpfa.bsky.social · Feb 24

We are entering the final week of TPFA pre-sale.

We are so excited to share these #crosswords with you on Friday!

fund.nnaf.org/tpfa

8 18

Reposted by Sally Hoelscher

Lil AVCX @lilavcx.bsky.social · Feb 24

Lil AVCX is thrilled to announce our 2025 Roster! We are excited to bring you puzzles by these constructors 🥳

Alex Rossell Hayes @alxrh.bsky.social
Alisya Reza @alisyareza.bsky.social
Ben Wilson @zerofiftyone.bsky.social
Carina da Rosa @carinadarosa.bsky.social
K. J. Sarr
Katie Hoody
Terry Sun

Lil AVCX 2025 Roster:
Alex Rossell Hayes, Alisya Reza, Ben Wilson, Carina da Rosa, K. J. Sarr, Katie Hoody, Terry Sun

(a grid of very smiley pictures on a colored gradient background)

9 23