Sandy West
@sandywestreporter.bsky.social
Annoyingly persistent. Endlessly curious. Freelance journalist. Former AP, biz journals, small-town papers. Houston. Native Kansan.
Pinned
Sandy West
@sandywestreporter.bsky.social
· Jul 21
The Adoption Trap
Private foster care and adoption agencies in Texas are brokering contracts for moms to turn over their children in a murky legal world, spawning protracted civil custody battles.
www.texasobserver.org
In Texas, a woman has been fighting in court for nearly three years to keep her parental rights and get her son back. Her opponents? The family who fostered the child through a private agency. This is my first story for the @texasobserver.org.
www.texasobserver.org/private-adop...
www.texasobserver.org/private-adop...
#BestOf2025, by @sandywestreporter.bsky.social : Attorneys and family preservation and child welfare advocates are increasingly alarmed that many women in vulnerable situations are at risk of losing their children to a privately run shadow foster and adoption system.
The Adoption Trap
Private foster care and adoption agencies in Texas are brokering contracts for moms to turn over their children in a murky legal world, spawning protracted civil custody battles.
www.texasobserver.org
December 28, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Why is the RSV vaccine restricted to people 75 and older? Why was my husband able to get it a month ago and I am prevented from doing the same now? Anyone?
September 3, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Why is the RSV vaccine restricted to people 75 and older? Why was my husband able to get it a month ago and I am prevented from doing the same now? Anyone?
Reposted by Sandy West
Pritzker: When did we become a country where it's okay for the president to insist on national television that a state should call him to beg for anything, especially something we don't want?
Have we truly lost all sense of sanity in this nation that we treat this as normal?
Have we truly lost all sense of sanity in this nation that we treat this as normal?
September 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Pritzker: When did we become a country where it's okay for the president to insist on national television that a state should call him to beg for anything, especially something we don't want?
Have we truly lost all sense of sanity in this nation that we treat this as normal?
Have we truly lost all sense of sanity in this nation that we treat this as normal?
On a per capita basis, Wichita as more dangerous yesterday - YESTERDAY - than was Chicago over the weekend.
Where in the breathless national broadcast/cable news coverage of that?
Where in the breathless national broadcast/cable news coverage of that?
September 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
On a per capita basis, Wichita as more dangerous yesterday - YESTERDAY - than was Chicago over the weekend.
Where in the breathless national broadcast/cable news coverage of that?
Where in the breathless national broadcast/cable news coverage of that?
Will national broadcasters breathlessly report the gun violence in my hometown today - just today - the same way they breathlessly reported the shootings in Chicago over the weekend?
Or will they pretend it didn’t happen b/c that won’t satisfy the machine?
www.kake.com/home/two-cri...
Or will they pretend it didn’t happen b/c that won’t satisfy the machine?
www.kake.com/home/two-cri...
One dead, another critical after third shooting in Wichita on Labor Day
One person died and another person has been hospitalized following a shooting in north Wichita on Monday, just hours after another fatal shooting.
www.kake.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Will national broadcasters breathlessly report the gun violence in my hometown today - just today - the same way they breathlessly reported the shootings in Chicago over the weekend?
Or will they pretend it didn’t happen b/c that won’t satisfy the machine?
www.kake.com/home/two-cri...
Or will they pretend it didn’t happen b/c that won’t satisfy the machine?
www.kake.com/home/two-cri...
And, predictably, national broadcast news sensationalizes crime in Chicago as a means of boosting coverage of threats of military occupation there.
Tell me, where is the context here? How many shootings /capita were there in Memphis? Dallas? Wichita? Oklahoma City? www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Tell me, where is the context here? How many shootings /capita were there in Memphis? Dallas? Wichita? Oklahoma City? www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
5 killed, 37 hurt in Labor Day weekend shootings across Chicago, according to police
The ages of the victims range from 14 to 50.
www.cbsnews.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:22 AM
And, predictably, national broadcast news sensationalizes crime in Chicago as a means of boosting coverage of threats of military occupation there.
Tell me, where is the context here? How many shootings /capita were there in Memphis? Dallas? Wichita? Oklahoma City? www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Tell me, where is the context here? How many shootings /capita were there in Memphis? Dallas? Wichita? Oklahoma City? www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Reposted by Sandy West
In a 2025 submission to the Defense Department, Microsoft didn't mention its use of employees based in China, the top cyber adversary of the U.S., to work on highly sensitive department systems, according to a copy obtained by ProPublica. @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/micr...
Microsoft Failed to Disclose Key Details About Use of China-Based Engineers in U.S. Defense Work, Record Shows
The tech giant is required to regularly provide U.S. officials with its plan for keeping government data safe from hacking. Yet a copy of Microsoft’s security plan obtained by ProPublica makes no refe...
www.propublica.org
August 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
In a 2025 submission to the Defense Department, Microsoft didn't mention its use of employees based in China, the top cyber adversary of the U.S., to work on highly sensitive department systems, according to a copy obtained by ProPublica. @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/micr...
Goliath vs. David: Optum Rx invokes open meetings law to fight Kentucky counties on opioid suits kentuckylantern.com/2025/08/19/g...
Goliath vs. David: Optum Rx invokes open meetings law to fight Kentucky counties on opioid suits • Kentucky Lantern
UnitedHealth Group’s pharmacy benefit manager, Optum Rx, sues five Kentucky counties to force them out of national opioid litigation against the company.
kentuckylantern.com
August 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Goliath vs. David: Optum Rx invokes open meetings law to fight Kentucky counties on opioid suits kentuckylantern.com/2025/08/19/g...
Reposted by Sandy West
Federal employee health plans barred from covering gender affirming care “regardless of age”
www.opm.gov/healthcare-i...
www.opm.gov/healthcare-i...
![1 of 2
FEHB Program Carrier Letter
All FEHB and PSHB Carriers
FEHB &
PSHB 区
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Healthcare and Insurance
Letter Number 2025-01b
Date: August 15, 2025
Fee-for-service [9]
Experience-rated HMO [9]
Community-rated HMO [10]
Subject: Chemical and Surgical Sex-Trait
Modification Services for Plan Year 2026 Proposals
This Carrier Letter serves as a second Addendum to Carrier Letter 2025-01, and supplemental guidance to Carrier Letter 2025-05. The guidance outlined below supersedes any previous Carrier Letter with conflicting information.
For Plan Year 2026, chemical and surgical modification of an individual's sex traits through medical interventions (to include "gender transition" services) will no longer be covered under the FEHB or PSHB Programs. This exclusion expands upon Carrier Letter 2025-01a and applies regardless of age.
As an exception, counseling services for possible or diagnosed gender dysphoria must still be covered. Covered counseling services must be provided by a licensed mental health provider and may include those who provide faith-based counseling.
1 First Addendum (2025-01a) to Call Letter Plan Year 2026 issued on 1/31/25](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:v4jfgpnpcxd2be2hekn5iocf/bafkreicrsx2fy5crg5uknlq5o4wvnztdvlh6dgzuv4qnazh25qmgrhyzca@jpeg)
August 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Federal employee health plans barred from covering gender affirming care “regardless of age”
www.opm.gov/healthcare-i...
www.opm.gov/healthcare-i...
Reposted by Sandy West
The National Science Foundation will stop operating the Nathaniel B. Palmer icebreaker and slash polar science funding by 70 percent, devastating Antarctic research
U.S. Researchers May Never Probe Deep into Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Again Without This Ship
The National Science Foundation will stop operating the Nathaniel B. Palmer icebreaker and slash polar science funding by 70 percent, devastating Antarctic research
www.scientificamerican.com
August 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The National Science Foundation will stop operating the Nathaniel B. Palmer icebreaker and slash polar science funding by 70 percent, devastating Antarctic research
Reposted by Sandy West
Rep. Nicole Collier files a state court application for a writ of habeas corpus concerning her detention in the Texas State Capitol. www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/u...
www.courthousenews.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Rep. Nicole Collier files a state court application for a writ of habeas corpus concerning her detention in the Texas State Capitol. www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Sandy West
Going on vacation tomorrow so spent Saturday night making maps of all the places in Ohio, West Virginia and South Carolina with higher violent crime and murder rates than D.C. Perhaps better places for those governors to focus resources!
www.pbump.net/o/more-peopl...
www.pbump.net/o/more-peopl...
More people in Ohio need protection from violent crime than do people in D.C.
Governors of three states — Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia — are sending members of their state National Guards to D.C. to … well, theoretically to combat crime but, if the past week is any in...
www.pbump.net
August 17, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Going on vacation tomorrow so spent Saturday night making maps of all the places in Ohio, West Virginia and South Carolina with higher violent crime and murder rates than D.C. Perhaps better places for those governors to focus resources!
www.pbump.net/o/more-peopl...
www.pbump.net/o/more-peopl...
Reposted by Sandy West
Judge Rejects Trump’s Attempt to End Standards of Care for Detained Migrant Children www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/u...
Judge Rejects Trump’s Attempt to End Standards of Care for Detained Migrant Children
www.nytimes.com
August 16, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Judge Rejects Trump’s Attempt to End Standards of Care for Detained Migrant Children www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/u...
This is hideous.
Minnesota teen says server forced her to prove her gender in restaurant bathroom
The 18-year-old high school student alleged the server would not let her exit the Buffalo Wild Wings restroom until she unzipped her hoodie and showed she had breasts.
For @nbcnews.com:
www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...
The 18-year-old high school student alleged the server would not let her exit the Buffalo Wild Wings restroom until she unzipped her hoodie and showed she had breasts.
For @nbcnews.com:
www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...
Minnesota teen says server forced her to prove her gender in restaurant bathroom
The 18-year-old high school student alleged the server would not let her exit the Buffalo Wild Wings restroom until she unzipped her hoodie and showed she had breasts.
www.nbcnews.com
August 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This is hideous.
Reposted by Sandy West
VIDEO POSTED: A recent purchase by out-of-state investors on the Celina town square has some Clay County TN residents preparing for a possible battle with people they consider to be political extremists. www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
'Small town, not small minds:' Residents react to Christian nationalist developers' purchase in their city
Clay County residents worry after a recent purchase by out-of-state investors on the Celina town square, prepare for battle with people they consider to be political extremists
www.newschannel5.com
August 11, 2025 at 11:28 PM
VIDEO POSTED: A recent purchase by out-of-state investors on the Celina town square has some Clay County TN residents preparing for a possible battle with people they consider to be political extremists. www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
@apnews.com
A “U.S. tourist who flew to Puerto Rico … ?” Puerto Rico *is* the United States.
apnews.com/article/puer...
A “U.S. tourist who flew to Puerto Rico … ?” Puerto Rico *is* the United States.
apnews.com/article/puer...
A US tourist who flew to Puerto Rico for a Bad Bunny concert was fatally shot, police say
A tourist from the U.S. mainland who was visiting Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s residency has been fatally shot at La Perla, a popular seaside shantytown.
apnews.com
August 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
@apnews.com
A “U.S. tourist who flew to Puerto Rico … ?” Puerto Rico *is* the United States.
apnews.com/article/puer...
A “U.S. tourist who flew to Puerto Rico … ?” Puerto Rico *is* the United States.
apnews.com/article/puer...
Reposted by Sandy West
Brutal stuff from @swin24.bsky.social on the former children's hospital chaplain whose friends says he's been "tortured" in isolation as the Trump administration tries to deport him
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Jailed by Trump's ICE, Children's Hospital Chaplain Was Thrown Into 'Solitary'
Ayman Soliman, a former chaplain at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, was put in "solitary confinement" after being jailed by Donald Trump's ICE.
www.rollingstone.com
August 7, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Brutal stuff from @swin24.bsky.social on the former children's hospital chaplain whose friends says he's been "tortured" in isolation as the Trump administration tries to deport him
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Sandy West
A group of former lawyers from the U.S. Justice Department and major law firms launched a new nonprofit on Monday to take on cases for free opposing actions by the Trump administration @davidjthomas.bsky.social reut.rs/4lgJTLc
August 5, 2025 at 1:07 AM
A group of former lawyers from the U.S. Justice Department and major law firms launched a new nonprofit on Monday to take on cases for free opposing actions by the Trump administration @davidjthomas.bsky.social reut.rs/4lgJTLc
Reposted by Sandy West
how much of the money from the ICE/tax cuts bill is just going to go to scammers, do you think? www.richmonder.org/this-tuckaho...
This Tuckahoe home won a $1.26 billion contract for an ICE detention center. The owner isn't talking.
The company’s website is dated and largely accessible only via login.
www.richmonder.org
July 31, 2025 at 12:31 AM
how much of the money from the ICE/tax cuts bill is just going to go to scammers, do you think? www.richmonder.org/this-tuckaho...
Advocates warn that if the Trump administration’s push to end the decades-old Flores Settlement Agreement is successful, outside oversight of the conditions in which immigrant youth are detained would end.
My latest for @kffhealthnews.org
www.cbsnews.com/news/immigra...
My latest for @kffhealthnews.org
www.cbsnews.com/news/immigra...
Immigrant kids detained in "unsafe and unsanitary" sites as Trump administration seeks to end protections
The Justice Department seeks to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, which requires U.S. immigration officials to hold migrant children in facilities that are safe and sanitary, among other prot...
www.cbsnews.com
July 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Advocates warn that if the Trump administration’s push to end the decades-old Flores Settlement Agreement is successful, outside oversight of the conditions in which immigrant youth are detained would end.
My latest for @kffhealthnews.org
www.cbsnews.com/news/immigra...
My latest for @kffhealthnews.org
www.cbsnews.com/news/immigra...