Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 14d

The last story I edited before Monday's news was @laureldemkovich.bsky.social's excellent examination of Bob Ferguson's first 8 months as governor, a tenure marked by low public approval, decisions baffling to Dems and Republicans, and reduced press availability.
www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

The Curse of the Middle Guy: Ferguson’s first 8 months as governor

Expectations were high for Bob Ferguson. For many across the political spectrum, the reality has been baffling and disappointing. What happened?

www.cascadepbs.org

4 20 30

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Cascade PBS Union @cascadepbsunion.bsky.social · 13d

It’s difficult to find the words to express how our unit is feeling right now, but we’ll take a stab at it: shocked, disappointed, angry, gutted. @cascadepbs.bsky.social’s choice to eliminate long-form written reporting is a massive loss for our community in a critical moment. tinyurl.com/LayoffFund

Donate to Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed, organized by Isabella Breda

On Monday, Sept. 22, Cascade PBS announced that it would be s… Isabella Breda needs your support for Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed

tinyurl.com

1 63 94

Reposted by Nate Sanford

MuckRock @muckrock.com · 13d

Tomorrow, KNKX reporter Nate Stanford will be joining us about ChatGPT logs and how you can obtain them through public records.

Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

FOIAFriday

us02web.zoom.us

4 3

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 14d

I’ll be talking about my reporting on government AI use on MuckRock’s FOIA Friday podcast this week, and on a panel at @ire.org AccessFest conference next month.

This investigation wouldn’t have been possible without support from the editors + news team who Cascade PBS decided to lay off this week

MuckRock @muckrock.com · 20d

KNKX Public Radio and Cascade PBS recently obtained thousands of pages of these logs from city officials in Washington state.

Now, MuckRock wants to know what agencies we should request ChatGPT logs from. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...

We want to know how local governments are using ChatGPT. Here’s how you can help.

Help us understand how governments use this latest technology.

www.muckrock.com

5 19

Reposted by Nate Sanford

MuckRock @muckrock.com · 14d

MuckRock is requesting ChatGPT logs from local governments across the country. Have a suggestion for us? Let us know!

We want to know how local governments are using ChatGPT. Here’s how you can help.

Help us understand how governments use this latest technology.

www.muckrock.com

1 3

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Vivian McCall @vivmccall.bsky.social · 15d

Earlier this month, three trans women were beaten by a group of young men in Seattle's gay neighborhood.

According to the county prosecutor's office, there's been at least four more group beatings since June 2024. In one case, strangers joined in. The kicker?

www.thestranger.com/news/2025/09...

Seattle Area Trans Women Are Being Attacked by Groups of Men

Warning: This story contains descriptions of violence. “Go to Pony, go to Pony, go to Pony—there’s more people there,” said a frantic woman as she approached Madison Carstens and her friends next to t...

www.thestranger.com

9 300 620

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 16d

My position as a shared reporter with KNKX and Cascade PBS still has outside grant funding for another year, so I’ll continue doing journalism at KNKX. I don’t know what I’ll be doing at Cascade PBS yet. It will be really hard with the entire news team gutted.

2 22

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 16d

My colleagues at Cascade PBS do essential accountability reporting. This is a huge loss for the community and devastating for local journalism

KUOW Public Radio @kuow.org · 16d

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

4 45 130

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 16d

It's been a bad day! For now I'll just say I can't think of a worse time to have fewer reporters and editors on the job and that I'm very glad to have a union on our side.

KUOW Public Radio @kuow.org · 16d

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

7 24 120

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 16d

Today, I was laid off from Cascade PBS along with my entire team and most of the newsroom. I'll have more to say, but I have loved my time as news editor alongside some of the best journalists I have ever worked with. Every time a newsroom closes, stories go with it. The silence that follows is loud

KUOW Public Radio @kuow.org · 16d

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

28 190 640

Reposted by Nate Sanford

John Ryan @heyjohnryan.bsky.social · 16d

A dark day for Northwest journalism: @cascadepbs.bsky.social is axing the @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social, laying off 17 people, per internal memo obtained by @kuow.org.

Cascade PBS got ~10% of its budget from Corp. for Public Broadcasting. Unclear why its whole newsroom had to be axed.

3 23 48

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Katie Campbell, KUOW @katiecampbell.bsky.social · 16d

Devastating news for local journalism.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

8 77 160

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 16d

BREAKING: Cascade PBS, which operates the website Crosscut, is laying off 19 people, reportedly including its entire news staff. In an email to staff, CEO Rob Dunlop blamed federal cuts, saying the nonprofit is "winding down our longform, written journalism."

29 240 490

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 19d

Yeah it's just the thumbnails. The content itself is just a guy playing news clips and reading articles while doing standard talk show style commentary.

2

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 19d

The AI did a bit better with Mayor Harrell. Maybe because there are more photos of him in the training data?

2

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 19d

It's strange and uncanny how the woman in the thumbnail looks **vaguely** similar to Wilson, but is still clearly a totally different person.

1 7

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 19d

Cursed Katie Wilson AI YouTube slop thumbnail:

A screenshot of a YouTube thumbnail titled: "Elect Progressive Socialist Katie Wilson for Mayor of Seattle - what could go wrong??" The thumbnail image shows a white woman with brown hair that appears to be AI-generated standing in front of the Seattle skyline. The person is vaguely similar to Katie Wilson, but clearly a different person.

4 1 16

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Cascade PBS Newsroom @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social · 20d

NEW: Delegates from the MLK Labor Council voted Wednesday evening to endorse both Mayor Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson in Seattle’s mayoral election. Before the primary, MLK Labor had given Harrell a sole endorsement in this year’s race.

MLK Labor pivots to dual Harrell, Wilson endorsement for mayor

Delegates from the MLK Labor Council voted Wednesday evening to endorse both Mayor Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson in Seattle’s mayoral election. Before the primary, MLK Labor had given Harr...

www.cascadepbs.org

2 4

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 20d

Feucht was represented by Pete Serrano, the new appointee for Eastern WA attorney general
www.inlander.com/news/sean-fe...

Sean Feucht sues Spokane claiming 'emotional distress' over City Council resolution denouncing former mayor's appearance with him and Matt Shea

The Silent Majority Foundation, a conservative legal organization, is helping Feucht sue the city

www.inlander.com

3

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 20d

A judge just dismissed conservative pastor Sean Feucht's lawsuit against Spokane as meritless.

Feucht (the guy who played at Gasworks last month) had alleged that a 2023 council resolution denouncing the mayor for appearing with him violated his free speech
my.spokanecity.org/news/release...

Statement on Feucht Lawsuit Dismissal

A Superior Court judge granted a motion from the City, dismissing and ultimately finding no legal merit to multiple claims made by Mr. Sean Feucht.

my.spokanecity.org

1 5

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Cascade PBS Newsroom @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social · 26d

NEW: Seattle residents could see expanded use of artificial intelligence in permitting, customer service and more. On Thursday, Mayor Harrell announced a new 26-page AI plan that includes guidelines for training employees, evaluating tools and expanding the use of AI in city services.

Seattle Mayor Harrell announces new AI plan for city services

Seattle residents could see expanded use of artificial intelligence in permitting, public safety, customer service and more as Mayor Bruce Harrell rolls out a new framework for how the city will incor...

www.cascadepbs.org

3 6 2

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Cascade PBS Newsroom @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social · 21d

Lynnwood may become the latest Washington city to raise its minimum hourly wage above $20 — higher than almost anywhere in the nation. The city currently follows the state’s minimum, but advocates are gathering support for an initiative to raise wages to $20.24/hour & strengthen worker protections.

Lynnwood considers raising its minimum wage to above $20 an hour

If a new initiative to increase hourly rates by nearly $4 passes, the city would join others in Washington with the country’s highest wage floors.

www.cascadepbs.org

1 6 34

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · Sep 4

It's an interesting debate. On one hand, it makes sense on its face to only distribute vouchers to D5 residents for their district special election. On the other, candidates will be able to collect donations from people citywide and beyond, so it does reduce the impact of the voucher program.

Cascade PBS Newsroom @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social · Sep 4

NEW: Next year, only residents in Seattle’s District 5 will get Democracy Vouchers, after Seattle’s Elections and Ethics Commission this week voted to limit them for the special election.

It’s the first time Seattle has had only one district on the ballot since the launch of the city’s program.

Democracy Vouchers limited to only D5 in Seattle's 2026 election

Next year, only residents in Seattle’s District 5 will get Democracy Vouchers, after Seattle’s Elections and Ethics Commission this week voted to limit them for the special election to fill a vacancy ...

www.cascadepbs.org

1 9 22

Reposted by Nate Sanford

Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 26d

Come for the chat with the anonymous artist behind @theseattlechannel.bsky.social puppet show on his motivations, goals, and process for the episodes. Stay for @photogenna.bsky.social's amazing behind-the-scenes photos. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

On this show, Seattle’s City Council is a bunch of sock puppets

Bug eyes, blast balls and a singing SPD plant monster are all part of ‘The Seattle Channel’’s satire shining a light on city politics.

www.cascadepbs.org

9 23

Reposted by Nate Sanford

yazikus @yazikus.bsky.social · 22d

"I think there probably are ways that generative AI can be helpful for newsrooms, but I’m still pretty wary of it. I’m worried about accuracy, public trust and plagiarism."

Nate Sanford @sanfordnate.bsky.social · 22d

I talked with @poynterinstitute.bsky.social about how to get copies of government officials' ChatGPT histories.

FOIA around and find out:
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...

Is your mayor using ChatGPT? Here’s how to FOIA around and find out - Poynter

Seattle PBS reporter Nate Sanford investigated how city officials throughout Washington are using generative AI. Here’s how he did it.

www.poynter.org

1 11