Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

ISraa 🇵🇸🫒 @esroaa.bsky.social · 16d

💔 From Dreams to Ashes – Help Me Rebuild
Every morning, I stepped into my office with passion, arranging my desk, ready to tell stories that mattered. Journalism was my purpose, my voice for the voiceless. War took everything—my office, my home, my family.

Donate and share: 🙏
gofund.me/bd019290

23 15

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 2d

once again encouraging you all to support independent, worker owned, billionaire free News media when and how you are able

Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 2d

Installing someone like Bari Weiss as the head of a major news organization isn’t even about profit or longevity. In effect it’s about continuing to shrink the traditional news industry smaller and smaller and weaker and weaker and less and less journalism based until it ceases to exist

3 150 590

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Gaal Dornick @onthecountof3.bsky.social · 3d

Brooklyn. Have you seen this lady? Her family fears that she may have been picked up by ICE.

10 360 290

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · 3d

Important story: In Chicago, immigrants who thought they were following the legal path are also facing deportation under Trump crackdown. By @adrianaperez.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/05/i...

In Chicago, immigrants who thought they were following the legal path are also facing deportation under Trump crackdown

If immigrants entered the country illegally or are without granted status, attorneys say they have no protections under a second Trump administration.

www.chicagotribune.com

18 27

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 3d

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Body slamming, teargas and pepper balls: viral videos show Ice using extreme force in Chicago

A facility in Broadview, a mostly Black suburb, has become the site of escalation and ‘targeted attacks’ on protesters

www.theguardian.com

1 3 8

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · 4d

“It's like I'm living in two worlds. There's a world where Palestinians are getting killed, and there is you behind the screen, trying to figure out a way to report on it without getting shadowbanned and with actually reaching people.”

Plestia Alaqad in @teenvogue.com

Journalist Plestia Alaqad Is Publishing Her Diaries From Gaza: "A Dystopian World"

"Every time I read it, I just feel disbelief — is this real? Did I really live that? Are there still thousands of people in Gaza living that?”

www.teenvogue.com

27 58

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · 4d

Plestia Alaqad’s new book features her diary entries reporting on the ground in Gaza for 45 days after October 7. after a hospital is bombed on day 10, she uses the word genocide.

2 years later—as the UN has finally called it one—she says, “turns out, that's only the beginning.” @teenvogue.com

Journalist Plestia Alaqad Is Publishing Her Diaries From Gaza: "A Dystopian World"

"Every time I read it, I just feel disbelief — is this real? Did I really live that? Are there still thousands of people in Gaza living that?”

www.teenvogue.com

3 120 210

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 7d

JUST IN: A U.S. citizen from Alabama who has been detained twice by ICE while working at a construction site, has filed a class action suit claiming ICE's broad warrantless arrest powers violate the constitution. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

580 7.3K 25K

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 7d

grist.org/equity/indus...

Industry poisoned a vibrant Black neighborhood in Houston. Is a buyout the solution?

A once-vibrant Black neighborhood in Houston was poisoned by toxic industry pollution. Is a buyout the solution?

grist.org

1

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 7d

This was only possible because of @kathlanpher.bsky.social, eternally grateful to her and the @grist.org team for their encouragement on this story. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention my sources, especially folks from IMPACT in the Fifth Ward in Houston who took the time to speak to me.

A list of notable stories in the Best American Science and Nature Writing book, my article, Industry Poisoned a Vibrant Black Neighborhood. Is A Buyout the Solution? Is mentioned at the bottom

1 1 6

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 9d

Shoutout to @emorwee.bsky.social who is a fantastic editor!

2

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 9d

My latest for HEATED is about the political nature of land defender killings and some of the people who did the tireless work of protecting their land from illegal resource extraction

heated.world/p/the-politi...

The political killings you don’t hear about

Across the globe, standing up for the planet can be a death sentence—and the perpetrators are almost never held accountable.

heated.world

1 18 28

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Emily Atkin @emorwee.bsky.social · 9d

“Year after year, land and environmental defenders—those protecting our forests, rivers, and lands across the world—continue to be met with unspeakable violence.”

146 environmental and land defenders were murdered or disappeared in 2024

The political killings you don’t hear about

Across the globe, standing up for the planet can be a death sentence—and the perpetrators are almost never held accountable.

heated.world

1 76 110

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

sam @wisconsam.bsky.social · 12d

really proud that we get to publish this essential read by @yessfun.com. Yessenia's commitment to the people who face the most violence right now, both in the U.S. and outside of it, should guide us all as we report on climate change in this time.

Yale Climate Connections @climateconnections.bsky.social · 12d

In the mountains of North Carolina, communities are doing what Trump’s government will not: helping undocumented survivors of Helene rebuild.

When Helene hit, they lost their homes. Under Trump, they could lose even more. » Yale Climate Connections

One year after massive flooding hit western North Carolina, immigrant families are rebuilding with little more than grit, neighbors, and community organizing – under an increasingly hostile government.

yaleclimateconnections.org

1 5 8

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 9d

🫂🫂

1

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 9d

(Obviously so many other folks make this city incredible but I’m just feeling very emo rn)

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 9d

I’m so incredibly proud of my colleagues at other indie and nonprofit media orgs across the city, when I say this city is extraordinary these are the folks I’m talking about

Tiffany W @tiffany.thetriibe.com · 9d

Still thinking about the way Chicago indie media came together yesterday to demand Steve’s release.

That level of solidarity in such a crucial moment gives me hope.

What’s happening in Chicago is reaching people. Amanda Seales shared it on IG.

Tired, but encouraged to keep pushing.

Amanda Seales shared The TRiiBE story on her Instagram page

2 9 60

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 19d

Worth noting that Khalil (and others) who have everything to lose, have shown more bravery and commitment to free speech than elites across academia, corporate America, culture and politics bsky.app/profile/josh...

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 19d

Ben Smith: "What you saw with Mahmoud Khalil is that in some ways he is *less* vulnerable than Jimmy Kimmel. The people who are most vulnerable are the employees of big consolidated megacorporations—"

Chris Hayes: "Yeah, although he's about to get deported."

15 290 1.5K

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 15d

NEW: Chicago taxpayers paid $295M between 2019 & 2024 to resolve lawsuits naming 272 officers whose alleged misconduct led more than once to payouts, according to an analysis of city data, I report with @jaredrutecki.bsky.social for @wttw.bsky.social

Repeated Police Misconduct by 272 Officers Has Cost Chicago Taxpayers $295M Since 2019: Analysis

Chicago taxpayers paid $295 million between 2019 and 2024 to resolve lawsuits naming officers whose alleged misconduct led more than once to payouts, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News...

news.wttw.com

2 13 27

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · 17d

today is the last day to apply to be a 2026 Periplus Fellow! application closes at 11:59pm EST

Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · Aug 21

Periplus, a mentorship collective serving US-based early-career writers of color, is now accepting applications for our 2026 class of fellows! Apply by 9/20: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

You can learn more about Periplus (including fellowship eligibility requirements) here: bit.ly/periplusfaq

PERIPLUS: An FAQ

PERIPLUS: AN FAQ Updated August 2025 Hi! Thanks for your interest in Periplus, a mentorship collective serving U.S. writers who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. We're glad you’re here. Rea...

bit.ly

1 24 26

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

shawn @mulchy.bsky.social · 19d

outside the detention/“processing” facility in broadview, illinois:

a crowd of protesters, some of whom showed up before 5 am, is heckling ice agents arriving to work.

a few minutes ago, special response team agents came out to push protesters away from the driveway. pepper balls already flying.

40 690 1.9K

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 20d

Don’t miss this event, it’s important if you drink water in Chicago (p.s. even if your pipes aren’t lead, your neighbor or relatives could be!)

City Bureau @citybureau.bsky.social · 21d

Does your home have lead pipes? We'll help you find out.

WBEZ, Grist & Inside Climate News have mapped the lead pipes in the city, giving Chicagoans key info to track how the toxic material affects our water.

RSVP for free and join us for our #PublicNewsroom! www.citybureau.org/events/publi...

Public Newsroom 160: What’s in our water? — City Bureau

Join us for our next Public Newsroom on “What’s in our water” where you will explore an interactive map produced by WBEZ, Grist and Inside Climate News. See if your water service lines contain lead.

www.citybureau.org

1 6

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Sophie Hurwitz @hurwitz.bsky.social · 20d

Gonna be talking about data centers, billionaire rhetoric, and outer space on Here and Now at 1:52pm eastern time grist.org/climate-ener...

Data centers gobble Earth's resources. What if we took them to space instead?

The seemingly wild idea of putting data centers in space is gaining support. It could work. Whether it's feasible is another matter.

grist.org

2 3 10

Reposted by Siri Chilukuri

Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 23d

As I wrote about for @motherjones.com, people are already crossing state lines to get the Covid vaccine—which may become more common if the CDC vaccine advisory committee recommends limiting them this week. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Welcome to the new era of Covid vaccine tourism

Trump and RFK Jr.'s anti-vax crackdown is driving Americans across state lines—and making some pay out of pocket.

www.motherjones.com

11 200 490

Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social · 24d

A source who knew Silverio said he was, ”a person who looks out for his children, takes care of them.”

“For him to be shot, how he was shot – I don’t think it’s justice.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Illinois lawmakers demand answers in Ice killing: ‘A traffic violation should never amount to a death sentence’

Governor JB Pritzker joins US representative Delia Ramirez in response to shooting death of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez

www.theguardian.com

4