Author | Lightnews

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · 2d

Sunset from the Metro East on the first day of CST

Lights on the horizon from left to right: two combines, a coal train coming down the tracks from the west, and cars on IL-40

Lights from two combines, a train and cars are seen at a distance with an early winter sunset as the backdrop.

‘They are literally targeting people.’ ICE comes to southern Illinois

Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Nick Ulivieri @nuphoto.com · 4d

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Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · 4d

‘They are literally targeting people.’ ICE comes to southern Illinois

By me and @bhundsdorfer.bsky.social for @illinoisanswers.bsky.social @capitolnewsil.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/31/i...

CARLYLE, Ill. — When Jose Jeronimo Guardian showed up at a Spanish language traffic court this week, he didn’t expect to be detained and face expulsion from a country he’d […]

Former deputy found guilty of murder in the shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 - IPM Newsroom

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Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Illinois Public Media @ilpublicmedia.bsky.social · 6d

BREAKING NEWS: An Illinois jury on Wednesday convicted a former sheriff’s deputy of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 asking for help.

Sean Grayson arrived at Sonya Massey’s home in Springfield after she reported seeing a prowler early on July 6, 2024. At the time of the shooting, Massey was holding a pan of hot water.

ipmnewsroom.org

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Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Alex Nitkin @alexnitkin.bsky.social · 7d

As transit funding hangs in the balance in veto session this week, @gracehauck.bsky.social and I have a pair of stories looking at the stakes for a part of the state that's gotten relatively little attention: the collar counties.
t.co/oswatwJcdQ

https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/legal-loophole-scrambled-state-efforts-to-plug-transit-agencies-funding/

t.co

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Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Grace Hauck @gracehauck.bsky.social · 7d

What's the future of public transit in the Chicagoland area?

Fledgling dial-a-ride networks are filling gaps in the collar counties, but they struggle to meet demand. w/ @alexnitkin.bsky.social @illinoisanswers.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/c...

These Counties Spend Transit Tax Money on Ride Services. They’re Lifelines for Thousands of Residents

Fledgling dial-a-ride networks are filling gaps in public transit in the collar counties, but they struggle to meet demand.

Lars Nootbaar says surgical solution was 'huge shock,' but provides foothold for performance

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · 6d

So happy to see he's on the mend and that he will remain a Cardinal 🤗 thank you for the update @dgoold.bsky.social

Derrick Goold @dgoold.bsky.social · 6d

Lars Nootbaar says surgical solution was 'huge shock,' but provides foothold for performance

Spoke with the Cardinaks oitfuelder after his PT in Tuesday …

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

The Cardinals and their outfielder are not setting a precise timetable for his return due to the nature of the surgery — it was done on both feet.

www.stltoday.com

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · 11d

Don't forget to pitch your ideas for #NICAR26 by 10/30, and start planning to join us in Indy next year! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

NICAR26 open call for ideas

Use this form to share ideas, suggestions and other comments you think will help us plan the best possible NICAR -- we'll be in Indianapolis for the conference March 5-8, 2026. The only required field...

docs.google.com

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · 11d

Another day, another NextRequest account 🫠

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · 13d

Another day, another GovQA account 😵‍💫

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · 13d

Another day, another GovQA account 😵‍💫

The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced.

Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · Sep 15

Some personal news:

I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.

Thread incoming.

substack.com/@karenattiah...

I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.

substack.com

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Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Sep 9

There's already a cooperative effort — the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) — to help states share voter data. Goals include preventing illegal voting & duplicate registrations. Why, then, did Trump & his allies promote disinformation about ERIC? publicintegrity.org/politics/ele...

AccessFest25 Registration - Investigative Reporters & Editors

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Sep 5

Especially if you can’t make it to IRE or NICAR, AccessFest is the online version of the best sessions from both. And for $50 — join us!

Brian M. Rosenthal @brianmrosenthal.bsky.social · Aug 27

My career changed when I attended an @ire.org conference. It is training that truly makes a difference. Now we’re offering that opportunity for our lowest price ever. For just $50, you can attend IRE’s virtual conference, AccessFest. Register here by Sept 8: www.ire.org/accessfest-2...

IRE's virtual conference, AccessFest, is October 9-11, 2025. Join us for training and learn how to be a better watchdog journalist!

www.ire.org

Chicago cop who fatally shot partner Krystal Rivera accused of attacking female officer

Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Noelle Maxwell @noellem1.bsky.social · Sep 4

Signed up for @ire.org's AcessFest - attended for the first time last year, can't wait for this year's! Enjoyed all the opportunities to learn! #journalism #AccessFest2025

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Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Sep 4

If you're a news organization in Illinois and you are looking to expand your partnerships, or learn more about how you can partner with @illinoisanswers.bsky.social, register for our "Investigate the State" conference on Sept. 18!

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Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Sep 3

Haven’t been “on here” much but I have received two of these exact same texts. Like yeah, I’m sure low-key threatening voters will work!

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Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Casey Toner @ctoner.bsky.social · Aug 13

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog... Our latest about the cop who shot and killed his partner earlier this year allegedly attacking a female cop at a bar, leaving her with a split lip and stitches @peternickeas.bsky.social @schuba.bsky.social @illinoisanswers.bsky.social @chicago.suntimes.com

Officer Carlos Baker and a woman allegedly beat the other cop late Sunday at a Wicker Park bar after pushing her to delete videos taken on her cellphone, the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Answers Pro...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Gabriel Milland @gabrielmilland.bsky.social · Aug 8

I would probably say the single most annoying thing about LLMs is that "okily-dokily doo, I goofed when I gave you that ludicrous answer, it's my bad that I said cheese comes from cats, I'll do better next time, would you like to know what sort of cat it comes from?" tone when it gets stuff wrong.

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Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Jul 22

Decade-plus building slump limits Wichita housing choices

This story was months in the making. I am so proud to be a partner of the Wichita Journalism Collaborative, and glad I could help them gather and use data to help answer the "why?" here. Give it a read.

klcjournal.com/decade-plus-...

Decade-plus building slump limits Wichita housing choices

Building permit data shows Wichita lacking 17,000 single-family homes after the pace of construction slowed with the Great Recession.

klcjournal.com

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Jul 20

My 1 year anniversary @illinoisanswers.bsky.social was this past week. The data points:

- 1,171 miles driven reporting stories
- 106 FOIA requests
- 5 trips to the Metro East
- 4 trips to Chicago
- 3 trips to Southern Illinois
- 3 stories published
- 2 conferences attended

🚀 let's go, year 2

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Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Jul 18

I grew up on Colbert and Stewart on Comedy Central, and having Colbert transfer into my late-night host just felt perfect.

I’m glad I have 10 months to digest this (and get to New York…)

Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ canceled by CBS, to end in May 2026

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Jul 18

I am devastated, and that’s not being dramatic. For years, I’ve felt like my day doesn’t officially end until I see Colbert make his entrance on the stage.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Jul 18

Breaking news: “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026, CBS said in a statement.

The announcement came days after Colbert spoke out against the $16 million paid earlier this month by Paramount, the parent company of CBS News.

CBS said in a statement that it was “purely a financial decision.” The show launched with Colbert as host, executive producer and writer a decade ago.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Janelle O’Dea

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Jul 15

After investigating the decades of sewage flooding in Cahokia Heights, state investigative reporter @jayohday.bsky.social is back w/ a look into sewage flooding in Carterville & why a new wastewater treatment plant approved years ago still hasn't been built.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet?

Carterville residents say sewage floods their homes and yards. A new wastewater treatment plant could resolve the issue, but construction hasn’t started.

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet?

Janelle O’Dea @jayohday.bsky.social · Jul 15

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet?

My latest

illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...

Carterville residents say sewage floods their homes and yards. A new wastewater treatment plant could resolve the issue, but construction hasn’t started.