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Bethany Barnes @betsbarnes.bsky.social · 4d

A video version would be very cool. And thanks for the Local Matters appreciation!

Bethany Barnes @betsbarnes.bsky.social · 4d

This exists! It’s called Local Matters. We are sponsored by @ire.org & @knightcolumbia.org. Local Matters is a free, weekly newsletter that is curated by myself and three other working journalists. This is our 8th year!

Anyone can sign up here: visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin...

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Bethany Barnes @betsbarnes.bsky.social · 4d

Yes!! You can sign back up here: visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin...

Investigative Reporters & Editors : Sign Up to Stay in Touch

visitor.r20.constantcontact.com

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Reposted by Bethany Barnes

Matthias Gafni @mgafni.bsky.social · Aug 26

In 2000, rookie Oakland cop Aaron McFarland wrote report saying he arrested man w drugs.

His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.

The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.

Katey & I obtained new records:

www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past

A trove of internal police files provides a more complete accounting of the early episode that could have jeopardized Aaron McFarlane’s career before a high-profile shooting.

www.sfchronicle.com

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Reposted by Bethany Barnes

Rebecca Woolington @rwoolington.bsky.social · Aug 14

So thrilled to be joining The Post’s incredible investigations team as a deputy editor!

www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...

Rebecca Woolington Named Deputy Editor of the Long-term Investigations Team

www.washingtonpost.com

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Lisa Gartner @lisagartner.bsky.social · Aug 14

Beyond thrilled to share that @rwoolington.bsky.social is joining The Washington Post's investigations team www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...

Rebecca Woolington Named Deputy Editor of the Long-term Investigations Team

www.washingtonpost.com

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Aliyya Swaby @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social · Jul 28

In rural Tennessee, 16 middle schoolers waiting for cheerleading practice to start made a TikTok video seeming to role play a school shooting.

The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.

www.propublica.org/article/soci...

Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.

Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Bethany Barnes

Susie Neilson @susien.bsky.social · Jul 2

New:

Beryllium, a metal so toxic that breathing in a minuscule amount over time can cause a chronic & fatal illness, is being found in homes after the LA wildfires.

Nobody knows where it's coming from. Few are testing for it.

w/ @meganmunce.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

tinyurl.com/4pkefbfx

Toxic metal found in L.A. air after fires. No one knows where it’s coming from

A little-known and highly dangerous earth metal used to craft spaceships has been found in wildfire-ravaged homes and in the air in Los Angeles. Experts are shocked — and alarmed.

www.sfchronicle.com

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The Nevada Independent @thenvindy.com · Jun 25

Passionate about doing great journalism to serve Nevadans? Join our team!

Co-Editors Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder run down the three job openings we just posted: thenevadaindependent.com/article/want...

Want to work for The Indy? Apply today. - The Nevada Independent

The longevity of many of our team members says it all — The Indy is a great place to work and we’re proud to be doing meaningful work each and every day. Want to be part of it?

thenevadaindependent.com

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Susie Neilson @susien.bsky.social · Jun 6

New from me and @meganmunce.bsky.social: Three major insurance companies have been accused of systematically under-insuring LA wildfire victims via flawed software, following our @sfchronicle.com investigation into the issue.

Gift link: tinyurl.com/4dmpcb25

3 big California insurers accused of underinsuring L.A. fire survivors

These allegations come after the Chronicle published an investigation into how flaws in software and the way insurance companies use it have left California homeowners underinsured after wildfires.

tinyurl.com

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Matthias Gafni @mgafni.bsky.social · Jun 9

EXCLUSIVE:

CA National Guard troops sent by Trump to LA amid immigration protests are sleeping on concrete floors. No fed funding for food, water, fuel, equipment or lodging.

Source: “Currently, there is no plan for where everyone is sleeping tonight”

www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...

‘Wildly underprepared’: National Guard troops seen sleeping on floors in exclusive photos

State troops sent to Los Angeles by the Trump administration, without the approval of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, were expected to sleep on floors or outdoors, a source told the Chronicle.

www.sfchronicle.com

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Ryan Gabrielson @ryangabrielson.bsky.social · May 30

I can't recommend this #ire25 class highly enough, taught by two of the best investigative storytellers in the biz!

Bethany Barnes @betsbarnes.bsky.social · May 30

There are still spots in our Writing The Investigative Narrative class at @ire.org!

Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰

Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...

Image advertising the IRE master class mentioned in the post with headshots of the instructors

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Bethany Barnes @betsbarnes.bsky.social · May 30

What you’ll learn:

⚫️ Understanding the investigative narrative

⚫️ How to pitch

⚫️ Turning sources into characters

⚫️ Writing a scene

⚫️ Self-editing tips and techniques

⚫️ Organizing and writing a deeply reported investigative narrative

Bethany Barnes @betsbarnes.bsky.social · May 30

There are still spots in our Writing The Investigative Narrative class at @ire.org!

Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰

Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...

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The Sidney Hillman Foundation @sidneyhillman.bsky.social · May 21

Congratulations to Zachary Sampson, Shreya Vuttaluru, Bethany Barnes and the whole team at the Tampa Bay Times on winning this month's Sidney for their sweeping investigation of manatee deaths in Florida and the state's declining water quality.

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The Sidney Hillman Foundation @sidneyhillman.bsky.social · May 21

The Tampa Bay Times wins the May Sidney for their first-of-its-kind investigation into the water quality crisis that is killing the state’s manatees:

Tampa Bay Times wins May Sidney for Sounding the Alarm About Florida’s Manatee Crisis

Zachary Sampson, Shreya Vuttaluru and Bethany Barnes win the May Sidney Award for “Wasting Away,” a Tampa Bay Times investigation into the mass die-off of manatees in Florida. The manatee is a gentle ...

bit.ly

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skyler 🌿 @redskiesbynight.bsky.social · May 17

The story quoted here is an excellent read, and very sad. Manatees 💔

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · May 16

ecological catastrophe in florida but no worries they are focusing on the real threats: fluoridated water

project.tampabay.com/investigatio...

Wasting Away: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse.

A Times analysis of millions of water samples found dangerous contamination across the state.

project.tampabay.com

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Michael Deibert @michaeldeibert.bsky.social · May 14

We owe these gentle creatures better: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse project.tampabay.com/investigatio...

Wasting Away: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse.

A Times analysis of millions of water samples found dangerous contamination across the state.

project.tampabay.com

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Reposted by Bethany Barnes

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · May 16

ecological catastrophe in florida but no worries they are focusing on the real threats: fluoridated water

project.tampabay.com/investigatio...

Wasting Away: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse.

A Times analysis of millions of water samples found dangerous contamination across the state.

project.tampabay.com

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The Denver Post @denverpost.com · May 15

Pilots flying into Denver International Airport on Monday couldn’t communicate with air traffic controllers for about six minutes after multiple radio transmitters failed, according to reporting from Denver7.

Denver airport air traffic control went out for 6 minutes on Monday, report says

Pilots flying into Denver International Airport on Monday couldn’t communicate with air traffic controllers for about six minutes after multiple radio transmitters failed, according to reporting fr…

www.denverpost.com

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Bethany Barnes @betsbarnes.bsky.social · May 9

"If they had deliberately set out to emotionally torture three generations of a single family — Hailey, her aunt and, most important, her infant — they couldn’t have done a more thorough, efficient job of it than they did and continue to do in this case" missouriindependent.com/2025/05/05/h...

‘Really horrifying’: Missouri draws scorn over treatment of teen mom in foster care • Missouri Independent

The story of a Missouri foster teen fighting to stay with her baby highlights systemic issues lawmakers say they've spent years trying to fix.

missouriindependent.com

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Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · Apr 30

JOURNALISTS OF BLUESKY: I'm hiring!

We're looking for a talented reporter to join the Lexington Herald-Leader on the Bluegrass Politics team.

This position will cover state government — the legislature, Gov. Andy Beshear, agencies, etc. — and Kentucky politics.

Questions? Reach out to me.

mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net

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Nieman Lab @niemanlab.org · May 8

“I’ve been doing this work for 34 years…and I don’t remember ever seeing a policy that names the principal, in writing, as the editor of the paper." www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/insi...

Inside a high school newspaper’s fight for editorial independence

The Alexandria, Virginia school board says it wants to “help students grow as journalists." Theogony's student journalists wonder who, exactly, the board is protecting.

www.niemanlab.org

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Reposted by Bethany Barnes

David Armstrong @davidarmstrongx.bsky.social · May 8

I have written many healthcare stories, but never before have I written about my own health. I decided to do so after learning one of my drugs costs nearly $1,000 a pill and just 25 cents to make. What I found was an incredible story of discovery and exploitation. www.propublica.org/article/revl...

The Price of Remission

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I set out to understand why a single pill of Revlimid cost the same as a new iPhone. I’ve covered high drug prices as a reporter for years. What I discovered shocked ...

www.propublica.org

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Susie Neilson @susien.bsky.social · May 5

Stories like these are only possible because of our readers and the support of the @sfchronicle.com leadership. Now more than ever, investigative reporting is needed across the U.S. — esp. at the local level. Subscribe to one (or more) local news outlets so we can keep doing this work <3

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