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Ben Ledbetter

@downballotinfo.bsky.social

390 followers 560 following 340 posts

Ben Ledbetter is the editor of Down Ballot: https://down-ballot.info/

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · Feb 11

If you need this, please bookmark it. Helpguide.org has some great information from quality sources.

Mental Health Helplines: International Directory

Do you need to speak to someone right now? HelpGuide's directory of hotlines around the world can provide you with help.

www.helpguide.org

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 1d

For NC and S.C.: Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina www.secondharvestmetrolina.org/need-food
Has state-specific information and links for certain counties. There is also a place to donate toward the bottom.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

There are a number of resources available, including through Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina's partner agency network. Please view our agency finder or select a method below:

www.secondharvestmetrolina.org

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 1d

Opinion | My Bosses Were Afraid of Crossing Trump. So, I Quit. www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Opinion | My Bosses Were Afraid of Crossing Trump. So, I Quit.

A veteran journalist opens up on the censorship that he says led to his resignation.

www.politico.com

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 1d

This very insightful explainer on data centers provides all the hard-hitting information you need to know. I love reading The Onion because it tells me everything I need to know about an issue.
dub.sh/am19lN3

What To Know About Data Centers

As the use of AI increases, data centers are popping up across the country. The Onion shares everything you need to know about the controversial facilities. Q: What do data centers need to run? A:…

theonion.com

Reposted by Ben Ledbetter

The Oreo Cat @theoreocat.bsky.social · 2d

You’ll see that life is a ball again
Laughter is calling for you
Down at our rendezvous
Three’s company, too 🧡🤍🖤 🎵

#HappyHalloween

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 2d

Looming federal food aid cuts put state Democrats in the hot seat - CommonWealth Beacon commonwealthbeacon.org/government/l...

Looming federal food aid cuts put state Democrats in the hot seat - CommonWealth Beacon

Massachusetts Democrats are unwilling to tap into the state’s significant savings balance to replace food aid, previewing difficult decisions that loom on the horizon.

commonwealthbeacon.org

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 2d

Parents accuse Bonnabel High employees of hitting, humiliating special education student - Verite News New Orleans dub.sh/3yc34Ze

Parents accuse Bonnabel High employees of hitting, humiliating special education student - Verite News New Orleans

The federal civil rights suit was based on footage from in-classroom cameras, which will soon be required in special education classrooms around the state.

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 6d

How Asheville became a city Black residents leave: the unhealed wound of urban renewal • Asheville Watchdog avlwatchdog.org/how-ashevill...

How Asheville became a city Black residents leave: the unhealed wound of urban renewal • Asheville Watchdog

The second of four parts The Happy Hour crowd on South Slope pops into the breweries and restaurants that have helped land Asheville on best-of lists, largely oblivious to what once stood nearby. The…

avlwatchdog.org

Reposted by Ben Ledbetter

Thee Quaker @theequaker.bsky.social · 22d

Today's Daily Quaker Message. Read the full quote: dailyquaker.com

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 7d

The Underground Railroad Tree at Guilford College www.gatheringinlight.com/the-undergro...

The Underground Railroad Tree at Guilford College

This past week, I was asked to give a few remarks for a fundraiser at New Garden Friends Meeting for the organization, Every Campus a Refuge. If you don't know about "ECAR" you need to check it out.…

www.gatheringinlight.com

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 9d

Better Rural Mental Health Care Is Under Our Nose. Why Can’t More Communities Use It? barnraisingmedia.com/community-he...

Better Rural Mental Health Care Is Under Our Nose. Why Can’t More Communities Use It?

There's a solution to addressing shortcomings in behavioral health systems in rural America. Yet many rural communities are unable to access it.

barnraisingmedia.com

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 10d

A Matter of Survival - Kairos Center kairoscenter.org/resources_cp...

A Matter of Survival - Kairos Center

A Matter of Survival: Organizing to Meet Unmet Needs and Build Power in Times of Crisis by Shailly Gupta Barnes and Jarvis Benson A Matter of Survival: Organizing to Meet Unmet Needs and Build Power…

kairoscenter.org

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 10d

Spartanburg city council approves hate crime ordinance dub.sh/Dk7wEtB
South Carolina and Wyoming are the only two states without a statewide hate crimes law.

Spartanburg city council approves hate crime ordinance

Spartanburg City is the second municipality in Spartanburg County to approve a hate crime ordinance. It follows Wellford, which approved its ordinance in 2024.

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 11d

As oversight weakens, protecting IRS data is essential | Brookings www.brookings.edu/articles/as-...

As oversight weakens, protecting IRS data is essential | Brookings

Vanessa Williamson and Ellis Chen warn that the Trump administration's funding cuts have crippled IRS oversight and erased vital public data.

www.brookings.edu

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 11d

Writer Chris Rose gave New Orleans a voice after Katrina. Now he lives alone in the woods. www.nola.com/news/katrina...

Writer Chris Rose gave New Orleans a voice after Katrina. Now he lives alone in the woods.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, his column in The Times-Picayune gave voice to the grief, frustration, anger and absurdity of a battered New Orleans. But Chris Rose also battled his…

www.nola.com

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 11d

Arizona sues over House Speaker's refusal to seat Adelita Grijalva cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2025/10/21/a...

Arizona sues over House Speaker's refusal to seat Adelita Grijalva

Four weeks after Adelita Grijalva won a special congressional election, the state of Arizona sued the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear her in. The…

cronkitenews.azpbs.org

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 12d

Mission Hospital placed in immediate jeopardy; sanction is third since sale to HCA • Asheville Watchdog avlwatchdog.org/mission-hosp...

Mission Hospital placed in immediate jeopardy; sanction is third since sale to HCA • Asheville Watchdog

This is a developing story and will be updated. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has placed Asheville’s Mission Hospital in immediate jeopardy, the third time since 2019 that the…

avlwatchdog.org

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 15d

How press can survive interactions with police on the skirmish line freedom.press/issues/how-p...

How press can survive interactions with police on the skirmish line

The pen is mightier than the sword, but only if you know how to use it

freedom.press

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 16d

Altercation involving UNC Greensboro police drawing strong reactions dub.sh/o8LUZVL

Altercation involving UNC Greensboro police drawing strong reactions

Cops on Ketamine? Largely Unregulated Mental Health Treatment Faces Hurdles, Mississippi prison chief reopens homicide cases following news investigation

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 18d

South Carolina has 12 measles cases tied to Upstate outbreak dub.sh/ypBbWfK

South Carolina has 12 measles cases tied to Upstate outbreak

Spartanburg and Greenville counties are located on Interstate 85 between Charlotte and Atlanta

dub.sh

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 19d

This is from comedian Matt Mitchell.
His top 4 (not really in order) are NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Clemson.

10 Schools That Belong in the SEC

YouTube video by Matt Mitchell

m.youtube.com

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 19d

First of Its Kind Federal Workforce Career Center Opens in Wheaton www.mymcmedia.org/first-of-its...

First of Its Kind Federal Workforce Career Center Opens in Wheaton

A first of its kind Federal Worker Career Center opens in Wheaton

www.mymcmedia.org

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 22d

dub.sh/gXMeyrv

NAACP and University of North Carolina at Greensboro students and alumni express dismay over UNCG cops’ treatment of two Black arrestees.

'Ashamed to be a Spartan.' Strong reactions to UNC-Greensboro police altercation.

NAACP and University of North Carolina at Greensboro students and alumni express dismay over UNCG cops' treatment of two Black arrestees.

carolinapublicpress.org

Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 23d

Students at Miss. college supporting each other through grief dub.sh/rVNNdLd

Students at Miss. college supporting each other through grief

Threat of ICE raids shadows every shift in Chicago’s food warehouses; Good night for incumbents in 18 NC counties that had elections; Data centers in other states are raising power costs in West…

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 29d

dub.sh/GvB0cgJ
Media outlets: ProPublica and The Assembly, Inside Climate News, Carolina Public Press, Pittsburgh's Public Source, Capitol News Illinois, Pittsburgh's Public Source, Verite News, THE CITY, El Paso Matters, North Carolina Health News, Planet Detroit, The Beacon.

Difficulties in getting FEMA housing assistance after Helene

Tech giants Open AI, Oracle behind $165 billion data center campus near El Paso; New Orleanians are being priced out of the city; NY MTA Locks in $3 Subway Fare to Start in January.

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Ben Ledbetter @downballotinfo.bsky.social · 29d

BRIEFS: Local governments in the Carolinas to meet next week dub.sh/I0U1ygi

BRIEFS: Local governments in the Carolinas to meet next week

Down Ballot Staff Reports Durham City Council will meet Monday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. and one of the agenda items deal with the second amendment to the building services agreement between the city and The…

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