Ralph Chapoco
@rchapoco.bsky.social
scientist turned journalist, currently @alreflector.bsky.social, reposts not endorsements, political and policy junkie, just trying to live my life
Pinned
Ralph Chapoco
@rchapoco.bsky.social
· Nov 16
LEAVE A LEGACY - Best Motivational Speech Video 2020
YouTube video by Motiversity
www.youtube.com
Inspiration for anyone who needs it. May it be a moment you can use for whatever life throws at you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW29...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW29...
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
The Education Department responded to backlash about reducing the number of professional degrees.
My latest for @al.com
www.al.com/education/20...
My latest for @al.com
www.al.com/education/20...
Student loan updates 2025: Is nursing still a professional degree?
About 80% of the nursing workforce does not have a graduate degree.
www.al.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Education Department responded to backlash about reducing the number of professional degrees.
My latest for @al.com
www.al.com/education/20...
My latest for @al.com
www.al.com/education/20...
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
Big ol' news here: www.al.com/education/20...
Alabama college launches new school with support from Katie Britt
Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be available starting in 2027.
www.al.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Big ol' news here: www.al.com/education/20...
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
Millions nationwide could be cut off from access to government food assistance Saturday due to the shutdown, including those who are pregnant or have babies and young children, reports @kelciemmorris.bsky.social.
Losing SNAP could mean more pregnancy complications as food insecurity grows • West Virginia Watch
Without action from Congress, millions will be cut off from access to government food assistance, including those who are pregnant.
westvirginiawatch.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Millions nationwide could be cut off from access to government food assistance Saturday due to the shutdown, including those who are pregnant or have babies and young children, reports @kelciemmorris.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
Democratic AGs, governors sue Trump over SNAP benefits as shutdown hits day 28
by @fischler.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/demo...
by @fischler.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/demo...
Democratic AGs, governors sue Trump over SNAP benefits as shutdown hits day 28
A coalition of Democratic state officials sued the Trump administration Tuesday, asking a federal judge to force the release of food assistance funds for 42 million people that the U.S. Department of ...
www.newsfromthestates.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Democratic AGs, governors sue Trump over SNAP benefits as shutdown hits day 28
by @fischler.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/demo...
by @fischler.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/demo...
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
Love that @alabamareflector.com picked up my latest. Shout out to @rchapoco.bsky.social , who is covering broadband at the local level. And to former Reflector staffer @alander.bsky.social who treated me to an unforgettable lunch in Montgomery while I was reporting my Dead Zone series
Via Sarah Jane Tribble & KFF Health News : A 91-year-old learns to check health portals; a 7-year-old finally can do homework. They were among rural residents helped by a digital navigator, until President Trump abruptly canceled the Digital Equity Act’s dollars. https://ow.ly/TAp450X8KR7
October 9, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Love that @alabamareflector.com picked up my latest. Shout out to @rchapoco.bsky.social , who is covering broadband at the local level. And to former Reflector staffer @alander.bsky.social who treated me to an unforgettable lunch in Montgomery while I was reporting my Dead Zone series
This is an instant classic. Oh, what a match!
youtu.be/D8s9Kjb9d94?...
youtu.be/D8s9Kjb9d94?...
Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner - FULL Final Highlights | Roland Garros 2025
YouTube video by House of Highlights
youtu.be
June 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This is an instant classic. Oh, what a match!
youtu.be/D8s9Kjb9d94?...
youtu.be/D8s9Kjb9d94?...
Read all about it: The final installment from @bshelburne.bsky.social. Enjoy!
Who’s paying millions for settlements with people who’ve been incarcerated in Alabama? The state’s taxpayers. Who’s getting the most money from this litigation? Attorneys defending corrections officers.
Part 4 of the @alabamareflector.com Blood Money series, from Beth Shelburne:
Part 4 of the @alabamareflector.com Blood Money series, from Beth Shelburne:
The costs of Alabama prison litigation are rising. Private attorneys are reaping the rewards. | Alabama Reflector
Legal payments to attorneys representing ADOC officers accused of excessive force are almost triple the money paid in settlements for incarcerated people and their families.
alabamareflector.com
May 23, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Read all about it: The final installment from @bshelburne.bsky.social. Enjoy!
Read all about it: Part 3 in @bshelburne.bsky.social series regarding complaints filed against the ADOC.
The anatomy of one inmate’s allegations against a corrections officer, and the aftermath.
Part 3 of Blood Money, our investigation into Alabama Department of Corrections settlements.
Part 3 of Blood Money, our investigation into Alabama Department of Corrections settlements.
The ordeal of Koty Williams | Alabama Reflector
The progress of one inmate's complaint alleging a brutal beating, and what it shows about Corrections' handling of complaints.
alabamareflector.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Read all about it: Part 3 in @bshelburne.bsky.social series regarding complaints filed against the ADOC.
Read all about it: Part two dropped today. Take a read please!
Even as the prison population has declined, use of force incidents in Alabama’s prisons soared, and corrections officers involved have not only held onto jobs, but been promoted.
Part 2 of Blood Money, from Beth Shelburne:
Part 2 of Blood Money, from Beth Shelburne:
In wake of excessive force allegations, some corrections officers got promoted | Alabama Reflector
Use of force incidents increased 47% in Alabama prisons over the last decade, even as the prison population declined.
alabamareflector.com
May 20, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Read all about it: Part two dropped today. Take a read please!
Read all about it: First in a series of four stories regarding how ADOC settles lawsuits related to use of excessive force.
Regarding the surge in excessive force lawsuits and settlements, an Alabama Corrections spokesperson replied:
“Most are piggybacking off the allegations contained in the DOJ findings letters, which ADOC adamantly denies."
From “Blood Money” Part 1.
“Most are piggybacking off the allegations contained in the DOJ findings letters, which ADOC adamantly denies."
From “Blood Money” Part 1.
Blood Money: Alabama Department of Corrections pays to settle lawsuits alleging excessive force | Alabama Reflector
The Alabama Department of Corrections has spent over $17 million to settle claims of excessive force by corrections officers against inmates.
alabamareflector.com
May 19, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Read all about it: First in a series of four stories regarding how ADOC settles lawsuits related to use of excessive force.
Read all about it: The first in a series of four that details how the Alabama Department of Corrections handles lawsuits concerning excessive force. @bshelburne.bsky.social #ALPolitics
alabamareflector.com/2025/05/19/b...
alabamareflector.com/2025/05/19/b...
Blood Money: Alabama Department of Corrections pays to settle lawsuits alleging excessive force | Alabama Reflector
The Alabama Department of Corrections has spent over $17 million to settle claims of excessive force by corrections officers against inmates.
alabamareflector.com
May 19, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Read all about it: The first in a series of four that details how the Alabama Department of Corrections handles lawsuits concerning excessive force. @bshelburne.bsky.social #ALPolitics
alabamareflector.com/2025/05/19/b...
alabamareflector.com/2025/05/19/b...
Woohoo, straight A's this semester. It is the first semester, but it still counts!
May 15, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Woohoo, straight A's this semester. It is the first semester, but it still counts!
Final exam taken, final project completed, first semester of graduate school finally done.
May 6, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Final exam taken, final project completed, first semester of graduate school finally done.
Got this in the mail today--guess that means I am part of the Thurndering Herd family!
April 21, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Got this in the mail today--guess that means I am part of the Thurndering Herd family!
Now I wonder if he earned the season he had last year when he became an all-star: Braves' Jurickson Profar gets 80-game PED ban, calls it 'most difficult day' of his career
apnews.com/article/brav...
apnews.com/article/brav...
Braves' Jurickson Profar gets 80-game PED ban, calls it 'most difficult day' of his career
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games without pay for performance-enhancing drug use.
apnews.com
April 1, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Now I wonder if he earned the season he had last year when he became an all-star: Braves' Jurickson Profar gets 80-game PED ban, calls it 'most difficult day' of his career
apnews.com/article/brav...
apnews.com/article/brav...
Food for thought: www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
Opinion | The AP’s Freedom of Speech—and Yours
A brazen attempt to punish us for using words Trump dislikes.
www.wsj.com
March 28, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Food for thought: www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
BREAKING: We just learned Alireza Doroudi is being held at the Pickens County jail awaiting to be transported to an ICE facility, which should happen in the next couple days.
Via @alander.bsky.social: The Crimson White reported Wednesday evening that Alireza Doroudi was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) early Tuesday morning. According to ICE detainee locator, Doroudi was “in ICE custody” Thursday morning but the facility is not listed.
University of Alabama student detained by immigration authorities • Alabama Reflector
A University of Alabama student was detained by federal immigration authorities, with the university confirming their cooperation with authorities.
alabamareflector.com
March 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
BREAKING: We just learned Alireza Doroudi is being held at the Pickens County jail awaiting to be transported to an ICE facility, which should happen in the next couple days.
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
USDA is canceling programs that paid Kentucky farmers to grow food for school cafeterias, food banks.
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
USDA programs that paid KY farmers to provide food to schools, food banks cut. ‘Devastating’
The USDA grants paid about $15 million to Kentucky farmers for pork, chicken, vegetables and fruit.
www.kentucky.com
March 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
USDA is canceling programs that paid Kentucky farmers to grow food for school cafeterias, food banks.
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
Via @alander.bsky.social: The law ends the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs' powers to set policy and rules on veterans' issues, reducing it to an advisory board.
Gov. Kay Ivey takes control of State Board of Veterans Affairs • Alabama Reflector
Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday signed a law restructuring the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs, reducing its powers but keeping its membership at 17.
alabamareflector.com
March 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Via @alander.bsky.social: The law ends the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs' powers to set policy and rules on veterans' issues, reducing it to an advisory board.
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The bill from Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would cut the state grocery tax from 3% to 2%. Another bill would allow local governments to lower their grocery taxes but not require it.
Alabama House approves grocery tax cut, income tax adjustments • Alabama Reflector
The Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed $191 million in tax cuts in a four bill package on Tuesday.
alabamareflector.com
March 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The bill from Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would cut the state grocery tax from 3% to 2%. Another bill would allow local governments to lower their grocery taxes but not require it.
Check this out: www.notus.org/alabama/shom...
March 18, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Check this out: www.notus.org/alabama/shom...
Reposted by Ralph Chapoco
Sending good vibes to the families affected by the storm. @ us if communities are in need of assistance. ✊️
March 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Sending good vibes to the families affected by the storm. @ us if communities are in need of assistance. ✊️
Read all about it: States turn to different methods to execute people sentenced to death: scdailygazette.com/2025/03/07/s...
SC inmate executed by firing squad, a first nationwide since 2010 • SC Daily Gazette
Brad Sigmon, 67, is set to become the first inmate executed by firing squad in the United States since 2010.
scdailygazette.com
March 8, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Read all about it: States turn to different methods to execute people sentenced to death: scdailygazette.com/2025/03/07/s...