Some personal news: I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting. Thread incoming. substack.com/@karenattiah...

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...

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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.

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-...

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

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.

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? My latest illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...

Two years sober today. Humbled and grateful, one day at a time. Posting here for anyone else who needs to be a little less alone this morning.

@jayohday.bsky.social with @illinoisanswers.bsky.social discusses her investigation of southern Illinois's sewage overflow problem.

From today's 21st Show, @jayohday.bsky.social joins us to talk about why some Southern Illinois communities are dealing with ongoing sewage flooding issues, and how that's affecting the people who live there.

The officer who authorities say accidentally shot + killed his partner had accrued more than a dozen misconduct allegations against him during his 3.5 years as a PO. Five were during his probation period, when CPD could have summarily fired him. Unclear how he ended up on a tac team. #chicago

Cahokia Heights has been in the news before. The residents there have dealt with sewage flooding their homes for *decades*. But the flooding continues. @jayohday.bsky.social explores what's been done to fix it & why it's still happening throughout S. Illinois. illinoisanswers.org/2025/06/17/w...

Happening now in studio 4!

My good friend @kavahnmansouri.bsky.social dropping wisdom on covering rural communities — “news deserts are terrible, but they’re also an opportunity for us to provide intentional, thoughtful coverage”

Come see me at #IRE25! All sessions are tomorrow, Friday, 6/20 — Web scraping with Python, 10:15, studio 7 Coaching for @fishnette.bsky.social’s 11:30 Python for data analysis, studio 7

I've spoken at around two dozen @ire.org conferences. This is my latest, and first time I'm addressing this topic.

Coming to #IRE25? Been through a layoff? Come chat w/ me, @watchdogdiva.bsky.social, and @jdsalant.bsky.social at 2:30 on Friday for an off-the-record (will not be recorded) open mic about layoffs and life after layoff. Whether you need guidance or have guidance to give, we hope to see you. @ire.org

Wasted Waters: How Southern Illinois is Coping with Decades of Sewage Flooding… and Why it Still Isn’t Solved. My latest for @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/06/17/w...

Five dozen Southern Illinois towns saw a third of the state’s sewer overflows over the last decade—but shrinking populations and red tape make fixes elusive. Read the investigation: illinoisanswers.org/2025/06/17/w...

If you'll be at #IRE25 and you want some advice on how to best survive a layoff, please join me, @watchdogdiva.bsky.social and @jdsalant.bsky.social on Friday afternoon at 2:30 for an off-the-record (not recorded) open mic discussion

Fewer trees post-tornado could make summer in north St. Louis hotter — and more deadly. Great story by @kgrumke.bsky.social at @stlpublicradio.bsky.social using city 311 data www.stlpr.org/health-scien...

After a community listening tour last fall, we charged ahead, reporting on topics as big as... child care costs affordable housing & healthcare student loans Gig work violence interrupters and aging in place. Our series "Making it in Chicago" is the result: makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org

Messenger: A siren is blaring in storm-weary America. Is Trump administration listening? www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

If you know me you know I love an underdog — and this win was complete with a barehand catch and throw. Just 🤌 baseball

Haven't been on here much, been busy, been taking a break from socials (and it's been great, highly recommend deleting the apps from your phones) My one complaint for today is with, once again, these portals govts use for Sunshine Requests. The "related information" that pops up

🤨 www.wbez.org/criminal-jus...

And in Iowa, the state ombudsman investigated complaints of restraint chair abuse at two county jails and recommended updates to state rules. Now those jails have made changes. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/15/i...

In California, the family of a mentally ill man who died after he was restrained spoke out, prompting local reforms, DOJ intervention, a watchdog report and updates to state regulations. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/15/a...

Pennsylvania publishes annual data on restraint chair use in county jails statewide. Allegheny County residents voted to ban the device — the nation’s first successful referendum prohibiting use of restraint chairs in a county jail. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/15/t...

“I have far more at stake to lose than any other source in this piece” -- Wesley Lowery. If those were the last words he ever gets published this side of a newsletter, they are fitting. www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...

and on that note… someone please ask @washingtonpost.com why they cut Olivia out of their version of this story hours before they published? they had all the same reporting. www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...

Wesley Lowery rose to prominence as a reporter and media thinker. Women in journalism say he engaged in sexual harassment and assault. www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...

also, whatever happened to the CPI piece?? asking for a friend. @watchdogdiva.bsky.social

This is true. The Washington Post had everything CJR had from me, also on the record by name.

I believe the courageous women who are sharing these awful experiences. As for the media: Stop protecting abusers in your newsrooms. Enough of the hypocrisy. Like we say in Puerto Rico: Deja de predicar la moral en carsoncillos. www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...

⚜️💙 STL mutual aid thread DAY 2 (May 18, 2025):

Over 20 people have died since severe storms and tornadoes hit Kentucky and Missouri overnight. Meteorologists are beginning to survey the damage.

The Alarm. Postcard from my collection. Copyright 1902, unsent.

For over a year, Illinois Answers Project investigated the use & abuse of restraint chairs in Illinois. Now, we look at how other states are addressing misuse, incld a ban in Pennsylvania, investigation in Iowa, & statewide reform after a man died in California illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/15/h...

Brilliant collab between @ctoner.bsky.social, photographer Sebastian Hidalgo and Miles Bryan

Since abortion became almost entirely illegal in Texas in 2021, the state has seen a significant rise in the number of women who die in pregnancy or after giving birth. A new bill aims to change that.

It’s going to sound a little wacky, but hear me out: Karaoke is one of my favorite stress relievers. Nobody cares. Let me say it again: nobody. cares. And sometimes, like tonight, you get a whole-bar group singalong to “Lean On Me” — which was ❤️‍🩹 given “the unprecedented times” and all

live footage of me driving literally anywhere after getting my car fixed take it from me: a bad wheel bearing gets LOUD, and quickly, my friends