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Grant Ashley

@grantashley.bsky.social
233 followers 344 following 16 posts

Capital Region Bureau Chief for @wamc.org Other bylines in Buffalo and Rochester

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Reposted by Grant Ashley
BTPM News @btpmnews.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Newly obtained documents show how a U.S. Supreme Court decision led prosecutors to not charge former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown with wire fraud.
btpm.org
New docs shed light on 2019 City Hall raid, Byron Brown wire fraud investigation
Newly obtained documents show how a U.S. Supreme Court decision led prosecutors to not charge former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown with wire fraud.
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The Feds were investigating then-Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown for wire fraud — until the U.S. Supreme Court made charges impossible. My latest for @btpmnews.bsky.social
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Breaking: Albany Common Council supports a statewide data center moratorium 12-0, with one abstention and two absences. The measure is on Hochul’s desk. @wamc.org
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Protesters are asking the Albany Common Council to officially back a proposed one-year moratorium on data center construction in New York. I’m covering it for @wamc.org
This is the inside of Albany City Hall. There’s a good amount of people in the spectators’ gallery, and there’s already more than I took the photo.
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have called on Graham Platner to "immediately withdraw"
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WAMC Northeast Public Radio @wamc.org · 30/06/2026
Family announces missing Albany County boy found dead
wamc.org
Family announces missing Albany County boy found dead
Harbe Nagi, who had autism and was nonverbal, was visiting a Menands home on Sunday afternoon when he ran away, according to his uncle.
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Some personal news: I’m excited to announce that I’ll be joining @wamc.org as the Albany News Bureau Chief, where I’ll cover local news in the Capital Region. I start at the end of June.
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Just watched Sex and the City for the first time, and the media economics make no sense to me. Like, all you do is write a weekly column? About sex? For (presumably) a local newspaper? And you can afford to live in New York City? Without roommates?
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Ben Mullin @benmullin.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
SCOOP with Elizabeth Williamson: The Onion has a new plan to take over Infowars. It has entered into an agreement to license the Infowars brand and plans to operate it as a comedy site. A Texas judge must approve the deal. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/b...
nytimes.com
The Onion Has a New Plan to Take Over Infowars
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 01/02/2026
BREAKING: The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
propublica.org
Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
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Kyle Clark @kylec.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
I had the honor to introduce my replacement on 9NEWS
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The Onion @theonion.com · 11/01/2026
British Teen Returning From Semester In U.S. Regales Friends With Tale Of Food That Tastes Good
theonion.com
British Teen Returning From Semester In U.S. Regales Friends With Tale Of Food That Tastes Good
LONDON—Delighting his schoolmates as he weaved a rich tapestry of life in the United States, newly returned British exchange student Ethan Rowe, 15, reportedly regaled his friends Tuesday with stories...
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Minnesota investigators said the Trump administration has barred it them from taking part in the investigation into yesterday’s ICE killing
huffpost.com
Minnesota Investigators Barred From Taking Part In Probe Into Fatal ICE Shooting
“Without complete access to the evidence, witnesses and information collected, we cannot meet the investigative standards that Minnesota law and the public demands," Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Appre...
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
A mystery trader made $400,000 on bets that Nicolás Maduro would soon be out as Venezuela’s leader apple.news/AgJ76d0bCR9-...
Less than five hours before nighttime explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, an unknown trader doubled down on bets that Nicolás Maduro would soon be out as the country’s leader.

The wagers on Polymarket, a popular crypto-based betting platform, netted the trader more than $400,000, a 12-fold return on investment—and fueled suspicions that someone used inside knowledge of the closely held U.S. operation to make a quick profit.The anonymous user created an account last month and placed an initial bet on Dec. 27, buying $96 worth of contracts that would pay off if the U.S. invaded Venezuela by Jan. 31, Polymarket data shows. The person ramped up bets over the next week, sticking to a handful of similar contracts, as tensions mounted between Washington and Caracas.

The trader focused bets on contracts that would pay out if Maduro would no longer be Venezuela’s leader by Jan. 31, when that still seemed like a long shot.The trader’s final bet came at 9:58 p.m. ET on Friday, shortly before President Trump ordered the military to move forward. Such contracts were priced at just 8 cents apiece, implying that Polymarket users saw only an 8% probability of the Venezuelan strongman losing power this month, the platform’s data shows. 

Several hours later, news broke of the U.S. operation to capture Maduro and the contracts shot up in value. In the end, the trader earned nearly $410,000 in profit on about $34,000 worth of wagers. More than half the value of the total wager was placed the evening before the attack. MADURO BETTING TIMELINE
Dec. 27: Trader makes first bet, $96 on U.S. invasion of Venezuela
Dec. 31 to Jan. 2: Trader bets thousands more on U.S. attack and Maduro losing power
Jan. 2, 8:38 p.m. to 9:58 p.m.: In final spree, trader bets over $20,000 on Maduro’s downfall
Jan. 2, 10:46 p.m.: President Trump orders military to strike
Jan. 3, 1:00 a.m.: Explosions rock Caracas
Jan. 3, 8:41 a.m.: Trader starts to cash bets for nearly $410,000 in profit
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 03/01/2026
Trump says the U.S. is going to run Venezuela until there can be "a safe, proper and judicious transition" Follow live: on.wsj.com/4jrSKKG
on.wsj.com
Live Updates: Trump Speaks on U.S. Capture of Venezuela's Maduro 'We Are Going to Run the Country'
The U.S. military operation in Venezuela comes after months of pressure on the Latin American country's president. Follow along for live updates, news and analysis as the story unfolds.
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
The Associated Press @apnews.com · 03/01/2026
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
bit.ly
At least 7 explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard in Venezuela's Caracas
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Keri Blakinger @keribla.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING EVERYONE (or everyone who is a FOIA nerd): There's a public records request advent calendar. h/t Cam Rodriguez docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com
The Very Official 2025 FOIA Advent Calendar
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 08/11/2025
thx to AP “Today in History” now I will probably not be able to forget that the Florida recount began on the anniversary of the Beer-Hall putsch
apnews.com
Today in History: November 8, Florida election recount begins
1923: Hitler's failed 'Beer-Hall Putsch' 1960: JFK elected president over Nixon 2013: Typhoon Haiyan slams Philippines
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Not sure what’s on the ballot in Monroe County this November? My colleagues at @wxxirochester.bsky.social and I have bios for every candidate running — everything from state justice to town highway superintendent. Check out our website before you head to the polls! www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...
wxxinews.org
Meet the candidates on the ballot in Monroe County
Early voting started Saturday, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 19/10/2025
Louvre closed after robbery, French culture minister says
theguardian.com
Louvre closed after robbery, French culture minister says
Rachida Dati announces robbery had taken place at world’s most-visited museum The Louvre in Paris, the world’s most-visited museum, has suddenly closed for the day after the French culture minister said there had a been a robbery. “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum,” Rachida Dati wrote on social media. She used the French word braquage, which can mean robbery or hold-up. Continue reading...
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John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
It's kinda cool that Gary Larson is doing new cartoons because he picked up a digital tablet, taught himself how to use it, and it made him love drawing again. www.thefarside.com/new-stuff/
thefarside.com
New Work by Gary Larson | TheFarSide.com
Get an exclusive look at brand new cartoons and artwork from cartoonist Gary Larson, creator of the iconic comic strip The Far Side®.
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NPR @npr.org · 18/10/2025
The disgraced New York Republican was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a litany of federal charges, including wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering. n.pr/47uii5k
n.pr
President Trump commutes the prison sentence of George Santos
The disgraced New York Republican was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a litany of federal charges, including wire fraud and identity theft.
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EL PAÍS @elpais.com · 29/09/2025
España ha vetado el tránsito por las bases de Rota (Cadiz) y Morón de la Frontera (Sevilla) de aviones o buques de Estados Unidos cargados con armamento, munición o equipos militares para Israel
elpais.com
España veta el paso por Rota y Morón de armamento de Estados Unidos para Israel
Los seis cazas F-35 entregados en los últimos meses por Washington han utilizado la base de Las Azores
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Gino Fanelli @ginofanelli.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
A protest against ICE in the Park Avenue neighborhood appeared to provoke the federal agents to leave a roofing job site. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...
wxxinews.org
ICE agents in the Park Ave neighborhood spark large-scale protest
The group shouted “shame” and "Gestapo,” and applauded as agents in the ICE-led action drove a Border Patrol SUV away on four flat tires, which had been slashed.
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
I interviewed Ani DiFranco for @buffalonews.com ahead of her concert tonight at Terminal B. We talked about her Broadway debut, her new album and what she’s expecting from her first trip to Buffalo since the pandemic. Check it out while there’s no paywall! buffalonews.com/life-enterta...
buffalonews.com
Ani DiFranco: Buffalo will 'always be my home'
The folk singer said she “can’t wait” to see what a revitalized downtown and new immigrant populations have done for the city.
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
It’s true. If I had learned this… I dunno, 35 years ago?… I’d have had a very different writing career.
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BTPM News @btpmnews.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
The new legislation allows the city to seize illicit products, shutter unlicensed businesses, hold landlords accountable and impose five-figured daily fines. www.btpm.org/local/2025-07-26/buffa…
btpm.org
Buffalo Common Council seeks to crack down on illegal dispensaries
Buffalo city officials can now shutter illegal dispensaries, seize and destroy illicit products, and levy five-figure daily fines.
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
Looking for horses, art, steampunk or jazz in WNY this summer? Check out my latest for @buffalonews.com at the link or in tomorrow’s print edition: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...
buffalonews.com
Discover rodeo, steampunk and sculptures at festivals throughout WNY
Take a short drive out of Buffalo to enjoy a varied selection of summer events, festivals.
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Saeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Nathan Lane should’ve gotten an Oscar for “The Bird Cage.”
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
I’m back for the summer as the weekend host on @btpmnpr.bsky.social! Tune in to 88.7 FM or stream the show online at btpm.org
btpm.org
Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Buffalo Toronto Public Media
BTPM is your local public media station, serving the communities of Western New York and Southern Ontario.
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Reposted by Grant Ashley
Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
JUST IN: The Justice Department's bid to relesae Epstein grand jury info comes with a huge caveat that it will seek to redact not just victim info but other "personal identifying information." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
My latest for Investigative Post has a serial cop impersonator, a "livid" Common Councilmember, bad blood between neighbors and the plea deal that put the nail in the coffin of a 28-year-old Buffalo establishment. Behind the closing of Club Marcella: www.investigativepost.org/2025/07/10/b...
investigativepost.org
The story behind why Buffalo's Club Marcella closed
The owners insist they weren't to blame for the violence that plagued their club. Cops, public officials and victims' lawyers disagree.
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Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
NEW: In first public account, Kilmar Abrego Garcia details weeks in Salvadoran prison CECOT. Says he was subjected to 'severe beatings,' psychological torture & soiled himself. Also says jailers confirmed his tattoos have no gang meaning. w/@kyledcheney www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
politico.com
Kilmar Abrego Garcia describes ‘severe beatings’ and ‘psychological torture’ in Salvadoran prison
Abrego submitted a harrowing and detailed account of abuse after the Trump administration illegally deported him.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 02/06/2025
Breaking News: Antonio Delgado, New York’s lieutenant governor, said he would take on Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year’s Democratic primary. trib.al/8q4hdyT
trib.al
Antonio Delgado, Hochul’s No. 2, Will Challenge Her in Governor’s Race
Mr. Delgado, New York’s lieutenant governor, said he would take on Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year’s Democratic primary because her tenure had lacked “bold, decisive” leadership.
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David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
NEWS: NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sue Trump White House over effort to ban federal funding for NPR & PBS The lawsuit calls Trump's executive order "textbook retaliation" for protected free speech - threatening public radio My story: www.npr.org/2025/05/27/n...
npr.org
NPR and Colorado public radio stations sue Trump White House
NPR and three Colorado public radio stations are suing the Trump administration over the president's executive order seeking to ban the use of federal money for NPR and PBS.
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Grant Ashley @grantashley.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
ICE has cancelled the visas of 13 current and former UB students, per The Spectrum. University admin says the “exact reason for each visa revocation” is “unclear.” www.ubspectrum.com/article/2025...
ubspectrum.com
ICE cancels 13 UB students’ visas; reasons unknown
Four current UB students and nine recent graduates studying on F-1 visas had their immigration status terminated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week, the university confirmed Tuesday even...
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 04/03/2025
theglobeandmail.com
Businesses in Buffalo, N.Y. brace for tariff impact, prepare to lose Canadian customers
Restaurant owners in the city worry a trade war could cost them a majority of their income
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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
The main photo on the Cuomo for Mayor website is him in front of the giant foam COVID mountain he had his staff make and paint for a press conference prop. www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/p...
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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
From a FOIA perspective, "the entire federal workforce should write down and email what they did last week" is extremely funny
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Alberto Cairo @albertocairo.com · 20/01/2025
"I dislike the labeling of journalism as “storytelling.” Long anecdotal lead paragraphs and endless narratives worthy of [...] The Thousand and One Nights are not my idea of what news is supposed to be." @sulliview.bsky.social nails it, as always: margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/everything...
margaretsullivan.substack.com
Everything wrong with Big Journalism in six words
The deeper meaning of the Washington Post's new mission statement
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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Merchan: Through that lens, this court must determine a lawful sentence. After careful analysis, the court determines that the only lawful sentence that permits sentence without encroaching on the legal protections of the presidency is an unconditional discharge. Therefore, I impose that sentence.
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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
I have now seen the Ann Telnaes cartoon of Jeff Bezos's supplication before Donald Trump more often today than I've seen any other cartoon during the entire rest of the year. So, well played, Washington Post.
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Casey Seiler @caseyseiler.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
BREAKING: The state Attorney General's Office will recuse itself in the case of Robert Brooks, who died after being brutally beaten by guards at Marcy Correctional. The Onondaga County DA has been tapped to take over. www.timesunion.com/capitol/arti...
timesunion.com
N.Y. attorney general recuses office from Robert Brooks' beating death case
N.Y. attorney general recuses office from Robert Brooks' prison beating death involving inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility
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Paul Fairie @paulisci.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
The 2024 Headline of the Year Nominees 🧵
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Julie K. Brown @jkbjournalist.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
A front page for the ages.
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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
A statement from The Onion about InfoWars.
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ACLU of Florida @aclufl.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Student journalists are a critical part of the free press — they shouldn’t be punished for doing their job.
cjr.org
Should a Student Reporter Face Prosecution for Embedding with Protesters?
Dilan Gohill won an award for his work at the Stanford Daily, but his coverage of campus protests has set university officials against him.
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Brian Klaas @brianklaas.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
It’s obvious the Hunter Biden pardon is bad, but it’s also obvious that the pardon power is routinely abused—and more egregiously by Trump. Presidents should not have the ability to issue pardons; they should be handled by an independent body, particularly when the person is known to the president.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 29/11/2024
Canadian media companies sue OpenAI in case potentially worth billions
theguardian.com
Canadian media companies sue OpenAI in case potentially worth billions
Litigants say AI company used their articles to train its popular ChatGPT software without authorization Canada’s major news organizations have sued tech firm OpenAI for potentially billions of dollars, alleging the company “unjustly enriched” itself by…
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New York Focus @nysfocus.com · 20/11/2024
NEW: What could Trump's election mean for education in New York? ✏️Cuts to federal school funding deportations of newly arrived students ✏️A rollback of civil rights protections ✏️Restrictions to free lunch ✏️A win for private and charter schools nysfocus.com/2024/11/20/t...
nysfocus.com
What a Trump Presidency Could Mean for NY Schools
A review of Trump’s first term, along with his campaign promises and details within Project 2025, indicate what’s to come.
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