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Luca Powell

@lucapowell.bsky.social
267 followers 239 following 100 posts

Data Reporter, CT Insider.

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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill arrives in Connecticut today. The first cuts from Medicaid are 4,000 noncitizens, including Afghans/Iraqis who helped in American wars. The second group, some 108,000 poor residents, could lose their healthcare starting January of next year.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"They have guns, we don't." An ICE arrest in Meriden is evolving into a real mess. From @joshuaeaton.bsky.social www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
ctinsider.com
ICE arrest in Connecticut courthouse being reviewed by state officials
One woman fell to the ground amid a scuffle as activists were trying to enter the courthouse.
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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 23/09/2026
I wrote about how Trump is treating presidential power like it's his own possession and using it to punish blue states — but also about how at least he's promised lots of cash for all of us. www.ctinsider.com/columnist/ar...
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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 21/09/2026
ICE shot a DoorDash delivery guy.
statesman.com
Attorney: Austin man shot by ICE agent was making DoorDash delivery
A Venezuelan man shot by an ICE agent in Austin was making a DoorDash delivery, his attorney said. Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, was later released from the hospital into ICE custody.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
How much more have drivers been paying in added gas costs just for their commutes? In CT, the answer is at least $22 million. Just since July. www.ctinsider.com/data/article...
ctinsider.com
Connecticut commuters are paying nearly $1M more a day for gas than in July
Connecticut has paid nearly $22 million in additional costs at the pump since early July.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Russian oligarch pays hundreds of thousands of dollars in wedding expenses for U.S. President's son. Great reporting from @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/dona...
propublica.org
Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding Bankrolled by Putin-Linked Russian Oligarch
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island. He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, but he attended the intimate wedding with a large...
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Data from the feds lets us take a look at CT companies lobbying. Charter (owner of Spectrum internet), and Cigna (owner of Express Scripts, a PBM) join schools like Yale and crypto companies in spending millions of dollars on D.C. lobbying in 2025. www.ctinsider.com/data/article...
ctinsider.com
Connecticut’s biggest spender on federal lobbying paid $15 million last year
Charter Communications is one of several corporations in Connecticut that spends millions of dollars to shape the rules governing its industry.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
At least 62 Connecticut children have died since January 2025 with their deaths investigated by DCF. About 20 had a prior case history with the agency. New records also show most DCF offices are over their own caseload limits. preview-prod.w.ctinsider.com/data/article...
preview-prod.w.ctinsider.com
About 20 Connecticut children with DCF case histories have died since 2025
Internal records show about 20 deaths involving children with DCF histories. They also show case workers burdened beyond the agency's own internal thresholds.
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Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 17/07/2026
🚨BREAKING: A federal court dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit demanding access to Connecticut's unredacted voter registration list. The department has now lost its sweeping legal hunt for access to states' private voter data in 16 states.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Yale University picked up two new lobbying firms in the first year of the Trump administration. Their investment in lobbyists surged to $1.7 million. The school is on track to keep spending at that level this year. www.ctinsider.com/data/article...
ctinsider.com
Yale lobbying spending surged amid Trump administration scrutiny of universities
Yale’s federal lobbying spending rose above $1.7 million in 2025 as the university faced federal scrutiny and a new endowment tax.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
A snapshot of what people are paying to buy secondhand tickets for world cup games in New Jersey and Boston.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Connecticut's Catholic population has been in decline for years, even though it's still one of the most Catholic states in the country. But the Archbishop of the state diocese, Christopher Coyne, says there's reason to believe the faith is making a rebound, particularly among young men.
ctinsider.com
CT remains one of America’s most Catholic states, but numbers have dwindled
Fewer Catholics, fewer nuns and fewer sacraments reflect decades of decline in Connecticut, though church leaders still see hopeful signs.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
At least 33 agencies said they are violating the new laws Virginia created to regulate Flock cameras (or ALPRs) last year. Several reported still sharing Flock feeds out-of-state. Lawmakers made violations of the rules a misdemeanor. richmond.com/news/state-r... #RVA #VALeg
richmond.com
Some Va. police, sheriffs not complying with new Flock camera regulations
A number of law enforcement agencies in Virginia are violating state law regarding automatic license plate readers, the now prolific camera systems that constantly monitor vehicle traffic.
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Breaking NYT: The FBI agent who sought to investigate the federal immigration officer who fatally shot Renee Good has resigned from the bureau, according to two people familiar with the matter, after leadership pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into the officer.
nytimes.com
F.B.I. Agent Who Tried to Investigate ICE Officer in Shooting Resigns
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
10 shots in 5 seconds. I'm not sure there's any training manual that will condone that.
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Dave Weigel @daveweigel.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Hindsight's 20/20. If you're Jason Miyares and you get that Jay Jones text exchange, you absolutely use it. But Miyares had been running a sort of non-partisan tough-on-crime campaign and switched to nonstop ads about the text messages. Looks like the juice ran out.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
The Miyares campaign also had a lot to run on, if you believe the AG is a crime fighting office. In October, VCU released a report finding that an AG initiative brought down violent crime in Virginia's most dangerous cities. But the texts sucked up all the oxygen in the ad drive.
wilder.vcu.edu
Project Ceasefire - L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs - Virginia Commonwealth University
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Matthew Wilson @mttwls.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Looks like the Dems will pick up 12 seats in the VA House of Delegates, which will go from 51-49 to 63-37 D-R. That's an honestly shocking result.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
In spite of the Jay Jones text scandal, its easy to find voters at the polls in the Richmond suburbs who are voting blue all the way. Two voters tell me his texts are basically a drop in the bucket compared to what they've heard from Republicans, particularly gubernatorial candidate Earle-Sears.
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Hey folks, an update on the battle to bring down prices!
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
"The tariffs are paid by the companies."
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
You know it’s serious when corporates begin to complain. $DAL
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
ACA premium increases for counties in Virginia.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
It's a small scandal, but this remains to me the most interesting part of the Jay Jones texts news cycle: How did he get away with a lesser penalty for his reckless driving charge? FWIW: This is from a news blast from his opponent.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Well, the Truth that was supposed to be a DM to Bondi has made it into the court filing seeking a dismissal of the case against former FBI Director James Comey.
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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
A terrific AFP fact check uses reverse image searches to expose how a White House video took scenes from Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Nebraska and lied that they showed "Chicago is in chaos." factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Post from WH about Chicago "in chaos," showing scene from another state.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
This is staggering. “The staff of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the journal that reports on health trends and emerging infectious threats, was also laid off.” Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
An insider stole at least $1.5 million from Virginia's Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a state-run charity drive that collects donations from state employees. She spent the money at a fish pedicures spa in Vegas and a $10,000 plastic surgery job. richmond.com/news/state-r...
richmond.com
Portsmouth woman admits to stealing more than $1.5 million from state government’s charity drive
Federal prosecutors say Linda Natelle Brown stole over $1.5 million from Virginia’s state employee charity campaign, using the funds for luxury expenses. She pleaded guilty and faces sentencing in Feb...
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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
JUST IN: Chicago journalistsa re suing DHS and ICE over force used against reporters: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Jane Goodall, ethologist and conservationist, has died. She was 91
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
A federal judge found ICE violated the Fifth Amendment rights of a Bangladeshi artist and asylum seeker in Virginia by refusing to release him on bond. Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered his release, calling ICE's arguments "an unequivocal violation of due process." richmond.com/news/state-r...
richmond.com
Judge orders release of Bangladeshi man detained in Farmville
Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled ICE unlawfully detained a Bangladeshi asylum seeker, finding due process was violated and clarifying that noncriminal immigrants under supervision can be released on bond.
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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
BREAKING: Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, delivers the most scathing legal rebuke of the Trump era, ruling that Trump and his cabinet illegally targeted pro-Palestinian students for deportation to "strike fear" into First Amendment protesters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Feels prescient for journalism
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke is suing America's biggest chemical companies, alleging that PFAS in the gear he wore for ~20 years caused his Leukemia. PFAS made turnout gear waterproof and flame resistant, but have since been linked with cancer. richmond.com/news/state-r...
richmond.com
Richmond firefighter says his gear gave him cancer. Now he's taking companies to court.
Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke is suing major chemical companies, alleging PFAS in his turnout gear caused leukemia. His case is one of many tying firefighting equipment to cancer.
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Dan Mihalopoulos @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
In which a top US Border Patrol official, incredibly, tells my tall and Anglo colleague @chipmitchell1.bsky.social that he's not the type they're looking for as they go about downtown Chicago arresting people based on "how they look" chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com
Feds in military gear flood downtown Chicago; top border official says arrests based on 'how they look'
The immigration agents were spotted making arrests in downtown Chicago and River North neighborhood early Sunday.
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Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Incredible pairing of text and chart
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Keri Blakinger @keribla.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
BREAKING: The Federal Bureau of Prisons just terminated its union's collective bargaining agreement this afternoon, according to this letter posted online by the national union president:
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
(NPR) - Nearly 20 immigration judges received emails this month informing them that they are being let go, NPR has learned, adding to the over 80 judges that have already been cut by President Trump so far this year. @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
npr.org
Trump administration fires more immigration judges
Nearly 20 immigration judges received emails this month informing them that they are being let go, NPR has learned, the largest single month of firings since the process began in February.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
Did a Brooklyn Couple Kill a Neighbor’s Trees for a Better View in Maine? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/u...
nytimes.com
Did a Brooklyn Couple Kill a Neighbor’s Trees for a Better View in Maine?
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Second Amendment activists have been trying to overturn a ban on handgun sales to 18-21 year olds. Richmond's 4th Circuit ruled against them last week. A lawyer for the activists says he'll appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. richmond.com/news/state-r...
richmond.com
Richmond’s 4th Circuit upholds federal ban on handgun sales to young adults
"Lawmakers remain free to take a different course,” wrote Judge Harvie Wilkinson.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
The City of Richmond was labeled a "sanctuary jurisdiction" by Kristi Noem's DHS on Thursday evening. The list has more than 500 cities and counties across the country. Trump has ordered every federal agency to look for ways to suspend or terminate federal money to cities on the list.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
I think Pete Buttigieg will have to figure how to answer questions on the air traffic controller mess if he intends to run for president. I don't think most voters will yearslong crisis and lay it at the feet of Trump and co. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
washingtonpost.com
National Airport, Pentagon hotline had been disconnected for three years
Aviation officials learned of the issue after controllers at National had to order two flights to abandon landing attempts this month due to an Army helicopter heading to the Pentagon.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
In an unexpected move, the EPA says it will take on PFAS, the "forever chemicals" linked with cancer and found in water (including in Virginia). The details aren't here yet, but the message is clear, and probably surprising to environmental orgs who thought Trump would deregulate/pollute more.
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Warren Zevon's induction into the R&R Hall of Fame is OVERDUE
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Our Sunday story on what it's like for kids facing deportation to go before immigration judges. We sat in on juvenile immigration court in Fairfax County, where 7 year olds were in removal proceedings. Trump is trying to cut money for their lawyers. richmond.com/news/state-r...
richmond.com
Children struggle to find lawyers for Va. immigration court
Each year, the United States pursues deportation against thousands of immigrant children, many of whom arrived as unaccompanied minors. The Times-Dispatch sat in juvenile immigration proceedings in An...
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Five officers with the Virginia Department of Corrections were found not guilty in a civil murder trial. They were accused of the murder of Charles Givens, found dead in his cell in 2022. www.npr.org/2025/04/12/n...
npr.org
A 3-year legal saga over an inmate's death has its final day in court
NPR first reported on the case of Charles Givens, a disabled inmate at Virginia's Marion Correctional Treatment Center, in 2023. Four corrections officers were accused of beating him to death and a fi...
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
“We no longer have lead experts,” said a person at the agency.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
NEW: Utah Ex-Therapist Scott Owen Sentenced to Prison for Sexually Abusing Patients. The police investigation only began after a @propublica.org and @sltrib.com article about Owen in 2023. @jessicamiller.bsky.social
propublica.org
Utah Ex-Therapist Scott Owen Sentenced to Prison for Sexually Abusing Patients
Owen’s 15-year-to-life prison term follows a 2023 investigation by The Salt Lake Tribune and ProPublica that uncovered a range of sex abuse allegations against the ex-therapist, who claimed to be a sp...
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Luca Powell @lucapowell.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Richmond's new budget cuts 160 positions from the Richmond Police Department. RPD hasn't been able to fill positions for years now, and the police chief has begun using more tech, and fewer actual officers, to police the city. From @samuel-parker.bsky.social richmond.com/news/local/g...
richmond.com
Avula's first budget calls for utility rate increase, projects higher real estate assessments
But despite anticipated revenue growth, the $3 billion financial plan recommends “strategic budget reductions” worth almost $11 million amid a backdrop of financial uncertainty both at home and abroad...
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
The UK has now issued a travel warning for the US: possible arrest or detention for failing to meet entry requirements.
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