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Mason Hickok

@masonhickok.bsky.social
3.4K followers 602 following 279 posts

Story Desk Editor at KENS 5 News | Bylines: @mysanantonio.com, KSAT 12 News, The Paisano | Trail running, film, and more | Portfolio: authory.com/MasonHickok

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Reposted by Mason Hickok
David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · 19h
She died covering war for Fox News. Her parents blame a Fox News star. So do two former Fox high risk security consultants. My story: www.npr.org/2026/10/04/n...
npr.org
She died covering war for Fox News. Her parents blame the network — and a star reporter
The family members of two Fox News journalists killed while covering the war in Ukraine are suing the network, saying it put getting the story ahead of its people.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
The Associated Press @apnews.com · 03/10/2026
A federal court in Texas has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from building a border wall in the Big Bend region.
bit.ly
Federal court temporarily blocks Trump administration border wall in Texas' Big Bend region
A federal court in Texas has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from building a border wall in the Big Bend region.
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San Antonio Express-News @expressnews.com · 01/10/2026
Flash floods often kill people living on the streets. The city and nonprofits are trying to get them to higher ground.
bit.ly
Volunteers are targeting drainage ditches and other flood-prone areas
Flash floods often kill people living on the streets. The city and nonprofits are trying to get them to higher ground.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
One of the city’s within Bexar County is pushing for a special election in November regarding multiple services by VIA Metropolitan Transit. The topic: a vote to continue or sever a nearly 50-year service partnership. Why the city is pushing for the vote and the alternative transit option:
kens5.com
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Scott Nover @scottnover.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NEW: CNN, MS NOW and Politico are asking the judge for an emergency hearing over alleged violations of his court order halting their bans from the White House. They were blocked from entry this morning. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Jessica Kutz @jkutzie.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In recent years, researchers in the U.S. have started to study the relationship between disasters and gender-based violence. Now, lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require FEMA to to take action to prevent domestic violence after a disaster. 19thnews.org/2026/09/fema...
19thnews.org
Could disaster recovery include protecting women from domestic abuse and exploitation?
Proposed legislation would strengthen FEMA’s response to gender-based violence, an issue advocates say is often overlooked after natural disasters.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
New from me: “In a report released Wednesday, TRIP found that between 2020 and 2025, traffic crashes in the United States claimed 241,637 lives. In Texas, 25,012 people died in crashes during the same period, an average of 11 deaths per day.” TRIP is a national transportation research nonprofit.
kens5.com
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Maxine Joselow @maxinejoselow.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Here’s how Trump is disrupting the national parks, from Acadia to Zion. @nytimes.com gift link 🎁: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/19/c...
nytimes.com
How Trump Has Disrupted National Parks (Gift Article)
Maintenance projects have been put off around the country and resources diverted to the president’s favored projects in Washington.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Gulf States Newsroom @gulfstatesnewsroom.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
An investigation by the Gulf States Newsroom’s @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social found dozens of elected officials in Louisiana have signed NDAs related to large-scale developments. Critics say the agreements keep communities in the dark. 🧵 MORE: www.wwno.org/local-region...
wwno.org
'A muzzle on elected officials': NDAs 'cloak' Louisiana's biggest business developments
Louisiana officials signed non-disclosure agreements as Amazon's $12 billion data centers unfolded in secret.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Politico @politico.com · 18/09/2026
No modern president more hostile than Trump to free press, says New York Times publisher
dlvr.it
No modern president more hostile than Trump to free press, says New York Times publisher
Sulzberger also listed the rise of artificial intelligence as another crisis facing the country’s fragile news ecosystem in a Friday editorial.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Terri Langford @tlangford.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
UT students attacked by Bo French call his comments “disgusting” and too familiar www.texastribune.org/2026/09/14/b...
texastribune.org
UT students attacked by Bo French call comments “disgusting”
In a statement Monday night, university officials indirectly addressed Bo French’s comments, calling students at the game Saturday night “incredible fans.”
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
“One of San Antonio's geographically larger council districts is expected to use an AARP grant it received earlier this year to support forthcoming bicycle audits, surveys and connectivity work,” according to an official with the district. New from me via KENS 5 News.
kens5.com
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Maxine Joselow @maxinejoselow.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The Trump administration plans to erase limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants today, according to people familiar with the matter. @nytimes.com gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/c... #climatesky
nytimes.com
E.P.A. Will Erase Limits on Climate Pollution From Power Plants (Gift Article)
Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
The Poynter Institute @poynterinstitute.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
McClatchy, whose titles include The Miami Herald and The Sacramento Bee, executed its most severe layoffs in years on Thursday, cutting newsroom staff at some papers by upwards of 40%. www.poynter.org/business-wor...
poynter.org
McClatchy cuts more than 90 staff in its most severe layoffs in years - Poynter
At least 13 papers — including The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee and The Kansas City Star — lost reporters
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
David Brauer @dbrauer.net · 11/09/2026
The majority of the positions at Lexington’s Herald-Leader were eliminated, including 7 news reporters, 3 sports reporters, 2 visual journalists and one editor. Herald-Leader’s new 27-year-old (!) Executive Editor Jeremy Chisenhall did not reply to voicemails and emails. www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...
lpm.org
McClatchy guts Lexington Herald-Leader newsroom, among nationwide layoffs
McClatchy laid off 13 journalists at the Lexington Herald-Leader, a majority of its reporters, as a part of its deep, nationwide layoffs.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Matt Sebastian @mattsebastian.com · 10/09/2026
Miami Herald's deputy investigations editor on McClatchy's layoffs today: “Now, they can move chess pieces around, but how do you do that when you have no chess pieces left? As I understand it, this would be 30 overall slots (eliminated) in a newsroom that was already under 80 positions.”
poynter.org
McClatchy cuts more than 90 staff in its most severe layoffs in years - Poynter
At least 13 papers — including The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee and The Kansas City Star — lost reporters
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Caitlin McGlade @caitmcglade.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I, the only data reporter at the Charlotte Observer, am among the McClatchy layoffs in the bloodbath today. The HR person asked me not to talk about it! AMA. Anyway, here’s a link to one of my most important stories this year. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/a...
charlotteobserver.com
A Black teen found hanged near Charlotte church was a suicide, police say. Questions remain
In May, 16-year-old Juliana Nzita was found dead in a Charlotte churchyard. CMPD called it a suicide. Her family isn’t so sure.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
New from me: “Three new pedestrian traffic signals have been installed on a south San Antonio road. The lights are part of a broader street safety improvements project. According to the city, the Pleasanton Road corridor has experienced nearly 200 crashes annually, some of which were fatal.”
kens5.com
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
“San Antonio is moving forward with a new automatic license plate reader system designed to help manage traffic at intersections. The contract is expected to run through September 2028, with an estimated total cost of $2.8 million, according to city officials.” The system is not connected to Flock.
kens5.com
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Politico @politico.com · 04/09/2026
Trump administration opens probe into Tesla’s self-driving Cybercab
dlvr.it
Trump administration opens probe into Tesla’s self-driving Cybercab
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is reviewing the rollout of the vehicle in Austin, Texas, over a self-certification issue.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
NPR @npr.org · 31/08/2026
An NPR investigation found that people in the U.S. are dying from heat much more often than official counts show. We explore the reasons why — and how lives can be saved. n.pr/3UmkeZP
n.pr
NPR spent 2 years tracking deaths from heat. We found a staggering hidden toll
An NPR investigation found that people in the U.S. are dying from heat much more often than official counts show. We explore the reasons why — and how lives can be saved.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Votebeat @votebeat.org · 31/08/2026
Election officials need to confirm their address, but registrations in suspense haven’t been canceled.
bit.ly
Voters on Texas’ suspense list haven’t been kicked off the voter roll
Election officials need to confirm their address, but registrations in suspense haven’t been canceled.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
New from me: “A previous pause on border wall construction in the Big Bend region has been extended until Sept. 30, @rolandfortexas.bsky.social said Monday. Last week, a federal judge in San Antonio ordered a pause on construction until Sept. 15.”
kens5.com
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Jessica Kutz @jkutzie.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I wrote about Sean Duffy's role at the department of transportation to Make America Manly Again. From the IndyCar race at the national mall over the weekend, to posting videos of himself revving big trucks, he's branding the department in a very specific way. 19thnews.org/2026/08/cars...
19thnews.org
Real men don't bike: How cars became the symbol of American manhood
Inside the Trump administration's campaign to sell a vision of masculinity rooted in speed and strength — and what it means for people who walk, bike and ride the bus.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
New from me (in my new local news home): San Antonio’s Transportation Department is planning to conduct a survery gauging resident’s feedback on street safety. Details about the survey, such as when it will be conducted, have yet to be released.
kens5.com
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Status @status.news · 12/08/2026
The White House Correspondents’ Association confronted the Trump administration, we have learned, after reporters aboard Air Force One learned they were unwitting decoys during Trump’s secret departure from Turkey. Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/donald-tru...
status.news
Trump’s Secret Jet Blowback
The White House Correspondents’ Association confronted the Trump administration, Status has learned, after reporters aboard Air Force One learned they were unwitting decoys during Trump’s secret depar...
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Texas Standard @texasstandard.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
This is the second Texas university system sued over teaching restrictions in recent weeks. texasstandard.org/stories/texa...
texasstandard.org
Professors sue Texas A&M System over limits on teaching race, gender
This is the second Texas university system sued over teaching restrictions in recent weeks.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
San Antonio’s Transportation Department is formally opening a new, nearly half-mile section of roadway in downtown with similar barriers Thursday afternoon. The project is the department’s first “official” bike facility out of its Bike Network Plan, it said in a project posting.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
PBS News @pbsnews.org · 27/07/2026
Heat waves and scant rainfall in Europe have contributed to historic wildfires in France and Spain that have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in one of the continent's biggest evacuation efforts since World War II. to.pbs.org/4pJLxc0
pbs.org
Historic wildfires in France and Spain have forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate. Here's what to know
Climate data shows Europe is heating faster than anywhere else on earth.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Joel Rose @joelrose.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
NEW from me: Transportation officials have removed a growing list of safety measures that reference bikes from federal websites. The push began after DOT Secretary Duffy’s social media post vowing to end funding for “DEI bike lanes” earlier this month. www.npr.org/2026/07/23/n...
npr.org
DOT cranks up its campaign to strip bike lane references from federal websites
Transportation officials have removed a growing list of safety materials that mention bike lanes from federal websites. Safety advocates warn that's undermining proven measures for reducing crashes.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
NPR @npr.org · 16/07/2026
Flood sirens blared early Thursday in Comfort, Texas, as the Guadalupe River rose more than 30 feet in three hours, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The storm could bring even more rainfall than last year's deadly Fourth of July floods. n.pr/4yi8LK6
n.pr
Flood sirens blare in southcentral Texas as rivers reach perilous heights
Flood sirens blared early Thursday in Comfort, Texas, as the Guadalupe River rose more than 30 feet in three hours, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The storm could bring even more rainfall than last year's deadly Fourth of July floods.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 13/07/2026
The US House is considering a transportation bill that would cut transit funding massively. We estimate that it would cut transit funds by 23% compared to the current infrastructure law. Every state would lose millions of dollars in transit formula funding. Details: www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...
Every State Stands to Lose Millions of Dollars in Transit Formula Funds Under the BUILD America 250 Act Compared with IIJA
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Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · 11/07/2026
Times Journalists Subpoenaed as Trump Escalates Pressure on Media The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/b...
nytimes.com
Times Journalists Subpoenaed as Trump Escalates Pressure on Media (Gift Article)
The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.”
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Maxine Joselow @maxinejoselow.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The Trump admin has appointed a critic of climate science to oversee the federal government’s flagship report on how climate change affects the United States. Confirming @scottpwaldman.bsky.social's reporting w/ an assist from @bradplumer.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/c...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Taps Climate Science Critic to Oversee Flagship Report
Matthew M. Wielicki has criticized the scientific consensus on global warming as alarmist. Now he’ll oversee a major federal report on the topic.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Politico @politico.com · 08/07/2026
Trump denied disaster aid to four Democratic-led states. Yet two days earlier, he had approved FEMA disaster aid for six Republican-led states. The move is raising questions about whether he’s injecting political motivations into emergency management decisions.
politico.com
Trump denies disaster aid for 4 Democratic-led states
The move deepens what Democrats say is the president's politicization of federal emergency management decisions.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Shelterforce @shelterforce.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Housing advocates are responding to increasing criminalization of homelessness through organizing and public action. Here's why: 📖 Read more: bit.ly/3QyUtUD #HousingPolicy #EndHomelessness
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 29/06/2026
Forced to remove rainbow crosswalks, some Texas cities are channeling support for LGBTQ+ residents into murals, lighting and rainbow-decorated sidewalks and stairs.
texastribune.org
Texas cities find colorful replacements for rainbow crosswalks
Cities and advocates are channeling support for LGBTQ+ residents into murals, lighting and rainbow-decorated sidewalks and stairs.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Nieman Lab @niemanlab.org · 26/06/2026
Media outlets that require human review of all AI content were seen as more credible, and were chosen as news sources more often, according to a new study. www.niemanlab.org/2026/06/how-...
niemanlab.org
How should news organizations label their AI use for audiences? New studies suggest some answers
Plus: How TikTok users gauge credibility, and good news about the viability of a shift away from commercial journalism.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
The Associated Press @apnews.com · 26/06/2026
The record-breaking heat that's scorching Europe day and night this month would not have been possible without climate change, according to a new study.
bit.ly
Europe's extreme heat would be impossible without climate change, scientists say
The record-breaking heat that’s scorching Europe day and night this month would not have been possible without climate change, according to a new study.
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Jason Schreier @jasonschreier.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Today's layoffs include most of the Destiny team, some people on the Marathon team, and even various Sony staff who supported Bungie, according to people familiar with the situation.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
“The bill also provides new dollars for communities to turn abandoned infrastructure into housing, and provides guidelines for communities that want to reform outdated zoning regulations, which often limit larger housing developments.“
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Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
“Public comments are integral to the functioning of democracy. They have been since ancient Athens,” said disinfo expert Samuel Woolley. Now AI-linked platforms generating mass public comments are invading the process, warping local climate politics (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
AI-Powered Mass Emails Are Warping Local Energy, Climate Politics
From California to North Carolina, officials weighing policy changes are being inundated with comments via platforms that tout AI capabilities.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Yale Environment 360 @yalee360.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
“I think that attracting, hiring, and retaining great scientists to the EPA after this administration is going to be incredibly difficult.” In an interview with Elizabeth Kolbert, a former EPA researcher details the agency's assault on science.
e360.yale.edu
An EPA Researcher Details the Agency's Assault on Science
In late January, the Trump administration began shutting down projects within the EPA’s independent science division that touched on climate change and environmental justice. Air quality researcher Thomas Luben, who had worked at the agency for 18 years, was fired for objecting.
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Terri Langford @tlangford.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
More Bible stories in public schools, changes to history lessons before Texas education board today www.texastribune.org/2026/06/22/t...
texastribune.org
Texas may require more Bible stories, change history lessons in public schools
The State Board of Education will vote on incorporating more Christian stories into public classrooms as well as on deemphasizing race and cultural diversity in history lessons.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Maxine Joselow @maxinejoselow.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Scoop: The Trump administration is backing off its plan to dismantle a $368 million ocean monitoring system crucial to understanding climate change, after a bipartisan backlash in Congress. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/c...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Backs Off Plan to End Ocean Monitoring
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Alexandra Skores @askores.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
It’s been a tragic week for aviation as two military jets, a skydiving plane and a charter jet crashed over the course of just four days. www.cnn.com/2026/06/17/u...
cnn.com
There have been 4 major plane crashes in the US in 4 days. What is going on? | CNN
It’s been a tragic week for aviation as two military jets, a skydiving plane and a charter jet crashed over the course of just four days.
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Mason Hickok @masonhickok.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Stunning turn of events in Group D. Huge win for Australia.
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Planetizen @planetizen.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Boston extends successful fare-free bus pilot - h/t Boston Newsroom
dlvr.it
Boston extends successful fare-free bus pilot - h/t Boston Newsroom
The program began in 2021 and expanded later to include lines 28, 23 and 29.
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Reposted by Mason Hickok
Oliver Milman @olliemilman.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
‘Woefully unprepared’: extreme heat will double US hospitalizations by 2040, study finds www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘Woefully unprepared’: extreme heat will double US hospitalizations by 2040, study finds
Sharp rise in hospital visits will in turn drive up annual healthcare costs for heat-related conditions to over $1bn
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Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 03/06/2026
So both the Star-Tribune and the AJC are cutting 15% of their workforces. However, one is exploring a nonprofit structure to insulate itself from its right-wing billionaire owner, the other kept their right-wing billionaire owner but went fully digital. Would love to see they diverge from here.
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