Bethany Barnes
@betsbarnes.bsky.social
Deputy Investigative Editor at The Tampa Bay Times | Co-curator of the Local Matters newsletter, a weekly roundup of the best local investigative reporting in the county. Loves to talk books 📚
This exists! It’s called Local Matters. We are sponsored by @ire.org & @knightcolumbia.org. Local Matters is a free, weekly newsletter that is curated by myself and three other working journalists. This is our 8th year!
Anyone can sign up here: visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin...
Anyone can sign up here: visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin...
October 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This exists! It’s called Local Matters. We are sponsored by @ire.org & @knightcolumbia.org. Local Matters is a free, weekly newsletter that is curated by myself and three other working journalists. This is our 8th year!
Anyone can sign up here: visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin...
Anyone can sign up here: visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
In 2000, rookie Oakland cop Aaron McFarland wrote report saying he arrested man w drugs.
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past
A trove of internal police files provides a more complete accounting of the early episode that could have jeopardized Aaron McFarlane’s career before a high-profile shooting.
www.sfchronicle.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
In 2000, rookie Oakland cop Aaron McFarland wrote report saying he arrested man w drugs.
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
His probable cause for stop: the man had crossed a solid red light.
The problem: At that time of night the lights blink red.
Katey & I obtained new records:
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
So thrilled to be joining The Post’s incredible investigations team as a deputy editor!
www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...
Rebecca Woolington Named Deputy Editor of the Long-term Investigations Team
www.washingtonpost.com
August 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
So thrilled to be joining The Post’s incredible investigations team as a deputy editor!
www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
Beyond thrilled to share that @rwoolington.bsky.social is joining The Washington Post's investigations team www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...
Rebecca Woolington Named Deputy Editor of the Long-term Investigations Team
www.washingtonpost.com
August 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Beyond thrilled to share that @rwoolington.bsky.social is joining The Washington Post's investigations team www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/08/1...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
In rural Tennessee, 16 middle schoolers waiting for cheerleading practice to start made a TikTok video seeming to role play a school shooting.
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.
Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...
www.propublica.org
July 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
In rural Tennessee, 16 middle schoolers waiting for cheerleading practice to start made a TikTok video seeming to role play a school shooting.
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
New:
Beryllium, a metal so toxic that breathing in a minuscule amount over time can cause a chronic & fatal illness, is being found in homes after the LA wildfires.
Nobody knows where it's coming from. Few are testing for it.
w/ @meganmunce.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
tinyurl.com/4pkefbfx
Beryllium, a metal so toxic that breathing in a minuscule amount over time can cause a chronic & fatal illness, is being found in homes after the LA wildfires.
Nobody knows where it's coming from. Few are testing for it.
w/ @meganmunce.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
tinyurl.com/4pkefbfx
Toxic metal found in L.A. air after fires. No one knows where it’s coming from
A little-known and highly dangerous earth metal used to craft spaceships has been found in wildfire-ravaged homes and in the air in Los Angeles. Experts are shocked — and alarmed.
www.sfchronicle.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:26 PM
New:
Beryllium, a metal so toxic that breathing in a minuscule amount over time can cause a chronic & fatal illness, is being found in homes after the LA wildfires.
Nobody knows where it's coming from. Few are testing for it.
w/ @meganmunce.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
tinyurl.com/4pkefbfx
Beryllium, a metal so toxic that breathing in a minuscule amount over time can cause a chronic & fatal illness, is being found in homes after the LA wildfires.
Nobody knows where it's coming from. Few are testing for it.
w/ @meganmunce.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
tinyurl.com/4pkefbfx
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
Passionate about doing great journalism to serve Nevadans? Join our team!
Co-Editors Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder run down the three job openings we just posted: thenevadaindependent.com/article/want...
Co-Editors Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder run down the three job openings we just posted: thenevadaindependent.com/article/want...
Want to work for The Indy? Apply today. - The Nevada Independent
The longevity of many of our team members says it all — The Indy is a great place to work and we’re proud to be doing meaningful work each and every day. Want to be part of it?
thenevadaindependent.com
June 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Passionate about doing great journalism to serve Nevadans? Join our team!
Co-Editors Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder run down the three job openings we just posted: thenevadaindependent.com/article/want...
Co-Editors Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder run down the three job openings we just posted: thenevadaindependent.com/article/want...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
New from me and @meganmunce.bsky.social: Three major insurance companies have been accused of systematically under-insuring LA wildfire victims via flawed software, following our @sfchronicle.com investigation into the issue.
Gift link: tinyurl.com/4dmpcb25
Gift link: tinyurl.com/4dmpcb25
3 big California insurers accused of underinsuring L.A. fire survivors
These allegations come after the Chronicle published an investigation into how flaws in software and the way insurance companies use it have left California homeowners underinsured after wildfires.
tinyurl.com
June 6, 2025 at 4:55 PM
New from me and @meganmunce.bsky.social: Three major insurance companies have been accused of systematically under-insuring LA wildfire victims via flawed software, following our @sfchronicle.com investigation into the issue.
Gift link: tinyurl.com/4dmpcb25
Gift link: tinyurl.com/4dmpcb25
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
EXCLUSIVE:
CA National Guard troops sent by Trump to LA amid immigration protests are sleeping on concrete floors. No fed funding for food, water, fuel, equipment or lodging.
Source: “Currently, there is no plan for where everyone is sleeping tonight”
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
CA National Guard troops sent by Trump to LA amid immigration protests are sleeping on concrete floors. No fed funding for food, water, fuel, equipment or lodging.
Source: “Currently, there is no plan for where everyone is sleeping tonight”
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
‘Wildly underprepared’: National Guard troops seen sleeping on floors in exclusive photos
State troops sent to Los Angeles by the Trump administration, without the approval of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, were expected to sleep on floors or outdoors, a source told the Chronicle.
www.sfchronicle.com
June 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
EXCLUSIVE:
CA National Guard troops sent by Trump to LA amid immigration protests are sleeping on concrete floors. No fed funding for food, water, fuel, equipment or lodging.
Source: “Currently, there is no plan for where everyone is sleeping tonight”
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
CA National Guard troops sent by Trump to LA amid immigration protests are sleeping on concrete floors. No fed funding for food, water, fuel, equipment or lodging.
Source: “Currently, there is no plan for where everyone is sleeping tonight”
www.sfchronicle.com/california/a...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
I can't recommend this #ire25 class highly enough, taught by two of the best investigative storytellers in the biz!
There are still spots in our Writing The Investigative Narrative class at @ire.org!
Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰
Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...
Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰
Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...
May 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I can't recommend this #ire25 class highly enough, taught by two of the best investigative storytellers in the biz!
There are still spots in our Writing The Investigative Narrative class at @ire.org!
Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰
Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...
Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰
Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...
May 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
There are still spots in our Writing The Investigative Narrative class at @ire.org!
Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰
Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...
Come talk craft with me & @rwoolington.bsky.social ✨📰
Sign up here: www.ire.org/product/ire2...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
Congratulations to Zachary Sampson, Shreya Vuttaluru, Bethany Barnes and the whole team at the Tampa Bay Times on winning this month's Sidney for their sweeping investigation of manatee deaths in Florida and the state's declining water quality.
May 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Congratulations to Zachary Sampson, Shreya Vuttaluru, Bethany Barnes and the whole team at the Tampa Bay Times on winning this month's Sidney for their sweeping investigation of manatee deaths in Florida and the state's declining water quality.
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
The Tampa Bay Times wins the May Sidney for their first-of-its-kind investigation into the water quality crisis that is killing the state’s manatees:
Tampa Bay Times wins May Sidney for Sounding the Alarm About Florida’s Manatee Crisis
Zachary Sampson, Shreya Vuttaluru and Bethany Barnes win the May Sidney Award for “Wasting Away,” a Tampa Bay Times investigation into the mass die-off of manatees in Florida. The manatee is a gentle ...
bit.ly
May 21, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The Tampa Bay Times wins the May Sidney for their first-of-its-kind investigation into the water quality crisis that is killing the state’s manatees:
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
The story quoted here is an excellent read, and very sad. Manatees 💔
ecological catastrophe in florida but no worries they are focusing on the real threats: fluoridated water
project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
Wasting Away: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse.
A Times analysis of millions of water samples found dangerous contamination across the state.
project.tampabay.com
May 17, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The story quoted here is an excellent read, and very sad. Manatees 💔
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
We owe these gentle creatures better: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
Wasting Away: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse.
A Times analysis of millions of water samples found dangerous contamination across the state.
project.tampabay.com
May 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
We owe these gentle creatures better: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
ecological catastrophe in florida but no worries they are focusing on the real threats: fluoridated water
project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
Wasting Away: Rampant pollution caused manatees to starve. Florida waters are getting worse.
A Times analysis of millions of water samples found dangerous contamination across the state.
project.tampabay.com
May 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
ecological catastrophe in florida but no worries they are focusing on the real threats: fluoridated water
project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
project.tampabay.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
Pilots flying into Denver International Airport on Monday couldn’t communicate with air traffic controllers for about six minutes after multiple radio transmitters failed, according to reporting from Denver7.
Denver airport air traffic control went out for 6 minutes on Monday, report says
Pilots flying into Denver International Airport on Monday couldn’t communicate with air traffic controllers for about six minutes after multiple radio transmitters failed, according to reporting fr…
www.denverpost.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Pilots flying into Denver International Airport on Monday couldn’t communicate with air traffic controllers for about six minutes after multiple radio transmitters failed, according to reporting from Denver7.
"If they had deliberately set out to emotionally torture three generations of a single family — Hailey, her aunt and, most important, her infant — they couldn’t have done a more thorough, efficient job of it than they did and continue to do in this case" missouriindependent.com/2025/05/05/h...
‘Really horrifying’: Missouri draws scorn over treatment of teen mom in foster care • Missouri Independent
The story of a Missouri foster teen fighting to stay with her baby highlights systemic issues lawmakers say they've spent years trying to fix.
missouriindependent.com
May 9, 2025 at 12:28 AM
"If they had deliberately set out to emotionally torture three generations of a single family — Hailey, her aunt and, most important, her infant — they couldn’t have done a more thorough, efficient job of it than they did and continue to do in this case" missouriindependent.com/2025/05/05/h...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
JOURNALISTS OF BLUESKY: I'm hiring!
We're looking for a talented reporter to join the Lexington Herald-Leader on the Bluegrass Politics team.
This position will cover state government — the legislature, Gov. Andy Beshear, agencies, etc. — and Kentucky politics.
Questions? Reach out to me.
We're looking for a talented reporter to join the Lexington Herald-Leader on the Bluegrass Politics team.
This position will cover state government — the legislature, Gov. Andy Beshear, agencies, etc. — and Kentucky politics.
Questions? Reach out to me.
mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net
April 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
JOURNALISTS OF BLUESKY: I'm hiring!
We're looking for a talented reporter to join the Lexington Herald-Leader on the Bluegrass Politics team.
This position will cover state government — the legislature, Gov. Andy Beshear, agencies, etc. — and Kentucky politics.
Questions? Reach out to me.
We're looking for a talented reporter to join the Lexington Herald-Leader on the Bluegrass Politics team.
This position will cover state government — the legislature, Gov. Andy Beshear, agencies, etc. — and Kentucky politics.
Questions? Reach out to me.
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
“I’ve been doing this work for 34 years…and I don’t remember ever seeing a policy that names the principal, in writing, as the editor of the paper." www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/insi...
Inside a high school newspaper’s fight for editorial independence
The Alexandria, Virginia school board says it wants to “help students grow as journalists." Theogony's student journalists wonder who, exactly, the board is protecting.
www.niemanlab.org
May 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
“I’ve been doing this work for 34 years…and I don’t remember ever seeing a policy that names the principal, in writing, as the editor of the paper." www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/insi...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
I have written many healthcare stories, but never before have I written about my own health. I decided to do so after learning one of my drugs costs nearly $1,000 a pill and just 25 cents to make. What I found was an incredible story of discovery and exploitation. www.propublica.org/article/revl...
The Price of Remission
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I set out to understand why a single pill of Revlimid cost the same as a new iPhone. I’ve covered high drug prices as a reporter for years. What I discovered shocked ...
www.propublica.org
May 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I have written many healthcare stories, but never before have I written about my own health. I decided to do so after learning one of my drugs costs nearly $1,000 a pill and just 25 cents to make. What I found was an incredible story of discovery and exploitation. www.propublica.org/article/revl...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
Stories like these are only possible because of our readers and the support of the @sfchronicle.com leadership. Now more than ever, investigative reporting is needed across the U.S. — esp. at the local level. Subscribe to one (or more) local news outlets so we can keep doing this work <3
May 5, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Stories like these are only possible because of our readers and the support of the @sfchronicle.com leadership. Now more than ever, investigative reporting is needed across the U.S. — esp. at the local level. Subscribe to one (or more) local news outlets so we can keep doing this work <3
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
Deeply grateful for the recognition from the @pulitzerprizes.bsky.social for @jennifergollan.bsky.social's and my investigation into deadly, reckless police pursuits. And especially grateful to the families who shared their stories w/ us.
May 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Deeply grateful for the recognition from the @pulitzerprizes.bsky.social for @jennifergollan.bsky.social's and my investigation into deadly, reckless police pursuits. And especially grateful to the families who shared their stories w/ us.
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
Florida Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs, once again falsely claimed that Florida has a state OSHA agency, in defense of a bill that would gut over a dozen worker protections for temp workers (really basic, but meaningful stuff) if passed. www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...
Florida Republican doubles down on false claim that Florida has state OSHA
Rep. Shane Abbott needs to take a look at a copy of the Florida Statutes that's less than 25 years old.
www.orlandoweekly.com
April 22, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Florida Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs, once again falsely claimed that Florida has a state OSHA agency, in defense of a bill that would gut over a dozen worker protections for temp workers (really basic, but meaningful stuff) if passed. www.orlandoweekly.com/news/florida...
Reposted by Bethany Barnes
State Bar of California admits it used AI to develop exam questions, triggering new furor
State Bar of California admits it used AI to develop exam questions, triggering new furor
Using AI-developed questions written by non-legally-trained psychometricians represents 'an obvious conflict of interest,' critics say.
www.latimes.com
April 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
State Bar of California admits it used AI to develop exam questions, triggering new furor