drew xolaya costley (they/she)
@drewcostley.bsky.social
black, trans, disabled. asst. managing editor for @veritenews.org.
journalist covering the lgbtqia+ community, environmental, health, science.
signal is drewcostley.12
AP, OneZero/Future Human, SFGate, East Bay Express, UCBSOJ, UDC and Howard alum.
journalist covering the lgbtqia+ community, environmental, health, science.
signal is drewcostley.12
AP, OneZero/Future Human, SFGate, East Bay Express, UCBSOJ, UDC and Howard alum.
Pinned
Immigration sweep has restaurants prepping for the unknown
Restaurants that cater to the throngs of tourists who visit New Orleans annually are preparing for heightened immigration enforcement as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Cus...
veritenews.org
Starting a thread here of all of the great reporting @veritenews.org is doing on the federal immigration operation. This morning, we had a story about what local restaurants are doing to prepare to protect their workers.
veritenews.org/2025/12/04/r...
veritenews.org/2025/12/04/r...
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
A sad day for Sports Journalism.
February 5, 2026 at 12:34 AM
A sad day for Sports Journalism.
@veritenews.org published part 1 of an investigative series looking at lead levels in the soil of playgrounds and water of homes in New Orleans. Reporters @tristanbaurick.bsky.social and @halleparker.bsky.social actually ran tests on the soil and water for the series. veritenews.org/2026/02/05/p...
Unsafe lead levels found in half of New Orleans playgrounds
Verite News tested lead levels at more than 80 parks. Even trace amounts of the toxic metal can cause learning problems and behavioral issues in children.
veritenews.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
@veritenews.org published part 1 of an investigative series looking at lead levels in the soil of playgrounds and water of homes in New Orleans. Reporters @tristanbaurick.bsky.social and @halleparker.bsky.social actually ran tests on the soil and water for the series. veritenews.org/2026/02/05/p...
take that back: being underappreciated is the worst
feeling underappreciated is the worst
February 5, 2026 at 2:24 AM
take that back: being underappreciated is the worst
feeling underappreciated is the worst
February 5, 2026 at 1:37 AM
feeling underappreciated is the worst
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
i know that this is an unpopular take, but everyone starting their own newsletter as a revenue stream is not a sustainable model for writing and reporting or for people who love and want to pay for media.
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 2:50 PM
i know that this is an unpopular take, but everyone starting their own newsletter as a revenue stream is not a sustainable model for writing and reporting or for people who love and want to pay for media.
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
always bears repeating that this is NOT a financial decision. jeff bezos is worth over 250 billion dollars. he can afford to lose many millions and never even notice it. this is, at its core, a political and personal decision by bezos to destroy the post
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 3:04 PM
always bears repeating that this is NOT a financial decision. jeff bezos is worth over 250 billion dollars. he can afford to lose many millions and never even notice it. this is, at its core, a political and personal decision by bezos to destroy the post
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been suspended one game for pushing a Wizards mascot.
February 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been suspended one game for pushing a Wizards mascot.
I am finally at this phase of processing this trade.
February 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM
I am finally at this phase of processing this trade.
why did we trade for AD?!!!!?! being a washington sports fan is the fucking worst.
February 4, 2026 at 7:14 PM
why did we trade for AD?!!!!?! being a washington sports fan is the fucking worst.
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
When was the last time you listened to Stereolab’s ‘Dots and Loops’ (1997)? | Rediscover the album here: album.ink/StereolabDAL
February 2, 2026 at 11:00 PM
When was the last time you listened to Stereolab’s ‘Dots and Loops’ (1997)? | Rediscover the album here: album.ink/StereolabDAL
booo deni
February 2, 2026 at 5:08 AM
booo deni
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
It's Saturday. Tell someone you love that you love them, especially if that someone is you.
February 1, 2026 at 2:35 AM
It's Saturday. Tell someone you love that you love them, especially if that someone is you.
i fuck around but i'm not fuckin' around
January 30, 2026 at 7:48 PM
i fuck around but i'm not fuckin' around
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
Ida B. Wells! Ashé! We pour libations for you in this moment to welcome your spirit. Someone who knew the courage of Black journalism, that the Black journalist is at risk in the face of fascism!
January 30, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Ida B. Wells! Ashé! We pour libations for you in this moment to welcome your spirit. Someone who knew the courage of Black journalism, that the Black journalist is at risk in the face of fascism!
men standing intimately close to the weight rack while doing {insert arm workout}: STOP
January 29, 2026 at 2:10 AM
men standing intimately close to the weight rack while doing {insert arm workout}: STOP
Today, the New Orleans City Council banned data centers for a year after community uproar over a proposed facility in New Orleans East. The city will seek to clearly define data centers in its zoning regulations in the mean time. More @veritenews.org.
veritenews.org/2026/01/28/d...
veritenews.org/2026/01/28/d...
Council bans data centers for a year after citizen concerns
Previously, city zoning regulations had no clear definition for data centers. This move by City Council will change that, though some residents worry it doesn’t go far enough to prevent building.
veritenews.org
January 28, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Today, the New Orleans City Council banned data centers for a year after community uproar over a proposed facility in New Orleans East. The city will seek to clearly define data centers in its zoning regulations in the mean time. More @veritenews.org.
veritenews.org/2026/01/28/d...
veritenews.org/2026/01/28/d...
the ESPN app is such dog shit
January 28, 2026 at 6:39 AM
the ESPN app is such dog shit
hey chat is jet lag the game unwoke
January 28, 2026 at 3:54 AM
hey chat is jet lag the game unwoke
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
oh noooooo i'm too tired to go to chewbacchus
January 25, 2026 at 1:45 AM
oh noooooo i'm too tired to go to chewbacchus
It's Saturday. Tell someone you love that you love them, especially if that someone is you.
January 24, 2026 at 9:52 PM
It's Saturday. Tell someone you love that you love them, especially if that someone is you.
Reposted by drew xolaya costley (they/she)
LGBTQIA+ people on the Northshore protested Slidell's annual prayer breakfast this morning because the city of Slidell had an anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-abortion former Louisiana representative speak at the event. More @veritenews.org.
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...
Slidell event featuring Tony Perkins draws protesters
Former state rep. Tony Perkins avoided overt politics in his remarks, as protesters outside criticized Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal for hosting the conservative evangelical.
veritenews.org
January 24, 2026 at 1:32 AM
LGBTQIA+ people on the Northshore protested Slidell's annual prayer breakfast this morning because the city of Slidell had an anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-abortion former Louisiana representative speak at the event. More @veritenews.org.
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...
me after throwing a balled up paper towel into the trashcan
golden state warriors basketball player curry giving a thumbs up
Alt: golden state warriors basketball player Steph curry pointing to his ring finger after hitting a shot
media.tenor.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:40 AM
me after throwing a balled up paper towel into the trashcan
LGBTQIA+ people on the Northshore protested Slidell's annual prayer breakfast this morning because the city of Slidell had an anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-abortion former Louisiana representative speak at the event. More @veritenews.org.
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...
Slidell event featuring Tony Perkins draws protesters
Former state rep. Tony Perkins avoided overt politics in his remarks, as protesters outside criticized Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal for hosting the conservative evangelical.
veritenews.org
January 24, 2026 at 1:32 AM
LGBTQIA+ people on the Northshore protested Slidell's annual prayer breakfast this morning because the city of Slidell had an anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-abortion former Louisiana representative speak at the event. More @veritenews.org.
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...
veritenews.org/2026/01/23/s...