Jimmy Cloutier
@jrcloutier.com
Level 33 human | Investigative Data Reporter @post-gazette.com | Previously at @opensecrets.org, News21 | RPCV Armenia 🇦🇲 | Québécois + American
🔒 Signal: @jrcloutier.92
🔒 Signal: @jrcloutier.92
Pinned
Jimmy Cloutier
@jrcloutier.com
· Dec 21
Deadly Toxic Trail: Thousands of miners left in danger by critical enforcement gaps
In the battle against one of the deadliest outbreaks of black lung disease in decades, the federal mine inspectors play a critical role: testing the coal...
www.post-gazette.com
Our latest investigation explores a regulatory gap fueling the black lung epidemic in Appalachia. Federal rules empower the government to penalize mines for high coal dust—but not for silica, a far deadlier toxin. www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
Measles outbreak confirmed in Lancaster County
Measles outbreak confirmed in Lancaster County
An outbreak of measles has been confirmed in Lancaster County, about 250 miles east of Pittsburgh.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed via...
www.post-gazette.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Measles outbreak confirmed in Lancaster County
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
Sen. John Fetterman on Thursday voted against advancing a highly-contested government funding package that includes allocations for the Department of Homeland Security, despite noting his objections to shutting down the government earlier this week.
John Fetterman joins other Democrats in voting against advancing DHS funding as potential shutdown looms
www.inquirer.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Sen. John Fetterman on Thursday voted against advancing a highly-contested government funding package that includes allocations for the Department of Homeland Security, despite noting his objections to shutting down the government earlier this week.
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
Washington County clinic helps black lung patients battle for crucial benefits — and to survive
Washington County clinic helps black lung patients battle for crucial benefits — and to survive
In battle against black lung, Pennsylvania clinic fights for miners
www.post-gazette.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Washington County clinic helps black lung patients battle for crucial benefits — and to survive
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
In the end, the pressure on the family simply became too great. Johny Merida Aguilara, the detained immigrant father of a 5-year-old son with brain cancer, has decided to drop efforts to stay in the United States, prompting his family to make a decision as well. 🔗 www.inquirer.com/news/johny...
January 24, 2026 at 2:07 PM
In the end, the pressure on the family simply became too great. Johny Merida Aguilara, the detained immigrant father of a 5-year-old son with brain cancer, has decided to drop efforts to stay in the United States, prompting his family to make a decision as well. 🔗 www.inquirer.com/news/johny...
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
Salt delivery delays force some Western Pa. towns to strategize ahead of snowstorm
Salt delivery delays force some Western Pa. towns to strategize ahead of snowstorm
Salt will be crucial during a historic snowstorm that will rip through most of the country and blanket Pittsburgh with up to 14 inches of snow this weekend.
But...
www.post-gazette.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Salt delivery delays force some Western Pa. towns to strategize ahead of snowstorm
More than a hundred demonstrators gathered at the Target in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, claiming the retail giant is cooperating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis. Jacob Geanous has the details ⬇️
Protesters gather at East Liberty Target in protest over ICE actions in Minneapolis
Protesters gather at East Liberty Target in protest over ICE actions in Minneapolis
More than a hundred demonstrators gathered at Target in East Liberty on Friday to protest the retailer, claiming it is cooperating with Immigrations and...
www.post-gazette.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:17 AM
More than a hundred demonstrators gathered at the Target in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, claiming the retail giant is cooperating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis. Jacob Geanous has the details ⬇️
The weather today in Pittsburgh is brutal. 12° F with windchill, 34mph gusts, and snow. But demonstrators have still come out to protest immigration enforcement following three shootings by federal agents last week.
It is VERY cold and VERY windy, and it is snowing pretty hard here at the march, but that hasn't deterred several hundred Pittsburghers
January 11, 2026 at 7:57 PM
The weather today in Pittsburgh is brutal. 12° F with windchill, 34mph gusts, and snow. But demonstrators have still come out to protest immigration enforcement following three shootings by federal agents last week.
Breaking with fellow Democrats once more, Sen. John Fetterman joined GOP Sen. Dave McCormick in praising the U.S. military operation that deposed Venezuela's leader — an action the U.N. secretary-general called a "dangerous precedent."
Sens. McCormick, Fetterman laud U.S. action in Venezuela as other Pennsylvania lawmakers denounce attack
Sens. McCormick, Fetterman laud U.S. action in Venezuela as other Pennsylvania lawmakers denounce attack
WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators on Saturday applauded President Donald Trump’s military campaign to forcefully remove...
www.post-gazette.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:28 AM
Breaking with fellow Democrats once more, Sen. John Fetterman joined GOP Sen. Dave McCormick in praising the U.S. military operation that deposed Venezuela's leader — an action the U.N. secretary-general called a "dangerous precedent."
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
Massive fraud scheme that fleeced thousands of people had ties to Pittsburgh area
Massive fraud scheme that fleeced thousands of people had ties to Pittsburgh area
Before he was freed from prison by President Donald Trump five weeks ago, David Gentile was a power player in the world of private equity companies, amassing...
www.post-gazette.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Massive fraud scheme that fleeced thousands of people had ties to Pittsburgh area
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
Federal judge stops DOJ's efforts to get UPMC Children’s to turn over patient info on gender-affirming care
Federal judge stops DOJ's efforts to get UPMC Children’s to turn over patient info on gender-affirming care
A federal judge in Pittsburgh has halted the U.S. government’s attempts to force UPMC Children’s Hospital to turn over detailed personal information...
www.post-gazette.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Federal judge stops DOJ's efforts to get UPMC Children’s to turn over patient info on gender-affirming care
We found 18 people, including children, who were held past ICE’s own 12-hour limit, which the agency waived in late June. One day after the rule change, a 16-year-old boy from Mexico was held for 12.5 hours before being transferred in the middle of the night.
December 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
We found 18 people, including children, who were held past ICE’s own 12-hour limit, which the agency waived in late June. One day after the rule change, a 16-year-old boy from Mexico was held for 12.5 hours before being transferred in the middle of the night.
Meanwhile, the average time people are kept in the small, temporary cells there has tripled, from about 2 hours last year to over 6 hours now, although dozens have been held much longer.
December 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Meanwhile, the average time people are kept in the small, temporary cells there has tripled, from about 2 hours last year to over 6 hours now, although dozens have been held much longer.
My colleagues and I dug into new data on ICE detentions in Pittsburgh. Since Trump entered office, at least 810 people have been sent to the South Side ICE office — an 8x increase from the same period in 2024. www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
Hundreds taken into custody at Pittsburgh ICE office, an emerging regional deportation hub
Zuleymi Nava Angel has not seen her husband since he left for work in the early hours of Dec. 5.
That same morning, she drove her daughter to school, then...
www.post-gazette.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
My colleagues and I dug into new data on ICE detentions in Pittsburgh. Since Trump entered office, at least 810 people have been sent to the South Side ICE office — an 8x increase from the same period in 2024. www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
The Mine Safety and Health Administration created a rule to enforce silica limits last year — but it’s since been blocked in a legal challenge by industry groups, including one previously led by MSHA’s new leader, Wayne Palmer.
December 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The Mine Safety and Health Administration created a rule to enforce silica limits last year — but it’s since been blocked in a legal challenge by industry groups, including one previously led by MSHA’s new leader, Wayne Palmer.
Our latest investigation explores a regulatory gap fueling the black lung epidemic in Appalachia. Federal rules empower the government to penalize mines for high coal dust—but not for silica, a far deadlier toxin. www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
Deadly Toxic Trail: Thousands of miners left in danger by critical enforcement gaps
In the battle against one of the deadliest outbreaks of black lung disease in decades, the federal mine inspectors play a critical role: testing the coal...
www.post-gazette.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Our latest investigation explores a regulatory gap fueling the black lung epidemic in Appalachia. Federal rules empower the government to penalize mines for high coal dust—but not for silica, a far deadlier toxin. www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
There you have it. Following two years of community pushback, the Pittsburgh Public school board have voted 6-3 against a plan to shutter nine schools and reorganize several others.
Pittsburgh Public school directors vote against closing schools
Pittsburgh Public school directors vote against closing schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools directors are not moving forward with a plan to close schools.
School directors on Tuesday voted against a school closure...
www.post-gazette.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:16 AM
There you have it. Following two years of community pushback, the Pittsburgh Public school board have voted 6-3 against a plan to shutter nine schools and reorganize several others.
Nearly 80 parents urged the Pittsburgh Public School Board on Monday to vote against a proposed school closure plan that many described as “half baked.” The board votes tomorrow.
@megantomasic.bsky.social has the details.
@megantomasic.bsky.social has the details.
Pittsburgh Public parents, community members make final push for board to vote no on school closures
Pittsburgh Public parents, community members make final push for board to vote no on school closures
Michelle Boyle didn’t waver as she spoke under the fluorescent lights of the Pittsburgh Public Schools administration building Monday: Stop evicting...
www.post-gazette.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Nearly 80 parents urged the Pittsburgh Public School Board on Monday to vote against a proposed school closure plan that many described as “half baked.” The board votes tomorrow.
@megantomasic.bsky.social has the details.
@megantomasic.bsky.social has the details.
Electric bills across Pennsylvania are set to increase next month, due in part to the rapid growth of data centers and AI.
Electricity costs set to rise in most of Pennsylvania next month
Electricity costs set to rise in most of Pennsylvania next month
Electric utility bills across most of the state will increase Dec. 1 to account for the higher costs of electric generation.
These charges — also...
www.post-gazette.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Electric bills across Pennsylvania are set to increase next month, due in part to the rapid growth of data centers and AI.
The president this week called veteran Democrats in Congress “traitors,” questioned whether they should be locked up and charged with sedition, and then reposted a comment that said they should be hanged. The next day, the offices of one of those lawmakers received bomb threats.
November 22, 2025 at 2:59 AM
The president this week called veteran Democrats in Congress “traitors,” questioned whether they should be locked up and charged with sedition, and then reposted a comment that said they should be hanged. The next day, the offices of one of those lawmakers received bomb threats.
Musk could spend $50 million a day for the rest of his life (assuming he makes it to 100) and still not spend a trillion dollars.
November 7, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Musk could spend $50 million a day for the rest of his life (assuming he makes it to 100) and still not spend a trillion dollars.
An incomprehensible amount of money — about half the GDP of Canada — for one person. The median Tesla worker, by contrast, earned around $57,000 in 2024. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
Elon Musk Wins $1 Trillion Tesla Pay Package
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:50 PM
An incomprehensible amount of money — about half the GDP of Canada — for one person. The median Tesla worker, by contrast, earned around $57,000 in 2024. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
Over the summer, my colleagues and I revealed how regulatory gaps and enforcement failures have allowed mine operators to expose workers to unsafe levels of dust, even as cases of black lung surged across Appalachia. www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
Deadly dust: Missed inspections, enforcement failures imperil the lives of coal miners
Deep in the earth's crust, the toxic substance rises in the air as miners drill into massive layers of rock.
As they work the controls of the big machines,...
www.post-gazette.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Over the summer, my colleagues and I revealed how regulatory gaps and enforcement failures have allowed mine operators to expose workers to unsafe levels of dust, even as cases of black lung surged across Appalachia. www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
Yesterday, coal miners rallied in the nation's capital to demand protections from toxic dust. New rules that were supposed to come into effect earlier this year are being challenged by the mining industry and have been paused by the Trump administration. www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
As black lung surges, coal miners rally for protections in nation’s capital
WASHINGTON — Ravaged by black lung disease, retired coal miner Gary Hairston stood with nearly 100 other underground workers and advocates on Tuesday...
www.post-gazette.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Yesterday, coal miners rallied in the nation's capital to demand protections from toxic dust. New rules that were supposed to come into effect earlier this year are being challenged by the mining industry and have been paused by the Trump administration. www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Jimmy Cloutier
#USA RSF and 16 other organizations published a joint statement calling for the Trump admin to abandon a proposal to severely restrict visas for international journalists. Read the statement here: rsf.org/en/usa-rsf-a...
USA: RSF and 16 press freedom groups denounce proposed journalist visa restrictions
In August, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a new rule that would drastically restrict the amount of time foreign journalists can live and work in the country. Reporters Without B...
rsf.org
September 29, 2025 at 7:42 PM
#USA RSF and 16 other organizations published a joint statement calling for the Trump admin to abandon a proposal to severely restrict visas for international journalists. Read the statement here: rsf.org/en/usa-rsf-a...