Thy Vo
@thyanhvo.bsky.social
Colorado-based editor @investigatewest.bsky.social, social media lurker
Reposted by Thy Vo
The first formerly incarcerated lawmaker in WA had her convictions vacated in 2023, and she said it felt like being freed from an "invisible prison." This year, emails show, she supported cuts to legal aid groups that help others do the same.
www.investigatewest.org/make-it-make...
www.investigatewest.org/make-it-make...
WA lawmaker backed cuts to legal aid for people like herself
After being fired from the legal aid group she once led, Rep. Tarra Simmons supported state cuts that crippled similar organizations
www.investigatewest.org
November 11, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The first formerly incarcerated lawmaker in WA had her convictions vacated in 2023, and she said it felt like being freed from an "invisible prison." This year, emails show, she supported cuts to legal aid groups that help others do the same.
www.investigatewest.org/make-it-make...
www.investigatewest.org/make-it-make...
Reposted by Thy Vo
Even before being convicted of a crime, Indigenous youth in Washington state are 6.4 times more likely to be kept in detention than white children.
www.investigatewest.org/native-ameri...
www.investigatewest.org/native-ameri...
Native American kids in WA more likely to be arrested
Before and after trial and even for low-level, nonviolent crimes, Native American youths are locked up at higher rates
www.investigatewest.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Even before being convicted of a crime, Indigenous youth in Washington state are 6.4 times more likely to be kept in detention than white children.
www.investigatewest.org/native-ameri...
www.investigatewest.org/native-ameri...
Reposted by Thy Vo
"In Idaho prisons, more than two dozen women say guards prey on them with little fear of consequences — and those who speak up are often punished."
The U.S. is a leader in women's incarceration, and behind bars, women are anything but safe. 🧵
The U.S. is a leader in women's incarceration, and behind bars, women are anything but safe. 🧵
Staff sex abuse in Idaho women’s prisons largely unchecked
InvestigateWest reporting exposes sexual abuse by guards, retaliation against victims and a system that fails to track the scope of the problem
www.investigatewest.org
November 4, 2025 at 8:20 PM
"In Idaho prisons, more than two dozen women say guards prey on them with little fear of consequences — and those who speak up are often punished."
The U.S. is a leader in women's incarceration, and behind bars, women are anything but safe. 🧵
The U.S. is a leader in women's incarceration, and behind bars, women are anything but safe. 🧵
Reposted by Thy Vo
Washington state requires certain alleged domestic abusers to surrender their guns, but many counties lack mechanisms to actually verify if guns are turned over, relying on the honor system instead. www.investigatewest.org/many-wa-coun...
Many Washington counties don't verify abusers turned in guns
While some counties are devoting money to track down guns, others rely on the honor system to ensure firearms are turned over
www.investigatewest.org
October 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Washington state requires certain alleged domestic abusers to surrender their guns, but many counties lack mechanisms to actually verify if guns are turned over, relying on the honor system instead. www.investigatewest.org/many-wa-coun...
Reposted by Thy Vo
Alex Kuhnhausen developed a bacterial infection while in solitary confinement. The repeated failures that followed offer a rare look at how decisions made by prison officials can turn treatable ailments deadly, @brandonblock.bsky.social reports.
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
October 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Alex Kuhnhausen developed a bacterial infection while in solitary confinement. The repeated failures that followed offer a rare look at how decisions made by prison officials can turn treatable ailments deadly, @brandonblock.bsky.social reports.
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
Reposted by Thy Vo
The teacher was called to an Aug. 2011 personnel meeting over the allegations. The goal, according to school district records: "To protect Curtis and the District." bit.ly/43uI0Ev
October 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The teacher was called to an Aug. 2011 personnel meeting over the allegations. The goal, according to school district records: "To protect Curtis and the District." bit.ly/43uI0Ev
Reposted by Thy Vo
Read the story: www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...
October 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Read the story: www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...
Reposted by Thy Vo
Extraordinary NEW story: We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days. @nicolefoy.bsky.social w/ photos by @sbmaneyphoto.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Extraordinary NEW story: We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days. @nicolefoy.bsky.social w/ photos by @sbmaneyphoto.bsky.social
Reposted by Thy Vo
“We have not been able to get the meats we used to get provided through Emergency Food Assistance,” a Colorado food bank operator says. “In its place, we’ve been getting fish sticks. And not a lot of them.” // Story by @lizzy-hernandez.bsky.social
Colorado food banks sound alarm over rising need amid federal cuts to nutrition assistance
This spring, the Trump administration cut about $500 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding that went toward the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which supplements states’ food bank su…
www.denverpost.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“We have not been able to get the meats we used to get provided through Emergency Food Assistance,” a Colorado food bank operator says. “In its place, we’ve been getting fish sticks. And not a lot of them.” // Story by @lizzy-hernandez.bsky.social
Reposted by Thy Vo
Andrea Weiskircher thought her life was over after she filed complaints in June 2024. But after she shared what happened to her, other women opened up about their own stories of prison abuse. “They were like, ‘Screw IDOC. It happened to me too, dude,’” Weiskircher said.
October 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Andrea Weiskircher thought her life was over after she filed complaints in June 2024. But after she shared what happened to her, other women opened up about their own stories of prison abuse. “They were like, ‘Screw IDOC. It happened to me too, dude,’” Weiskircher said.
Reposted by Thy Vo
"For the next five minutes, the woman listened as four men — a prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and police detective — debated what, exactly, Rogers meant by vagina."
Hard to say what's the most shocking part of this @investigatewest.bsky.social series. But this courtroom dialogue is up there.
Hard to say what's the most shocking part of this @investigatewest.bsky.social series. But this courtroom dialogue is up there.
Idaho's prison sex abuse law only protects inmates when genital contact is involved, making it hard to prosecute prison staff. Even when charges are filed, plea deals allow accused guards to escape prison time while victims serve years for drug offenses, DUIs and parole violations bit.ly/42CqXQE
How Idaho’s prison sex abuse law protects predatory guards
When guards are charged, plea deals offer leniency
www.investigatewest.org
October 15, 2025 at 4:59 PM
"For the next five minutes, the woman listened as four men — a prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and police detective — debated what, exactly, Rogers meant by vagina."
Hard to say what's the most shocking part of this @investigatewest.bsky.social series. But this courtroom dialogue is up there.
Hard to say what's the most shocking part of this @investigatewest.bsky.social series. But this courtroom dialogue is up there.
This series on rape and sexual abuse by Idaho prison workers has some chilling, enraging and tender writing and reporting throughout - and exposes the ways our system continually lets alleged perpetrators off the hook. Please give it a read:
In summer 2024, 7 women accused Idaho prison workers of sexual misconduct. The allegations spanned decades, took place at various facilities and involved different perpetrators. One thread connects the claims: none were thoroughly investigated by state police. www.investigatewest.org/case-closed-...
October 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This series on rape and sexual abuse by Idaho prison workers has some chilling, enraging and tender writing and reporting throughout - and exposes the ways our system continually lets alleged perpetrators off the hook. Please give it a read:
Reposted by Thy Vo
The Spokane Diocese says there's “overwhelming evidence” to back five women's allegations against the priest — but parishioners question Bishop Thomas Daly’s motivations
www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...
www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...
Spokane priest accused of sexual misconduct, misuse of funds
Spokane Diocese points to “overwhelming evidence” — but parishioners question Bishop Thomas Daly’s motivations
www.investigatewest.org
October 14, 2025 at 2:27 AM
The Spokane Diocese says there's “overwhelming evidence” to back five women's allegations against the priest — but parishioners question Bishop Thomas Daly’s motivations
www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...
www.investigatewest.org/allegations-...
Reposted by Thy Vo
Women in Idaho prisons face this reality: The guards who control every aspect of their lives can harass and sexually assault them with confidence that it will be kept quiet. If caught, guards receive a kind of leniency that they could only dream of. www.investigatewest.org/in-idaho-wom...
October 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Women in Idaho prisons face this reality: The guards who control every aspect of their lives can harass and sexually assault them with confidence that it will be kept quiet. If caught, guards receive a kind of leniency that they could only dream of. www.investigatewest.org/in-idaho-wom...
Reposted by Thy Vo
Today we're excited to share a new series, Guarded by Predators, that we've been working on on for nearly a year investigating how sexual abuse by staff at Idaho's women's prisons has gone largely unchecked - www.investigatewest.org/guarded-by-p...
Guarded by Predators
A new series by InvestigateWest exposing rape and abuse by Idaho’s prison guards and the system that shields them.
www.investigatewest.org
October 12, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Today we're excited to share a new series, Guarded by Predators, that we've been working on on for nearly a year investigating how sexual abuse by staff at Idaho's women's prisons has gone largely unchecked - www.investigatewest.org/guarded-by-p...
Reposted by Thy Vo
Police accountability advocates say his candidacy underscores a larger issue in Washington: The state’s only requirement for sheriff candidates is to complete basic law enforcement training within a year of taking office.
www.investigatewest.org/sheriff-cand...
www.investigatewest.org/sheriff-cand...
WA sheriff candidate accused of domestic abuse, dishonesty
State Legislature failed to pass bill last session that would have disqualified him from running
www.investigatewest.org
October 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Police accountability advocates say his candidacy underscores a larger issue in Washington: The state’s only requirement for sheriff candidates is to complete basic law enforcement training within a year of taking office.
www.investigatewest.org/sheriff-cand...
www.investigatewest.org/sheriff-cand...
Reposted by Thy Vo
Oregon Health Authority announced this week that it will no longer pursue the program, pinning their decision on federal changes to Medicaid. www.investigatewest.org/oregon-aband...
October 10, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Oregon Health Authority announced this week that it will no longer pursue the program, pinning their decision on federal changes to Medicaid. www.investigatewest.org/oregon-aband...
Reposted by Thy Vo
It’s difficult to find the words to express how our unit is feeling right now, but we’ll take a stab at it: shocked, disappointed, angry, gutted. @cascadepbs.bsky.social’s choice to eliminate long-form written reporting is a massive loss for our community in a critical moment. tinyurl.com/LayoffFund
Donate to Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed, organized by Isabella Breda
On Monday, Sept. 22, Cascade PBS announced that it would be s… Isabella Breda needs your support for Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed
tinyurl.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
It’s difficult to find the words to express how our unit is feeling right now, but we’ll take a stab at it: shocked, disappointed, angry, gutted. @cascadepbs.bsky.social’s choice to eliminate long-form written reporting is a massive loss for our community in a critical moment. tinyurl.com/LayoffFund
Reposted by Thy Vo
Reposted by Thy Vo
“I don’t know where I am, where I’m going, or what my end is. I don’t know what I’m waiting for.”
Ten months after a judge granted Kamel Maklad deportation relief for protection against torture in his home country of Syria, Maklad remains detained in Arizona, Stephanie Casanova reports.
Ten months after a judge granted Kamel Maklad deportation relief for protection against torture in his home country of Syria, Maklad remains detained in Arizona, Stephanie Casanova reports.
Syrian man won fight to avoid deportation. He remains detained.
Kamel Maklad's case reveals how people who can't legally be deported are imprisoned until they capitulate and agree to leave the country
prismreports.org
September 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
“I don’t know where I am, where I’m going, or what my end is. I don’t know what I’m waiting for.”
Ten months after a judge granted Kamel Maklad deportation relief for protection against torture in his home country of Syria, Maklad remains detained in Arizona, Stephanie Casanova reports.
Ten months after a judge granted Kamel Maklad deportation relief for protection against torture in his home country of Syria, Maklad remains detained in Arizona, Stephanie Casanova reports.
Steep cuts to federal Medicaid spending could push more Oregon hospitals - already operating on thin margins - to cut back on costly maternity care. @daniellemdawson.bsky.social looks at what happened after one rural town lost its maternity ward in 2023 www.investigatewest.org/rural-oregon...
Medicaid cuts could expand Oregon maternity care deserts
Most Oregon hospitals have been bleeding cash for years, and at least two are already set to close their obstetrics units
www.investigatewest.org
September 17, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Steep cuts to federal Medicaid spending could push more Oregon hospitals - already operating on thin margins - to cut back on costly maternity care. @daniellemdawson.bsky.social looks at what happened after one rural town lost its maternity ward in 2023 www.investigatewest.org/rural-oregon...
The hospital in Dayton is a lifeline for the elderly and poor in Columbia County, WA. Most of last year, it had less than 10 days cash on hand. “You put that in the context of these cuts, and it’s just going to make a desperate situation worse,” McGuire said.
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
'Strained past our breaking point': Washington's small-town hospitals fear closure as Medicaid cuts loom
DAYTON – If the hospital in this historic southeast Washington town has to close, Acadia Murphey thinks the town will “probably die along with it.”
www.spokesman.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The hospital in Dayton is a lifeline for the elderly and poor in Columbia County, WA. Most of last year, it had less than 10 days cash on hand. “You put that in the context of these cuts, and it’s just going to make a desperate situation worse,” McGuire said.
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
"No one spoke against the land annexation ... Councilor Jackie Linton was the sole vote against it. She brought up a number of concerns about the potential for new data centers, including how they might affect the local water supply." by @antoniosierra.bsky.social
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Hermiston clears the way for data center industry
Attracted by cheap power, plentiful land and proximity to the Columbia River’s water supply, Amazon Web Services has built dozens of data centers in communities across Umatilla and Morrow counties. He...
www.opb.org
September 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
"No one spoke against the land annexation ... Councilor Jackie Linton was the sole vote against it. She brought up a number of concerns about the potential for new data centers, including how they might affect the local water supply." by @antoniosierra.bsky.social
www.opb.org/article/2025...
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Reposted by Thy Vo
At least 2 students shot at Evergreen High School, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says | The Colorado Sun
coloradosun.com/2025/09/10/e... Sun App
coloradosun.com/2025/09/10/e... Sun App
At least 2 students shot at Evergreen High School, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says
Officials said they were responding to an “active assailant” near the Jefferson County school
coloradosun.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
At least 2 students shot at Evergreen High School, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says | The Colorado Sun
coloradosun.com/2025/09/10/e... Sun App
coloradosun.com/2025/09/10/e... Sun App