Laura Wenus
@laurawenus.bsky.social
Journalism multihyphenate. Last name rhymes with "menace"
• Co-founder, @newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social
• Independent editor
• @spj-norcal.bsky.social board; FOI committee co-chair
Formerly: SF Chronicle, SF Public Press, KALW, Mission Local
• Co-founder, @newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social
• Independent editor
• @spj-norcal.bsky.social board; FOI committee co-chair
Formerly: SF Chronicle, SF Public Press, KALW, Mission Local
Reposted by Laura Wenus
New from 404 Media: ICE plans to spend as much as $180 million on bounty hunters to physically locate and stalk immigrants. I spoke to multiple private investigators/skip tracers. Some horrified. Others said they will do this work. "Money is money."
www.404media.co/ice-plans-to...
www.404media.co/ice-plans-to...
ICE Plans to Spend $180 Million on Bounty Hunters to Stalk Immigrants
Newly released documents provide more details about ICE's plan to use bounty hunters and private investigators to find the location of undocumented immigrants.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
New from 404 Media: ICE plans to spend as much as $180 million on bounty hunters to physically locate and stalk immigrants. I spoke to multiple private investigators/skip tracers. Some horrified. Others said they will do this work. "Money is money."
www.404media.co/ice-plans-to...
www.404media.co/ice-plans-to...
My reporter-brain wants launching a newsroom to be simple and keeps yelling "omg just start posting stories aaa!!"
But it is, in fact, not that simple. There's infrastructure to set up, logistics to manage. And some fun stuff too :)
But it is, in fact, not that simple. There's infrastructure to set up, logistics to manage. And some fun stuff too :)
Prepping SF Tenderloin newsroom for launch
Pre-flight checklist includes naming the newsroom & prototyping its print zine.
newsrelaynetwork.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
My reporter-brain wants launching a newsroom to be simple and keeps yelling "omg just start posting stories aaa!!"
But it is, in fact, not that simple. There's infrastructure to set up, logistics to manage. And some fun stuff too :)
But it is, in fact, not that simple. There's infrastructure to set up, logistics to manage. And some fun stuff too :)
Dispatch from the pre-launch trenches: Our first item of content is a prototype community calendar (which so far seems to be pretty functional/helpful thing so yay :)
Asked, received: community calendar for SF’s Tenderloin
It’s our first item of content prior to newsroom launch.
newsrelaynetwork.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Dispatch from the pre-launch trenches: Our first item of content is a prototype community calendar (which so far seems to be pretty functional/helpful thing so yay :)
Reposted by Laura Wenus
As Congress remains gridlocked, a federal court ruled Friday that the USDA must release contingency funds — but it is unclear how quickly the SNAP funds will get to recipients.
How SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans could be saved during the shutdown
The USDA has refused to release contingency funds, and Congress remains gridlocked — but there are still paths to keeping the nutrition assistance program alive.
19thnews.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:10 PM
As Congress remains gridlocked, a federal court ruled Friday that the USDA must release contingency funds — but it is unclear how quickly the SNAP funds will get to recipients.
Reposted by Laura Wenus
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
October 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
Reposted by Laura Wenus
We’re heads-down working our way toward launching the Tenderloin newsroom, and starting (today) with a top community request. newsrelaynetwork.org/community-ca...
Asked, received: community calendar for SF’s Tenderloin
It’s our first item of content prior to newsroom launch.
newsrelaynetwork.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:55 PM
We’re heads-down working our way toward launching the Tenderloin newsroom, and starting (today) with a top community request. newsrelaynetwork.org/community-ca...
Reposted by Laura Wenus
Media colleagues in the Bay are really meeting the moment right now — especially love @eltecolotesf.bsky.social and @missionlocal.org collaborating for live updates, @coyotemedia.org offering a guide on how to respond. And of course breaking news reporters for every outlet are on the ball. ♥️
October 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Media colleagues in the Bay are really meeting the moment right now — especially love @eltecolotesf.bsky.social and @missionlocal.org collaborating for live updates, @coyotemedia.org offering a guide on how to respond. And of course breaking news reporters for every outlet are on the ball. ♥️
We keep hearing that people want to read about solutions and the work that's already being done in the neighborhood. Because guess what — this community has put a whole slate of solutions proposals on the table already. We want to help keep those front of mind.
Did you know there is a comprehensive plan for the Tenderloin, full of community-proposed solutions and based on the input of more than 1,200 people?
When we’re up and running, our reporting will focus on it. newsrelaynetwork.org/a-reporting-...
When we’re up and running, our reporting will focus on it. newsrelaynetwork.org/a-reporting-...
SF Tenderloin’s plan for its future — and how we’ll report on it
The plan is years in the making, resulting from surveys, canvassing, community meetings.
newsrelaynetwork.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:27 AM
We keep hearing that people want to read about solutions and the work that's already being done in the neighborhood. Because guess what — this community has put a whole slate of solutions proposals on the table already. We want to help keep those front of mind.
Reposted by Laura Wenus
For DC, this combined with federal workers who are furloughed now needing to access the local food banks, will be devastating
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.
October 22, 2025 at 2:44 AM
For DC, this combined with federal workers who are furloughed now needing to access the local food banks, will be devastating
Reposted by Laura Wenus
🚨 Educators & parents:
• Are public schools in your area losing funding or changing curriculum?
• Are low-income, ESL or disabled students losing access to programs?
• Are more families in your area sending students to private schools?
Help us report ⬇️
• Are public schools in your area losing funding or changing curriculum?
• Are low-income, ESL or disabled students losing access to programs?
• Are more families in your area sending students to private schools?
Help us report ⬇️
Help ProPublica Report on Education
ProPublica needs your help to track how the upheaval of public education is affecting schools and colleges in your community. Take a few minutes to join our source network and help guide our coverage.
www.propublica.org
October 17, 2025 at 12:00 AM
🚨 Educators & parents:
• Are public schools in your area losing funding or changing curriculum?
• Are low-income, ESL or disabled students losing access to programs?
• Are more families in your area sending students to private schools?
Help us report ⬇️
• Are public schools in your area losing funding or changing curriculum?
• Are low-income, ESL or disabled students losing access to programs?
• Are more families in your area sending students to private schools?
Help us report ⬇️
just participated in a good session with @daphnem.bsky.social for @tinynewscollective.bsky.social about listening.
The whole *point* of listening is that we change what we're doing in response to feedback. @noaharroyo.bsky.social wrote about that here:
The whole *point* of listening is that we change what we're doing in response to feedback. @noaharroyo.bsky.social wrote about that here:
We’re changing course — not for the last time
Our Tenderloin newsroom is shifting due to public feedback.
newsrelaynetwork.org
October 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
just participated in a good session with @daphnem.bsky.social for @tinynewscollective.bsky.social about listening.
The whole *point* of listening is that we change what we're doing in response to feedback. @noaharroyo.bsky.social wrote about that here:
The whole *point* of listening is that we change what we're doing in response to feedback. @noaharroyo.bsky.social wrote about that here:
Reposted by Laura Wenus
For months, we’ve asked SF's Tenderloin what it needs in a newsroom.
What people said, surprised us:
- Community calendar
- Power to tell their own stories
- Articles offering ways to help people
- Some coverage intended for citywide readers
- Muckraking
newsrelaynetwork.org/changing-cou...
What people said, surprised us:
- Community calendar
- Power to tell their own stories
- Articles offering ways to help people
- Some coverage intended for citywide readers
- Muckraking
newsrelaynetwork.org/changing-cou...
We’re changing course — not for the last time
Our Tenderloin newsroom is shifting due to public feedback.
newsrelaynetwork.org
October 15, 2025 at 8:08 PM
For months, we’ve asked SF's Tenderloin what it needs in a newsroom.
What people said, surprised us:
- Community calendar
- Power to tell their own stories
- Articles offering ways to help people
- Some coverage intended for citywide readers
- Muckraking
newsrelaynetwork.org/changing-cou...
What people said, surprised us:
- Community calendar
- Power to tell their own stories
- Articles offering ways to help people
- Some coverage intended for citywide readers
- Muckraking
newsrelaynetwork.org/changing-cou...
Reposted by Laura Wenus
Yesterday, California adopted a law to raise the pay received by incarcerated firefighters when they’re fighting a fire from $1 to $7.25 per hour—meeting the federal minimum wage. Four other new laws also give new rights to incarcerated firefighters.
California's incarcerated firefighters to see a ‘historic’ pay increase in laws Newsom signed
Hundreds of California state prisoners worked to put out this year's deadly Los Angeles wildfires, inspiring new laws that will improve their pay and open other opportunities.
calmatters.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Yesterday, California adopted a law to raise the pay received by incarcerated firefighters when they’re fighting a fire from $1 to $7.25 per hour—meeting the federal minimum wage. Four other new laws also give new rights to incarcerated firefighters.
Reposted by Laura Wenus
NSO Group confirmed to TechCrunch that an unnamed group of American investors has taken “controlling ownership” of the surveillance tech maker.
Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors | TechCrunch
NSO Group confirmed to TechCrunch that an unnamed group of American investors has taken “controlling ownership” of the surveillance tech maker.
techcrunch.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
NSO Group confirmed to TechCrunch that an unnamed group of American investors has taken “controlling ownership” of the surveillance tech maker.
Reposted by Laura Wenus
Business Insider wrote up a story on how some of their past investigative work led to a new California law. The story is strangely unbylined.
The reason perhaps? The publication recently laid off the reporter behind that investigation, Matt Drange.
www.businessinsider.com/california-e...
The reason perhaps? The publication recently laid off the reporter behind that investigation, Matt Drange.
www.businessinsider.com/california-e...
California enacts law to prevent sexual abuse in K-12 schools following Business Insider investigation
The new legislation comes after a 2023 Business Insider investigation into sexual misconduct at a California high school.
www.businessinsider.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Business Insider wrote up a story on how some of their past investigative work led to a new California law. The story is strangely unbylined.
The reason perhaps? The publication recently laid off the reporter behind that investigation, Matt Drange.
www.businessinsider.com/california-e...
The reason perhaps? The publication recently laid off the reporter behind that investigation, Matt Drange.
www.businessinsider.com/california-e...
Takeaways from our listening session last week. I'm so glad we got to have this conversation!
When we met with a large group of locals, we expected marching orders for topics that our newsroom should cover. What we got was much more meaningful.
Here’s what we learned. newsrelaynetwork.org/san-francisc...
Here’s what we learned. newsrelaynetwork.org/san-francisc...
SF Tenderloin’s vision for community-serving media
We met with a group of locals to find out what they would want from a neighborhood newsroom. Here’s what they told us.
newsrelaynetwork.org
October 8, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Takeaways from our listening session last week. I'm so glad we got to have this conversation!
Reposted by Laura Wenus
Two journalists are set to be tried in Kentucky this week.
Their crime? Covering a protest of the immigration detainment of Ayman Soliman, who himself fled persecution for his journalism in Egypt. Soliman’s lawyer called it a “cruel irony.”
Their crime? Covering a protest of the immigration detainment of Ayman Soliman, who himself fled persecution for his journalism in Egypt. Soliman’s lawyer called it a “cruel irony.”
On trial for journalism in Kentucky.
Two months after their arrests while covering a protest, a pair of local reporters face criminal charges.
www.cjr.org
September 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Two journalists are set to be tried in Kentucky this week.
Their crime? Covering a protest of the immigration detainment of Ayman Soliman, who himself fled persecution for his journalism in Egypt. Soliman’s lawyer called it a “cruel irony.”
Their crime? Covering a protest of the immigration detainment of Ayman Soliman, who himself fled persecution for his journalism in Egypt. Soliman’s lawyer called it a “cruel irony.”
Reposted by Laura Wenus
I want to do a little breakdown of this investigation I published today for @prismreports.org about gender-based violence in the H-2A agricultural visa program.
She managed to get a farmworker visa. Once in the U.S., she endured abuse.
A Prism investigation reveals that women are routinely shut out of the H-2A program. Those who get in report doing non-agricultural labor and facing sexual violence and trafficking
prismreports.org
September 24, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I want to do a little breakdown of this investigation I published today for @prismreports.org about gender-based violence in the H-2A agricultural visa program.
Reposted by Laura Wenus
Sorry a couple more I forgot:
@aftermath.site & @roguesite.bsky.social for video games
@newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social in SF modeling a really cool inclusive journalism model
@theautopian.bsky.social for car stuff
And there are still so many more I'm sure I'm forgetting!!
@aftermath.site & @roguesite.bsky.social for video games
@newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social in SF modeling a really cool inclusive journalism model
@theautopian.bsky.social for car stuff
And there are still so many more I'm sure I'm forgetting!!
September 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Sorry a couple more I forgot:
@aftermath.site & @roguesite.bsky.social for video games
@newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social in SF modeling a really cool inclusive journalism model
@theautopian.bsky.social for car stuff
And there are still so many more I'm sure I'm forgetting!!
@aftermath.site & @roguesite.bsky.social for video games
@newsrelaynetwork.bsky.social in SF modeling a really cool inclusive journalism model
@theautopian.bsky.social for car stuff
And there are still so many more I'm sure I'm forgetting!!
Can someone explain to me, an extremely uncool person, why Google Glass was was a resounding flop 10 years ago but Meta's video glasses are somehow cool? Or at least not getting the same intense rejection that Glass did?
September 24, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Can someone explain to me, an extremely uncool person, why Google Glass was was a resounding flop 10 years ago but Meta's video glasses are somehow cool? Or at least not getting the same intense rejection that Glass did?
Reposted by Laura Wenus
More than 1800 detainees are missing after the closure of Alligator Alcatraz. Their families and lawyers can’t find them and they’ve vanished from the ICE database. Feels like this should be a much bigger story www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Hundreds of Alligator Alcatraz detainees drop off the grid after leaving site
As of the end of August, the whereabouts of two-thirds of more than 1,800 men detained at Alligator Alcatraz during the month of July could not be determined by the Miami Herald.
www.miamiherald.com
September 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
More than 1800 detainees are missing after the closure of Alligator Alcatraz. Their families and lawyers can’t find them and they’ve vanished from the ICE database. Feels like this should be a much bigger story www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Reposted by Laura Wenus
Must-read by journalist Mario Guevara for @bittersouth.bsky.social: "On the afternoon of Saturday, June 14, 2025, my life changed completely. Just as I was doing a regular news coverage, I was arrested by the police in the state of Georgia."
Journalist Mario Guevara Speaks - Letter from ICE DETENTION FACILITY — THE BITTER SOUTHERNER
The only journalist detained by ICE on US soil, sends a letter to The Bitter Southerner.
bittersoutherner.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Must-read by journalist Mario Guevara for @bittersouth.bsky.social: "On the afternoon of Saturday, June 14, 2025, my life changed completely. Just as I was doing a regular news coverage, I was arrested by the police in the state of Georgia."
Reposted by Laura Wenus
there’s a lot going on but this seems uh extremely bad. our duterte era spreading its wings www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/u...
September 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
there’s a lot going on but this seems uh extremely bad. our duterte era spreading its wings www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/u...
I don't mean to put a happy face on a neighborhood where truly bad things happen and really, deeply affect people. But events like Recovery Day showcase the hard work, care and wisdom of the community. We should give that its proper attention, too.
newsrelaynetwork.org/the-tenderlo...
newsrelaynetwork.org/the-tenderlo...
The Tenderloin you don’t see
There’s more going on in this neighborhood than crime and drugs — like resilience and recovery.
newsrelaynetwork.org
September 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I don't mean to put a happy face on a neighborhood where truly bad things happen and really, deeply affect people. But events like Recovery Day showcase the hard work, care and wisdom of the community. We should give that its proper attention, too.
newsrelaynetwork.org/the-tenderlo...
newsrelaynetwork.org/the-tenderlo...