@renlarson.bsky.social
data- and records-obsessed journalist.
Feeding your brain North Carolina stories at @theassemblync.bsky.social
lifelong language learner, rock climber, Bo's mom
Feeding your brain North Carolina stories at @theassemblync.bsky.social
lifelong language learner, rock climber, Bo's mom
5/ In Haywood County, Michelle & Jeff Parker returned to their home to find it had flooded with 8 feet of water. They had just rebuilt after flooding in 2021.
They applied for a buyout, seeking FEMA’s rental assistance to help while they’re displaced. One rental payment came.
They applied for a buyout, seeking FEMA’s rental assistance to help while they’re displaced. One rental payment came.
October 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
5/ In Haywood County, Michelle & Jeff Parker returned to their home to find it had flooded with 8 feet of water. They had just rebuilt after flooding in 2021.
They applied for a buyout, seeking FEMA’s rental assistance to help while they’re displaced. One rental payment came.
They applied for a buyout, seeking FEMA’s rental assistance to help while they’re displaced. One rental payment came.
4/ In Yancey County, the Hill family received $0 from their insurance but neared the maximum $42,500 payout from FEMA.
With school closed for nearly two months after Helene, the two-teacher family had time to push for FEMA aid, get estimates and upload documents.
With school closed for nearly two months after Helene, the two-teacher family had time to push for FEMA aid, get estimates and upload documents.
October 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
4/ In Yancey County, the Hill family received $0 from their insurance but neared the maximum $42,500 payout from FEMA.
With school closed for nearly two months after Helene, the two-teacher family had time to push for FEMA aid, get estimates and upload documents.
With school closed for nearly two months after Helene, the two-teacher family had time to push for FEMA aid, get estimates and upload documents.
3/ Disparities in who receives FEMA aid have long been known to researchers, like @sarahlabo.bsky.social , a Senior Fellow at @carnegieendowment.org, who studies and writes about disasters.
October 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
3/ Disparities in who receives FEMA aid have long been known to researchers, like @sarahlabo.bsky.social , a Senior Fellow at @carnegieendowment.org, who studies and writes about disasters.
2/ A year after Hurricane Helene ravaged Western NC, @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social & I reported on FEMA aid in the 10 counties where the storm hit hardest.
In some counties, the highest-income homeowners received 2-3x as much housing assistance as those with lower incomes.
In some counties, the highest-income homeowners received 2-3x as much housing assistance as those with lower incomes.
October 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
2/ A year after Hurricane Helene ravaged Western NC, @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social & I reported on FEMA aid in the 10 counties where the storm hit hardest.
In some counties, the highest-income homeowners received 2-3x as much housing assistance as those with lower incomes.
In some counties, the highest-income homeowners received 2-3x as much housing assistance as those with lower incomes.
Proud reporter moment. @theassemblync.bsky.social was awarded its first National Murrow Award. And it won its second.
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
August 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Proud reporter moment. @theassemblync.bsky.social was awarded its first National Murrow Award. And it won its second.
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
6/ When the Randolph County executive committee voted for new board members, GOP Chair Rick Smith didn't present the two incumbents' names.
The new board members include people whose elections experience includes running for office and campaigning, not administration.
The new board members include people whose elections experience includes running for office and campaigning, not administration.
July 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
6/ When the Randolph County executive committee voted for new board members, GOP Chair Rick Smith didn't present the two incumbents' names.
The new board members include people whose elections experience includes running for office and campaigning, not administration.
The new board members include people whose elections experience includes running for office and campaigning, not administration.
3/ Among the changes: 31 counties have chairs who weren't on the local board last term.
The turnover doesn't startle @MargoinWNC, who noted many members may want to retire and local GOP leadership may want more partisan members.
The turnover doesn't startle @MargoinWNC, who noted many members may want to retire and local GOP leadership may want more partisan members.
July 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
3/ Among the changes: 31 counties have chairs who weren't on the local board last term.
The turnover doesn't startle @MargoinWNC, who noted many members may want to retire and local GOP leadership may want more partisan members.
The turnover doesn't startle @MargoinWNC, who noted many members may want to retire and local GOP leadership may want more partisan members.
3/ While Republicans gained 100 seats (and Democrats lost 100) statewide, 1 in 4 election boards will lose a Republican incumbent, and 5 will have a fully clean slate of GOP members, losing institutional memory.
July 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
3/ While Republicans gained 100 seats (and Democrats lost 100) statewide, 1 in 4 election boards will lose a Republican incumbent, and 5 will have a fully clean slate of GOP members, losing institutional memory.
8/
Jess was told abortion was illegal "through and through" in North Carolina. It's not.
Your Choice called 911, requested a welfare check & told Cary PD Essi was pregnant when she didn't return a phone call in 10 minutes, breaking a promise of confidentiality.
An officer told Essi's guardian.
Jess was told abortion was illegal "through and through" in North Carolina. It's not.
Your Choice called 911, requested a welfare check & told Cary PD Essi was pregnant when she didn't return a phone call in 10 minutes, breaking a promise of confidentiality.
An officer told Essi's guardian.
January 8, 2025 at 10:23 PM
8/
Jess was told abortion was illegal "through and through" in North Carolina. It's not.
Your Choice called 911, requested a welfare check & told Cary PD Essi was pregnant when she didn't return a phone call in 10 minutes, breaking a promise of confidentiality.
An officer told Essi's guardian.
Jess was told abortion was illegal "through and through" in North Carolina. It's not.
Your Choice called 911, requested a welfare check & told Cary PD Essi was pregnant when she didn't return a phone call in 10 minutes, breaking a promise of confidentiality.
An officer told Essi's guardian.
7/ Jess & Essi both went to "Your Choice Pregnancy Center" (aka Hand of Hope) in Raleigh.
Both women had small fetus models put in the palm of their hands.
In 2020, Your Choice budgeted $513 for ~1,000 fetus figurines. That year, it budgeted $0 in taxpayer money for goods for pregnant women.
Both women had small fetus models put in the palm of their hands.
In 2020, Your Choice budgeted $513 for ~1,000 fetus figurines. That year, it budgeted $0 in taxpayer money for goods for pregnant women.
January 8, 2025 at 10:23 PM
7/ Jess & Essi both went to "Your Choice Pregnancy Center" (aka Hand of Hope) in Raleigh.
Both women had small fetus models put in the palm of their hands.
In 2020, Your Choice budgeted $513 for ~1,000 fetus figurines. That year, it budgeted $0 in taxpayer money for goods for pregnant women.
Both women had small fetus models put in the palm of their hands.
In 2020, Your Choice budgeted $513 for ~1,000 fetus figurines. That year, it budgeted $0 in taxpayer money for goods for pregnant women.
4/ We asked Duke OBGYN Dr. Jonas Swartz, who has studied these centers what crisis pregnancy centers are.
He told us they sometimes:
- offer education resources
- offer maternity clothes
- offer resources for infants.
But their "express goal" is to talk people out of having an abortion.
He told us they sometimes:
- offer education resources
- offer maternity clothes
- offer resources for infants.
But their "express goal" is to talk people out of having an abortion.
January 8, 2025 at 10:23 PM
4/ We asked Duke OBGYN Dr. Jonas Swartz, who has studied these centers what crisis pregnancy centers are.
He told us they sometimes:
- offer education resources
- offer maternity clothes
- offer resources for infants.
But their "express goal" is to talk people out of having an abortion.
He told us they sometimes:
- offer education resources
- offer maternity clothes
- offer resources for infants.
But their "express goal" is to talk people out of having an abortion.
3/ North Carolina's taxpayer funding now ranks it as the 3rd highest state actively funding anti-abortion centers. #ncpol
How most centers spend taxpayer money is largely out of the public eye. The fellowship reports how it spends money, but only reports the total amount given to each center.
How most centers spend taxpayer money is largely out of the public eye. The fellowship reports how it spends money, but only reports the total amount given to each center.
January 8, 2025 at 10:23 PM
3/ North Carolina's taxpayer funding now ranks it as the 3rd highest state actively funding anti-abortion centers. #ncpol
How most centers spend taxpayer money is largely out of the public eye. The fellowship reports how it spends money, but only reports the total amount given to each center.
How most centers spend taxpayer money is largely out of the public eye. The fellowship reports how it spends money, but only reports the total amount given to each center.
2/ N.C. began funding these centers in 2013, when the state legislature gave the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship--an umbrella membership organization-- $250,000.
$$ levels soon rose: the amount topped $12.4 million in 2023 to the Fellowship, Texas' Human Coalition, and individual centers. #ncpol
$$ levels soon rose: the amount topped $12.4 million in 2023 to the Fellowship, Texas' Human Coalition, and individual centers. #ncpol
January 8, 2025 at 10:23 PM
2/ N.C. began funding these centers in 2013, when the state legislature gave the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship--an umbrella membership organization-- $250,000.
$$ levels soon rose: the amount topped $12.4 million in 2023 to the Fellowship, Texas' Human Coalition, and individual centers. #ncpol
$$ levels soon rose: the amount topped $12.4 million in 2023 to the Fellowship, Texas' Human Coalition, and individual centers. #ncpol
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December 2, 2024 at 10:39 PM
Okay #ncpol, if you haven’t yet subscribed to @theassemblync.bsky.social there’s six hours and change to get — or gift — a year of North Carolina’s best long form reporting at HALF OFF!
theassemblync.com/subscriptions/
theassemblync.com/subscriptions/