Sofi Gratas
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sgratas.bsky.social
Sofi Gratas
@sgratas.bsky.social
Eater, cat lady, outdoor enthusiast. Reporter at GPB News. Atlanta-based often covering Not-lanta stories.
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
Jails have become de facto psychiatric hospitals, and they are very much not equipped for it.

Important & chilling story by Katheryn Houghton @kffhealthnews.org kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
April 30, 2025 at 12:09 PM
It took me until today to realize I can just water down my coffee.
April 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A collab between us GPB reporters — as it stands, the temporary restraining order remains in effect.

www.gpb.org/news/2025/04...
Federal judge in Georgia grants temporary restraining order to protect international student visas
Lawyers representing 133 plaintiffs suing for a right to due process are asking the court to grant a temporary restraining order to restore protections for international students studying in the U.S.
www.gpb.org
April 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
🚨My latest: Trump's deportation tactics are undermining the bird flu response, outreach workers say.

Detecting cases is key but farmworkers at highest risk - mainly immigrants - are afraid to leave home for care. @kffhealthnews.org / ABC

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Trump’s Immigration Tactics Obstruct Efforts To Avert Bird Flu Pandemic, Researchers Say - KFF Health News
Preventing and detecting bird flu infections among farmworkers is a key defense against a potential pandemic. Immigration raids and threats have undermined these efforts, researchers say.
kffhealthnews.org
April 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
Do you know about health-related programs that have been cancelled due to federal funding cuts or delays?

@kffhealthnews.org we're looking to cover stories about programs that provided *direct* services to people.

Send me a DM or email amym@kff.org 🌈
April 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
JUST IN: Federal health agencies have to slash their spending by more than a third, on top of the 10,000-person staffing cuts.
On top of layoffs, HHS ordered to cut 35% of spending on contracts
Federal health agencies have to slash their spending by more than a third, on top of the 10,000-person staffing cuts.
www.npr.org
April 3, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Not an opinion - just fact- that the public, not just reporters, benefit from access to open records.
April 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
What #federalfundingcuts The #Georgia Department of #PublicHealth will face are at this point, frankly, unclear. But I got an idea from those with experience and in policy and advocacy about what could happen. www.gpb.org/news/2025/03...
Georgia's public health community warns of fallout from proposed federal funding cuts
In anticipation of cuts from the federal government, the Georgia Department of Public Health had already made plans to tighten the belt around its budget. Grants cut this week were originally issued i...
www.gpb.org
March 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
Bill criminalizing ‘doxxing’ in Georgia advances in spite of free speech concerns
Bill criminalizing 'doxxing' in Georgia advances in spite of free speech concerns • Georgia Recorder
An attempt to crack down on so-called doxxing has been met with concerns from attorneys and First Amendment advocates who say the proposal is too broad and would hamper free speech. Senate Bill 27, wh...
georgiarecorder.com
March 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
ICYMI

Doctors for America Releases Updated Guide to Navigate Interstate Abortion Care as First Criminal Charges are Filed in Louisiana

doctorsforamerica.org/pr-kyr-updat...
Doctors for America - Updated Guide to Navigate Interstate Abortion Care
Doctors for America filed a lawsuit today against the OPM, CDC, FDA, and HHS for the removal of a broad range of health-related data and other information
doctorsforamerica.org
March 21, 2025 at 2:07 PM
#Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s legacy legislation passed the House yesterday. www.gpb.org/news/2025/03...
Tort reform passes Georgia House, advances closer to becoming law
The Georgia House narrowly passed a bill that would limit civil lawsuits in the state, bringing Gov. Brian Kemp’s top legislative priority closer to becoming law.
www.gpb.org
March 21, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
All the talk about how to combat misinformation online often leaves out a core problem: misinformation is free, real journalism often isn't.

Proud that @freedom.press is partnering with @wired.com to do something about that. And shoutout to @404media.co and any other outlets also doing this.
wired.com WIRED @wired.com · Mar 18
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
NEW: Before reporting on Amber Thurman and Candi Miller's deaths, ProPublica received the names of maternal mortality committee members from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Now the department says that releasing names would violate state law.

By @amyyurkanin.bsky.social
Georgia Won’t Say Who’s Now Serving on Its Maternal Mortality Committee After Dismissing All Members Last Year
Before ProPublica’s reporting on the deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, the names of committee members had been publicly released. Now, Georgia says releasing the identities would be a…
propub.li
March 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
🧵Bird flu (H5N1 avian influenza) update

Per CDC the risk of bird flu infection for the public is low (no documented human to human transmission). But risk of infection for people exposed to infected animals is moderate to high. People most likely to come into contact with an infected animal include
March 8, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Sign of the times
Attention all federal employees!

For Feds, by Feds – It's time to KNOW YOUR RIGHTS and ACCESS YOUR RESOURCES!

Join this FREE webinar series designed by federal workers to support their peers. It's impartial, informative, and designed with you in mind.
March 8, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
Thousands of newly arrived refugees lost financial support and help with setting up their new lives in America. Aid groups are challenging the freeze in court as they scramble to keep refugees housed.
Trump freeze on resettlement funding leaves new refugees scrambling to adjust in U.S.
Thousands of newly arrived refugees lost financial support and help with setting up their new lives in America. Aid groups are challenging the freeze in court as they scramble to keep refugees housed.
www.npr.org
March 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I’ve been told that #Georgia Gov. Kemp’s tort reform proposal could also affect cases that deal with alleged negligence at public housing. This story reported for #GPB had been in my head for months until the pieces came together … www.gpb.org/news/2025/02...
Public housing authorities are angling for more legal protections. Where does that leave tenants?
How the legal precedent of sovereign immunity could change the way housing authorities in Georgia are held responsible in cases where tenants allege harm.
www.gpb.org
March 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
Georgia's child welfare agency, the department which oversees more than 10,000 children in foster care, used a laboratory probed for false claims to make crucial decisions regarding custody. #gapol
thecurrentga.org/2025/03/01/g...
Georgia DFCS relied on controversial laboratory for drug tests crucial to custody decisions - The Current
Investigation reveals how Georgia child welfare agency DFCS handled allegations against its drug testing provider, Averhealth, after whistleblower complaint and false claims probe by Department of Jus...
thecurrentga.org
March 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
When @propublica.org reporters Brett Murphy & @annamaria.bsky.social found out that fired #USAID workers could go to the office one last time to clean out their desks, they pitched this crazy idea. What if we rented a billboard truck to advertise how to get in touch with @propublica.org? So we did.
February 28, 2025 at 5:43 AM
February 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by Sofi Gratas
USAID cancels large contracts of Georgia peanut butter supplier
USAID cancels large contracts of Georgia peanut butter supplier
Mana, which produces peanut-butter based food pouches in Georgia, said USAID had terminated $12 million of its contracts to feed malnourished children in Africa.
www.ajc.com
February 28, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Some bills I’ll be watching that were presented today #gapol

SB 195, which is would give pharmacists green light to give out PEP and PREP. #Georgia has some of the highest #HIV rates in the U.S.

HB 500, which would increase TANF cash assistance for families and kids living below poverty
February 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Meanwhile in Georgia we’ve had a #measles case that may have exposed more than 100 people, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Watch this space … 🎤
February 22, 2025 at 1:56 AM