Marylee Samii (Williams)

Kristi Noem sits on a horse wearing a cowboy hat. In the background is Mount Rushmore.

NEW: We’ve uncovered the first known example of taxpayer money flowing from DHS to businesses controlled by Kristi Noem’s allies and friends.

It’s part of a money trail that’s been shrouded in secrecy—and involves $220 million, a mysterious Delaware LLC & a horse named Gill.

As the person who held this person’s head till the EMS arrived, I sincerely hope this makes the city’s crash report

Behind Trump’s Deal to Deport Venezuelans to El Salvador’s Most Feared Prison New details deepen questions about the deportations, showing that El Salvador’s president pressed for assurances that the migrants were really members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/u...

Every once and a while, I get bummed and think about how big of an impact The Confluence would be making in Pittsburgh right now if it hadn't been canceled. The discussions with mayoral candidates outside of contentious debates, interviews with heads of museums whose funding is being cut, and more.

US office that counters foreign disinformation is being eliminated, say officials Conservative critics have long accused the department of helping to censor the American right.

SCOOP: sources tell me that the State Dept plans to eliminate its only office to counter foreign disinformation, as soon as today, delivering a win to foreign governments like Russia, Iran, and China—and the office's mostly conservative critics.

www.technologyreview.com/2025/04/16/1...

Functions, Optimization and … Geese? Clarabelle the Parallel Cow, Vimothée Shellamet (far left) and Chonk the goose (far right) are just a few of the mascots that help build a sense of community and camaraderie in SCS courses and labs.

The kind of feel-good academia story we need right now, by @marylee-samii.bsky.social:
www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2025/ma...

Celebrate National 311 Day this March 11! - BikePGH Celebrate National 311 Day on 3/11 with our new guide!

Tomorrow, 3/11, is National 311 Day!
Take an extra moment to notice the things in your city that need to be fixed and submit a 311 report to let the city know.
bikepgh.org/2025/03/07/c...

JUST IN: The Census Bureau's #2030Census Advisory Committee has been terminated by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who oversees the bureau, Arturo Vargas, the committee's chair, confirms to @npr.org. I've reached out to the press offices of the bureau and the Commerce Department for comment...

Former DOGE employee: work could 'cross extreme ethical and legal lines' : Consider This from NPR On Tuesday, 21 DOGE employees resigned. NPR spoke to one of them who says she felt the new administration was causing "harm to the American people." As Elon Musk and the Department of Government Effic...

This was a fascinating interview from a former DOGE employee who resigned. She resigned because she was concerned about private information about Americans potentially being leaked and left insecure. www.npr.org/2025/02/27/1...

I found this reddit thread pretty enlightening about the hours vs salary this air traffic controller works. www.reddit.com/r/Salary/com...

City and Pitt collaborate on changes to Terrace Street corridor following pedestrian death The University is conducting a study on pedestrian safety along Terrace Street and has shared preliminary findings with the City following the death of a pedestrian in a hit-and-run incident.

This story is a sobering reminder that these pedestrian deaths aren't accidents. Bike Pittsburgh has been advocating for pedestrian safety improvements at this deadly intersection since 2014. Almost a decade. It wasn't if people would die, it was when.... pittnews.com/article/1933...

Anytime I'm writing a story, I google a bunch of random stuff and break my internet suggestions. For a week, it was all continuous glucose monitors, next week, AI tutoring data centers. What's next? Who knows?

Are the Appendices part of The Lord of the Rings? Yes.

Last night, @arminsamii.bsky.social and I got into an argument about if you can say you read Lord of the Rings if you didn't read the appendices. I'm on the logical side that says you don't need to read it. This dude wrote a whole ass MEDIUM article while I was asleep. medium.com/@armin.samii...

Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting workers finalize first-ever union contract The contract for 27 content creators includes higher pay, expanded parental leave and new protections against artificial intelligence.

he journey to this moment started at my dining room table. I'm, sadly, not at WESA anymore, but I'm so proud of the bargaining committee and for this contract. I love and miss my brave, intelligent and wonderful WESA/WYEP coworkers daily. www.wesa.fm/economy-busi...