Abe Streep

U.S. Forest Service Stops Issuing Firefighter Pants That Contain PFAS, Following ProPublica’s Reporting Officials at the agency knew about the use of potentially dangerous “forever chemicals” in protective gear years before publicly acknowledging the issue, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.

NEW: U.S. Forest Service Stops Issuing Firefighter Pants That Contain PFAS, Following ProPublica’s Reporting, by @abestreep.bsky.social

Firefighters Wore Gear Containing “Forever Chemicals.” The Forest Service Knew and Stayed Silent for Years. As early as 2021, government officials were alerted to the presence of potentially dangerous chemicals known as PFAS in pants used by wildland firefighters, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.

SCOOP from @abestreep.bsky.social: Firefighters Wore Gear Containing “Forever Chemicals.” The Forest Service Knew and Stayed Silent for Years.

Firefighters Wore Gear Containing “Forever Chemicals.” The Forest Service Knew and Stayed Silent for Years. As early as 2021, government officials were alerted to the presence of potentially dangerous chemicals known as PFAS in pants used by wildland firefighters, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.

“They’ve known about this. They’ve known about other threats to health and well-being yet they have chosen to not be proactive and share the information with employees. It seems it’s only when they’re forced to provide information that we find out about it.”

New story from @abestreep.bsky.social

We Found More Than 40 Cases of Immigration Agents Using Banned Chokeholds and Other Moves That Can Cut Off Breathing Civilians have had apparent seizures. One had his eyes roll back. Another had ribs broken. “I felt like I was going to pass out and die,” said a 16-year-old citizen put in a chokehold. The government ...

Immigration agents are choking people in America's streets & using tactics against their own policy/training. Many LEO agencies have banned their use

A Colombian TikToker. An ICU nurse. A father holding his child.

A 16-year-old citizen

DHS calls this "utmost professionalism"

w/ @mckenziefunk.com

Powerful Friends: Sympathetic Officials and “Cultural Power” Help Ranchers Dodge Oversight Elected officials are quick to support public lands ranchers who are accused of breaking rules. As a result, federal agencies pull punches when enforcing regulations.

Powerful Friends: Sympathetic Officials and “Cultural Power” Help Ranchers Dodge Oversight, by @jamesctobias.bsky.social and Mark Olalde w/ @highcountrynews.org

Major measles outbreaks have repeatedly cropped up in the Southwest this year. Yet at IHS hospitals in the region, agency officials deemed “measles” and “immunizations” a "medium risk" in internal agency emails.

Staffers, including doctors, now need to get approval to use them in public messaging

What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vacci...

After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing hens and spiking egg prices, the USDA didn’t investigate whether the virus was airborne. @propublica.org did. www.propublica.org/article/bird...

Card with the words, “Hiring: Visual Designer”

I’m hiring for a visual designer! Come work with me for a very cool org doing very cool work: grnh.se/943kjeba6us

Some examples →

Careers - WyoFile Public safety-general assignment reporter WyoFile serves Wyoming’s civic life with community-supported, nonpartisan, public-interest journalism. To

We're #hiring! We're looking for a general assignment reporter with public safety and justice system reporting experience. 📰 ✍

This is a chance to enjoy job security, fair compensation and sustainable work-life balance as a member of an ethical and innovative team of journalists.

Here’s my latest as we watch yet another storm approach the Carolinas. Thinking about all the people devastated by Hurricane Helene one year ago today who are watching with considerable anxiety.

Kristi Noem Fast-Tracked Millions in Disaster Aid to Florida Tourist Attraction After Campaign Donor Intervened The DHS chief has been widely criticized for slowing down FEMA’s response after natural disasters. Texts and emails obtained by ProPublica point to an effective way to get help faster: have one of Noe...

NEW: After one of Kristi Noem’s major financial supporters contacted her, the DHS chief quickly expedited more than $11 million of federal money to rebuild a historic pier in Naples, Florida, records obtained by ProPublica show.

RE:PUBLIC INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FOR PUBLIC LANDS.

Something good: a new, nonprofit newsroom run by some wonderful, experienced folks (core crew from Outside mag's glory days) dedicated to journalism about American public lands! Looks like the plan is to collaborate a fair bit with other outlets.

My latest…

Top Democrat on Oversight Committee Demands Trump Administration Account for Wildland Firefighter Vacancies The request follows ProPublica reporting that DOGE cuts and voluntary resignations left thousands of vacant jobs at the Forest Service, severely hampering its ability to fight wildfires.

NEW: The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is demanding an explanation on discrepancies between public statements about wildland firefighter staffing and a ProPublica report showing thousands of vacancies in the Forest Service’s workforce.

By @abestreep.bsky.social

The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs. DOGE cuts and voluntary resignations have severely hampered the agency as the nation enters the peak of fire season, with more than 1 million acres burning across 10 Western states.

The Forest Service claims it’s fully staffed for fire season, saying it has reached 99% of its hiring goal. But internal data, which has not been previously reported, shows more than 4,500 Forest Service firefighting jobs — as many as 27% — remained vacant as of July 17. via @abestreep.bsky.social

The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs. DOGE cuts and voluntary resignations have severely hampered the agency as the nation enters the peak of fire season, with more than 1 million acres burning across 10 Western states.

SCOOP: The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs. @abestreep.bsky.social

Utah Sen. Mike Lee Says Selling Off Public Lands Will Solve the West’s Housing Crisis. Past Sales Show Otherwise. Last month, Lee introduced a now-removed amendment to Trump’s policy megabill that mandated the sale of up to 3 million acres. It did little to address the challenges of building affordable housing…

Utah senator Mike Lee says selling off public lands will solve the West’s housing crisis. Past public land sales show otherwise.

By @abestreep.bsky.social

New Law Increases Oversight of Arizona Sober Living Homes The legislation follows a ProPublica and Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting investigation on a $2 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking drug and alcohol…

In January, ProPublica and @azcir.org reported on how former Arizona Medicaid officials had failed for years to stem a $2 billion fraud scheme targeting Native Americans, despite repeated warnings.

A new law aims to add oversight.

By @maryhudetz.bsky.social

Trump Laid Off Nearly All the Federal Workers Who Investigate Firefighter Deaths The cuts, which are part of Trump’s slashing of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will also halt a first-of-its-kind study of the causes of thousands of firefighters’ cancer cases.

NEW: When a firefighter dies, a small team of federal health workers helps pinpoint what went wrong and identify how to avoid similar accidents in the future.

Trump laid off nearly all of them.

Thank you Eva!

Thanks, Adam!

Abe Streep Joins ProPublica’s Southwest Unit ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

Thrilled to have @abestreep.bsky.social , a gifted reporter and writer, join the @propublica.org team covering the Southwest.

Trump Said Cuts Wouldn’t Affect Public Safety. Then He Fired Hundreds of Workers Who Help Fight Wildfires. The White House and DOGE have sought to eliminate thousands of jobs from the Forest Service. The wildland firefighting force is one of many targets within the agency.

NEW: Trump said government cuts wouldn’t affect public safety. But staffing changes at the Forest Service have weakened an already strained firefighting force by hitting support staff who play crucial roles in preventing and battling blazes.

Yesterday, with much anger and sadness, and in solidarity with the handful of staff still hanging on there, I joined a large number of my colleagues - Outside's correspondents, contributing editors, and contributing photographers - in asking that our names be removed from the magazine's masthead.

📢 We're hiring a Design Director! HCN is looking for a creative leader to shape our visual storytelling across print & digital. If you're passionate about independent journalism and the Western U.S., this role is for you!

📍 Remote (Western U.S. preferred)
💰 $78K–$86K
📅 Apply: buff.ly/3ESHSoR

Montana renews cancer doctor’s license despite criminal, civil inquiries A ProPublica investigation spurred a criminal inquiry into the practice of oncologist Thomas C. Weiner. Still, his medical license has been renewed by the state of Montana.

A ProPublica investigation spurred a criminal inquiry into the practice of oncologist Thomas C. Weiner. Still, his medical license has been renewed by the state of Montana.

As you may have heard, most (not all) of the people who produce Outside magazine (and the website) were laid off on Thursday. The ex-ME has a complete archive of issues going all the way back to the 1970s. If anybody knows of a library that might want to house these, lemme know.

Pictures of a Ruined City Los Angeles after the fires.

"How can I put that back into the world?" For @nymag.com, an appreciation of Devin Oktar Yalkin's work from Los Angeles: nymag.com/intelligence...

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith Can’t Believe She’s Still the First Her new Whitney retrospective is the only one so far to honor a Native American artist. She’s not doing it alone: “My community comes with me.”

Saddened to learn that Jaune Quick-to-See Smith has died. I was lucky enough to spend time with her a few years ago and write about her life and her art. We won't see the likes of her again. www.vulture.com/article/jaun...

‘My Community Is Gone. It’s Just a Curse That My House Is There.’ Teachers and tycoons, city workers and celebrities talk about what they lost in the Los Angeles fires.

Teachers and tycoons, city workers and celebrities talk about what they lost in the Los Angeles fires.