Annie Waldman

@anniewaldman.bsky.social

Covering health care @ProPublica. Signal: 347-549-0332. Email: [email protected]. (Also #COYS)

@oliverlaughland.bsky.socialReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

Lesley Wilson faced eviction after calling the police on her abusive partner. The hearing was held in an unusual venue: the back room of a public library. Her former partner was allowed to testify against her over the phone. Our investigation into Louisiana's 'feudal' eviction courts continues:

theguardian.com‘Sham tribunal’: one family’s battle with Louisiana’s ‘feudal’ eviction courtsIn rural Louisiana, eviction hearings are held at kitchen tables and other unorthodox venues – and many justices have little legal training
@anniewaldman.bsky.socialReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

86 eviction cases in 36 minutes! "Two days later, on 18 June, the morning after a tropical storm hit New Orleans, flooding parts of the city and downing trees across roadways, he heard 86 cases in 36 minutes. All but one resulted in a judgment of eviction."

The fifth justice court often issues more than 100 evictions a day This calendar shows the daily number of eviction judgments and identifies the busiest days of the month. The court is in session only two days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
@anniewaldman.bsky.social

👀 👀 👀 "The eviction filing rate within the jurisdiction of the busiest justice of the peace court was nearly three times the national average. The rate of legal representation for tenants in this court, according to documents reviewed by the Guardian, could be as low as 1%."

"When landlords seek eviction, renters are often at a disadvantage because of their limited finances, lack of understanding of the eviction system and, frequently, lack of legal representation. Studies around the country often show that less than 5% of tenants have lawyers to fight for them in eviction cases, while more than 80% of landlords typically have attorneys on their side. Uneven playing fields in the eviction process can put additional strains on renters already struggling to get by – piling on court fees, moving charges and other costs and, studies show, harming families’ mental and physical health. Louisiana, one of the poorest states in the US, offers some of the weakest legal protection for renters in the nation. A first-of-its-kind data analysis conducted by the Guardian found that the eviction filing rate within the jurisdiction of the busiest justice of the peace court was nearly three times the national average. The rate of legal representation for tenants in this court, according to documents reviewed by the Guardian, could be as low as 1%."
@anniewaldman.bsky.social

“The fact that it is flowing directly into the pockets of independent judges, combined with a lack of oversight over these courts, means it is like the wild west,” said Hannah Adams with the National Housing Law Project.

Such impressive data work from @wcraft.bsky.social in this investigation.

The busiest justice of the peace courts collected millions in fees Total court fees collected over 10 years
@anniewaldman.bsky.social

86 eviction cases in 36 minutes! "Two days later, on 18 June, the morning after a tropical storm hit New Orleans, flooding parts of the city and downing trees across roadways, he heard 86 cases in 36 minutes. All but one resulted in a judgment of eviction."

The fifth justice court often issues more than 100 evictions a day This calendar shows the daily number of eviction judgments and identifies the busiest days of the month. The court is in session only two days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
@anniewaldman.bsky.social

"This system is blatantly unconstitutional."

Brilliant deep dive from @oliverlaughland.bsky.social into Louisiana’s justice of the peace courts, which may be violating tenants constitutional rights, with judges pulling in millions in take-home fees on evictions.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

theguardian.com‘Big business’: little-known court system in Louisiana churns out thousands of evictions – and millions in fees for judgesGuardian investigation: Louisiana’s justice of the peace court system may violate tenants’ constitutional rights as eviction fees boost judges’ incomes
@cassandrajaramillo.bsky.socialReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

While campaigning, Texas AG Ken Paxton has been more likely to tout his tax deduction plan instead of talking about his anti-abortion record.

I looked at how his office’s lawsuits advanced anti-abortion policy & had impact outside of Texas too. www.propublica.org/article/ken-...

propublica.orgWhat a Ken Paxton Senate Win Could Mean for Federal Anti-Abortion EffortsAs Texas attorney general, Paxton has advanced anti-abortion policy in his home state and prevailed where others have failed. Allies who’ve witnessed his victories see an opening to keep moving their ...
@perla-trevizo.bsky.socialReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

Since #Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first declared an emergency at the border in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times.
“Governors, once they get a power, are hesitant to give it back,” one expert said. via @propublica.org @texastribune.org
www.propublica.org/article/greg...

propublica.orgTrump Says the Border Is Secure. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Keeps Declaring an Emergency.Since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first declared an emergency at the border in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times. The proclamation has greatly expanded his powers without goi...
@oliverlaughland.bsky.socialReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

We went to one of the reddest counties in West Virginia to speak to Donald Trump’s base. The sense of dissatisfaction, even here, was palpable. Our new series of Anywhere But Washington films is launching today ahead of the midterms:

@propublica.orgReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

Citing the growing popularity of unpasteurized milk and the damage it can do to children, the nation’s largest professional group of pediatricians is seeking a nationwide ban on the sale and distribution of raw dairy products.

propublica.orgAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Renews Call for Ban on Raw MilkCiting the growing popularity of unpasteurized milk and the damage it can do to children, the nation’s largest professional group of pediatricians is seeking a nationwide ban on the sale and distribut...
@propublica.orgReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

Emily Marris’ daughter got E. coli after drinking raw milk. So she texted the farmer, who said none of the tests showed “anything abnormal.” Marris later learned that the farmer hadn’t tested for E. coli; it seemed like she didn’t know how to.

propublica.orgA Girl Nearly Died After Drinking Raw Milk. The State Did Little to Punish the Unlicensed Farmer Who Sold It.California is teeming with black-market dairies, propped up by consumer demand fueled by misinformation. With evidence against one raw goat milk farm, regulators could have sought punitive action. But...
@propublica.orgReposted by @anniewaldman.bsky.social

NEW: America’s largest professional group of pediatricians has renewed its call for a nationwide ban on raw dairy products, warning of the serious health risks, particularly for children, as well as pregnant and immunocompromised people.

propublica.orgAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Renews Call for Ban on Raw MilkCiting the growing popularity of unpasteurized milk and the damage it can do to children, the nation’s largest professional group of pediatricians is seeking a nationwide ban on the sale and distribut...
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