I spent time in small town #Texas with @AverieDanielle aka #MissTexas who handles rattlesnakes, eats Texas-shaped waffles and posts videos on her viral TikTok about her controversial platform: Diversity and inclusion. With @sflores photo, my video n links:
washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/06… 2/Thanks to everyone who took time with us, especially folks in Fairfield, at Miss Texas and @AverieDanielle whose reign ends tomorrow. After watching prelims this week, I'll be watching the finals tomorrow livestreaming.

The latest: Democrats surged to flip state legislatures, defying past GOP gains washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/… 2/Some extra: In Minneapolis’s outer-ring suburbs, Matt Norris, 33, a lawyer and policy director at a statewide youth non-profit, ran for the first time and won with 51% of the vote, narrowly beating a Republican incumbent who belonged to the Oath Keepers militia.

1/What happened to providers, patients and protesters at one #Texas clinic when #RoeVsWade was overturned latimes.com/world-nation/s… 2/Dr. Alan Braid (right) and clinic executive administrator Andrea Gallegos (left) in the clinic lobby explaining what #SCOTUS ruling meant for patients: they could not get scheduled abortions today.

Thread: A day in the migrant camp of about 14,000, mainly Haitians, near the border bridge in Del Rio, Texas. 2/@CBP doesn’t allow press to enter the camp from the U.S. and closed the border bridge, so I crossed to the East, drove through Mexico and waded across the Rio Grande.

I went up to Kansas to talk to folks at Trust Women clinic about the Texas abortion ban - including a woman who had to travel overnight. latimes.com/world-nation/s… 2/I also spoke with protesters outside the Wichita clinic who said they were encouraged by the Texas abortion ban.

A year ago, I met transgender migrant Mayela Villegas, 27, in a Mexican border tent camp before she crossed legally to claim asylum in Texas. At the end of May, a friend contacted me to say Mayela had died. latimes.com/world-nation/s… 2/ Mayela’s friend had a question for me after she died: “Is there any way you can help us find what happened to her?” Here’s what I found.
latimes.com/world-nation/s…

@GregAbbott_TX reduced the number of locations where voters can drop mail-in ballots, claiming he was “enhancing ballot security.”
As of Friday, mail ballots can only be delivered by eligible voters to a single location in each of Texas’s 254 counties. 2/ #Texas #PollWatchers may observe in-person ballot deliveries at each county location.
“These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting,” @GregAbbott_TX said

On May 31, I and other journalists were attacked by ⁦@MnDPS_MSP⁩ In July, I submitted a complaint to the state, including photo and video of the attack and injuries plus witnesses. So far, no results. 2/After I filed the complaint, I was contacted by an investigator - former law enforcement - who interviewed me and said he would be gathering evidence.

1/Here's the story behind: Californians moved to Oregon for affordable housing. Wildfires left them homeless latimes.com/world-nation/s… 2/First, thanks to photog and #Oregon resident @KatieFalkenberg who got me back to cover Latino communities in Phoenix/Talent. #SomosLAT

The latest #OregonFires2020 #wildfires #wildfires2020 #OpalCreek latimes.com/world-nation/s… 2/George Atiyeh's grandson was out helping douse spot fires last week - I met him in Mill City my second day in Oregon. latimes.com/world-nation/s…

If you don’t want to wear a mask on a flight, don’t fly. I’m flying back to #Houston #Texas from #Chicago for work and all passengers had to sign this contract. The airline requires face coverings be worn over both mouth AND nose. Let’s see how many comply. #MaskUp #CovidIsReal 2/ In #Wisconsin I’ve noticed folks not wearing masks in Subway with their kids, at hotels and restaurants where elderly people crowd around groups of small tables outside. Eating outside doesn’t protect you - ask @BillPlaschke latimes.com/sports/story/2…

Really enjoyed getting to know these #Kenosha neighbors with opposed political signs who still manage to get along. latimes.com/world-nation/s… 2/ They even have dueling lawn animals #Kenosha

So, I think there’s a #weasel under my car (?) #Wisconsin

Talked to #JacobBlake uncle Justin Blake at a #Kenosha barbershop/community center today about his nephew’s health, the investigation into the shooting and the family’s plans to meet @JoeBiden Thursday 2/ Justin Blake said his nephew #JacobBlake was released from intensive care today but still hospitalized. Unclear if he’s permanently paralyzed. His uncle choked up talking about it: “With the tech we have and his fervor, I believe before I pass away, I will see him walk again.”

#Kenosha curfew lifted today. “The last several nights have been relatively peaceful in the community, and in the judgment of law enforcement, it is appropriate to remove the curfew," Mayor John Antaramian said. "However... 2/ "... criminal activity will not be tolerated and arrests will be made if needed. I am hopeful there will be no need to reinstate the curfew in the near future,” #Kenosha Mayor Antaramian on ending the city's curfew today ahead of @JoeBiden visit tomorrow.

#kenosha just before curfew 2/ The young men are saying “They’re calling for back up” and “You can talk to us?” and “He looks like Michael Meyers without the mask” and “You’re Army? I thought they sent National Guard. They just biked away. Hour to curfew. #kenosha

Emerged from #Kenosha hotel to put parking pass in car, saw police restraining guy, went over with colleague and officers shouted get back in hotel or we’d be arrested. Reporters are not exempt from curfew, he said, no matter what the mayor says. #Journalismisnotacrime 2/We were both wearing credentials and clothing that said “Press.” We were not arrested. An officer inside the hotel said media are not mentioned as exempt from curfew.

Angela Martinez was muxe. A lesson in what that is, and some history: Death of an Indigenous essential worker sparks debate over gender identity latimes.com/california/sto… 2/As an IRP fellow, I traveled to Juchitán in 2004 and interviewed several muxe leaders, including Amaranta Gómez Regalado jornada.com.mx/2003/06/05/ls-…

I so miss working with ⁦@LAJourno⁩ but love being able to still read his work #chicanomoratorium #somosLAT One reporter's quest for answers about Ruben Salazar's death - Los Angeles Times latimes.com/projects/chica… 2/ “Chicanos will tell you that their culture predates that of the Pilgrims and that Spanish was spoken in America before English,” Salazar wrote. “So the ‘problem’ is not theirs but the Anglos’ who don’t speak Spanish.” #somosLAT

1/ The latest, and how it’s related to #GeorgeFloyd : Freed slaves founded this town. Their descendants fear postal cuts threaten voting rights latimes.com/world-nation/s… 2/ During #GeorgeFloydProtests in #Minneapolis I met his aunt, Angela Harrelson, who explained how her family's land in North Carolina was stolen from them. latimes.com/world-nation/s…

I'd like to see a breakdown of how many members of Congress (all parties) have been elected (virtually) unopposed, and the money backing the candidates who "won." As Tom Cotton courts controversy, he runs unopposed in Arkansas rollcall.com/2020/06/22/as-… 2/ forbes.com/sites/andrewso…