Mary Stachyra Lopez

@marystachyra.bsky.social

Reporter, FFXnow

When a weapons detection system is installed at a public school, who's responsible for running it? One secondary school says it's the teachers—but the union says its members shouldn't be "bargain-basement security." A look at what's driving the dispute: www.ffxnow.com/2026/09/30/l...

Lake Braddock teachers push back against weapons detection duty with union grievance | FFXnow

Some teachers at Lake Braddock Secondary School are pushing back against a relatively new job duty: weapons detection. The staff members say that they are not qualified nor the appropriate personnel t...

ffxnow.com

"Custer arrives at the Herald office at 7 a.m. each morning, checking the inbox and preparing for the day. Despite thousands of hours of work over the years, he has never taken a paycheck — nor have many of the paper’s volunteers."

As funds dwindle, Oakridge’s only newspaper fights to survive - Daily Emerald

There is only one road in and out of Oakridge, a small town tucked deep in the Willamette National Forest. There is also only one newspaper — and it may not exist for much longer. As news deserts expa...

dailyemerald.com

INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.

lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
·
49m
I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated.
Quote
lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
·
Jan 25
Waking up without power, heat, or running water. (Again.) 

But the work here in Kyiv continues. Warming up in the car, writing in pencil — pen ink freezes — by headlamp.

I'm so frustrated by the layoffs at the Washington Post, and in particular the continued gutting of local news coverage. There are more than 6 million people in the DMV, and multiple examples of news outlets that appear to be operating successful business/nonprofit models at a much smaller scale.

I spent October traveling to schools throughout the South talking to students about American history. What I found were young people who understand we can tell a story that includes both the positive and the negative. As one 8th grader in Memphis said, “Doesn’t seem that hard, just say both things.”

Tell Students the Truth About American History

We owe it to Americans of all ages to be honest about the country’s past, including its contradictions.

theatlantic.com

In October, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter's pet resource center assisted 525 pets and distributing 8,782 pounds of food—an all-time high. Residents are rallying to make sure the need is met at the shelter, and elsewhere in the county. My latest for @ffxnow.bsky.social:

Fairfax residents rally to keep pets fed during federal shutdown | FFXnow

Previous Image 1/4 Next Image It all started with a picture of a kitten sitting on an empty shelf. On Nov. 3, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter posted a plea for donations to its pet pantry, citing an...

ffxnow.com