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Emily Andersen Profile
Emily Andersen

@AftonEmily

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Public safety reporter for @gazettedotcom . DMs are open for tips and story ideas. Past: @qctimes , @UniverseBYU

Cedar Rapids, IA
Joined March 2019
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 months
In one of the craziest stories I've ever covered: a former University of Iowa hospital employee had been using another man's identity for most of his life. The other man was arrested for identity fraud and committed to a mental hospital a few years ago
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
I'm so impressed by these Rock Island High School soccer players who stood together in support of their teammates and decided missing their game was not as important as standing against racism.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
1 year
I was honored last night alongside @erinfjordan with the 2023 Iowa Newspaper Association Skip Weber Investigative Reporting Award, and the Best News Story. Both awards were for the same story, about deaths in Linn County Jail. Congrats to everyone who took home awards!
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
In personal news, a week ago yesterday was my last day working for the @qctimes . Starting Monday I'll be a public safety reporter for the @gazettedotcom . If you're in the Cedar Rapids area and have story ideas, shoot me a DM!
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
1 year
Food-based nonprofits in Iowa and elsewhere are facing a crisis. COVID funding is running out just as inflation is causing less people to donate and more people to seek help. TLDR, There's just not enough food.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
So it has been almost a month since I started working for the Gazette, and I have definitely not been keeping things up to date on Twitter. So, here's a thread about what I've done so far with the Gazette
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
The commercial bus driver who refused to allow some Rock Island High School boys soccer players on his bus with a Mexican flag last week has been fired according to the president of the commercial bus company, Tri-State Travel. Story to come.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 months
From @tmehaffey : the detective who broke the crazy identity theft case was given an award. He shared a few details about the investigation process. Stay tuned for more on this. I've been talking with Woods himself and am working on fleshing out his story.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
The Safer Communities act, signed by President Biden in June, closed the domestic violence related "boyfriend loophole" on a national level. But in Iowa, differences in what is considered domestic abuse essentially leaves the loophole open.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
My little sister is a psychopath
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Story of the day: Someone emailed Rock Island County pretending to be one of the contractors the county works with, told them the contractors had switched bank accounts, and scammed the county out of $115,000.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Tom and Linda Hughes and their family have had 5 family members who have been organ donors. Their family gathers at the Bix every year from all over the world. #Bix #bix7 #quadcitytimesbix7
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
The Cedar Rapids Police Department has released body camera footage of the fatal shooting of William Rich on Aug. 30. Rich's family had planned a protest tonight, which has now been canceled, to demand the footage be released.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
"These 14,000 cups have gotta go somewhere," and Jenn Broders is up for the job! #bix #Bix7
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
This was a first for me. I've never interviewed a 9-year-old before, but Matthew was so excited to talk about his role in @OnlyMurdersHulu . He'll be appearing in the second episode of season two, playing a young Charles-Haden Savage (played by @SteveMartinToGo ) in a flashback.
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Matthew Lamb, a 9-year-old actor from Iowa City is set to appear in the latest season of ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ the comedic true crime series starring Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
The clean up crew works fast #Bix7 #bix
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Out here at the Bix turn around! Come say hi, and follow me and the rest of @qctimes for race updates throughout the day! #bix #bix7 #quadcitytimesbix
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 months
Ok, folks. I have an over-the-phone interview scheduled on Friday with the victim in this case, William Woods. What questions does everyone have?
@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 months
In one of the craziest stories I've ever covered: a former University of Iowa hospital employee had been using another man's identity for most of his life. The other man was arrested for identity fraud and committed to a mental hospital a few years ago
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
And don't miss the side story about the different ways people have found out about their loved ones dying in the jail.
@erinfjordan
Erin Jordan
2 years
Glad to team up with @AftonEmily on this report about 7 deaths in the @LinnCounty jail since 2020. Sheriff said they were unpreventable. Jail safety expert says people shouldn’t die in jails “some of the most surveilled environments.”
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Thinking about the time in college when I was working for my college paper ( @UniverseBYU ) and there was a story about how the university president and the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had both released statements that week condemning racism and 1/
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
10 months
“She had a rough start, but boy, we’re going to make up for it. She’s going to have a good life,” said Amy Zamarron-Riley, Harper’s new owner. “She will be loved. She now gets to be a dog and not a piece of property.”
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Google, I promise, I'm just a journalist doing research for an article.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
We found this cookbook from 2005 in one of those free neighborhood library boxes, and it is horrendous, a 🧵
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
I love smoothies way too much for this to be as close to my apartment as it is. (Story by @ecdecious )
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a chain with more than 1,000 locations across the country, has opened its first Cedar Rapids site on Edgewood Road.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Decided it's time to change the profile pic from my my high school senior picture considering I'm 23. #NewProfilePic
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
She's got me paranoid now. I keep seeing eyes where there are no eyes
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
You're not really a successful journalist until you've been cursed by the leader of a parody anti-bird cult
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Make way for the elites! #bix #Bix7
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
A Cedar Rapids man was arrested in Long Grove for driving through a cornfield with a gun, chasing his ex-girlfriend, who was also in a car.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
This article has been a long process, but it was definitely worth it. Iowa has a long history of supporting refugees, but we just weren't ready for the huge influx of Afghans last year, and many of them are still struggling to get settled, according to refugee service providers.
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
When America withdrew from Afghanistan, the sudden influx of Afghan refugees was unprecedented. Many resettlement agencies had already been facing budget and staffing cuts, and they were not prepared for so many refugees to arrive all at once.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Today I talked with Rock Island County State's Attorney Dora Villarreal. She told me the same thing Scott County Attorney Mike Walton told me a couple weeks ago: there's not enough prosecutors to go around.
@Dispatch_Argus
Dispatch/Argus
3 years
Two Rock Island Assistant State's Attorneys have been promoted. The office is looking to hire more attorneys, but the positions have proved difficult to fill.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Ray Palczynski, a former Davenport firefighter, spoke with me about his experience visiting New York City after 9/11 to help search for his friend.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Also he kind of reminds me of @JortsTheCat
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Dale Keppy stopped running about 15 years ago, but he's here, loyally cheering on all his old friends from the running club. #bix #bix7
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
One year after his disappearance, Xavior Harrelson's family and community are still waiting for answers and information about the investigation.
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Community members in Montezuma continue to grieve for Xavior Harrelson one year after the almost 11-year-old went missing, and eight months after his body was found in a soybean field north of town.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
I loved speaking with Dr. Mohammad Khan Kharoti this week. The man's dedication to education is impressive to say the least
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
A Coe College graduate who was the first in his Afghan village to learn how to read and write has spent the past 20 years supporting a school in his native country — one that educates girls as well as boys.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Group chat with the fam. They get it
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
I might have to keep updating this thread for the next several months
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Getting to meet these women (and bees!) was such a fun experience. Check out this video by @CichonBailey
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Today's buzz 🐝: Beekeeping brings patience and pride for women at Anchor Center. Article:
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
I had a really nice conversation with Joshua last week about his new role with the Iowa City Police.
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Joshua Dabusu hopes to make policing more accessible to immigrants and refugees in Iowa City in his new role as the community outreach assistant.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Beyond excited to experience my first Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival this year. Great reporting by @diananollen1
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Tribute to Heroes, DockDogs, Balloon Glow, Imagination Square, Voices of Hope, and the July 4 pancake breakfast — so many Freedom Festival favorites are back in full force, but you won’t find them where they’ve been in recent years.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
I've also had the chance this month to follow along with the residents of Geneva Tower, who had to leave their apartments after a fire and had been staying at a Red Cross shelter.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
This slightly-terrifying uncanny valley mannequin is helping first responders prepare for emergencies. Check out the story for more pictures from @geoffstellfox and a sweet video by @CichonBailey
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
@ecdecious As the person who ended up doing the assignment may I just say: rude
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Great reporting by @GageMiskimen about why the last two directors of the Vinton library resigned.
@GageMiskimen
Gage
2 years
I spoke with one of the former directors who resigned and she told me that some residents would check out and not return the books they had issue with. Via @gazettedotcom
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
1 year
From @marissajpayne , The city of Cedar Rapids seems to be looking into the possibility of keeping Chief Jerman as a civil employee, without police certification, since he recently turned 66
@marissajpayne
Marissa Payne
1 year
Scoop: 3 days after Chief Jerman turned 66 on March 4, IA Law Enforcement Academy staff emailed him about hitting the max age for officers, asked if he’d work as a civilian employee. @gazettedotcom looked at whether he could serve as a civilian dept head
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
The comb genuinely scared me this morning
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
She's says there's still one more
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
The Linn County juvenile detention center has started working with a therapist from Tanager Place to provide mental health services to incarcerated youth
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Way to go @K_5mydearwatson !!!
@K_5mydearwatson
Sarah Watson
3 years
Hi #bix fans! I just got done running the #bix7 . Needless to say, it was a hot one. Check out coverage from our Quad-City Times newsroom on the route. And of course all our talented editors! @tjbarton83 @cara_smitt @BrooklynDraisey @SarahHayden_DA @AftonEmily @SRothbardt
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Anyway, those are a few of the things I've been up to so far in Cedar Rapids. Hopefully I start remembering to get on Twitter more than once a month from here on out.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
So the wind in Cedar Rapids is not yet fast enough to be super dangerous, but just fast enough that standing outside on the balcony seemed like a fun idea. Also fast enough to take my husband's glasses right off his face. Anyone know a good eye doctor?
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Okay but this one's actually my favorite
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 months
@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 months
Ok, folks. I have an over-the-phone interview scheduled on Friday with the victim in this case, William Woods. What questions does everyone have?
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
SHE LIED
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
She was here for an entire week
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
@BrooklynDraisey Light-year?
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
My poor toaster
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
The Rock Island County courts are facing a huge backlog of cases, and with the end of the speedy trial suspension just around the corner, there might not be enough lawyers to go around.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I can tell you family history and getting people connected with their ancestors is a really big focus. Great reporting by @erinfjordan about this upcoming project!
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Everybody warms up for the #Bix differently.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Large police presence at 14th and Marquette St., Davenport. Crowds are gathering.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
@RHS76 @JustinRust We'll definitely be following up with the school district next week to see if we can find out which bus company it was, if they haven't released anything by Monday.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
@DannyThyManny @RHS76 @JustinRust @DannyThyManny , would you or any of the other guys on the team be willing to have an interview with me for the paper? Shoot me a DM if so.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Mostly I've been driving around meeting all the people with jobs in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City related to the public safety beat. Some of those conversations have led to story ideas, such as ...
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
@CichonBailey @TheCut Terrifying subject matter, but incredible journalism
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
@Blochead4real @EricMGarcia If you go straight north from the west coast of South America you'll hit the east coast of North America.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Is anyone else confused about why "we can be heroes" is completely ignoring the fact that "sharkboy and lavagirl" was, in fact, a fever dream?
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
1 year
@sabinefmartin @IowaNewspaper Congratulations Sabine!
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
It was awesome to get to know Miranda for this story
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Breast cancer survivor supports other local women at Mercy Especially For You Race
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
1 year
“We’ve seen it over and over again, folks getting out and just not being able to find a place to live. And if you can’t find a roof over your head, then everything else just kind of tumbles around you.”
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Here comes the beat the elite runner, Doug Boleyn! By the time this video loaded he'd rounded the turn and started heading back.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
I found it!
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 years
Guys!! This story was so much fun to work on, and you should totally check it out. I wrote it as a story package, so also check out the sister story about freedom of the press on BYU campus! ()
@UniverseBYU
The Universe
4 years
Newspapers have been losing revenue for years as more and more of their content moves online, but the effects of the coronavirus pandemic have pushed many papers over the edge. Many journalists have been laid off leading to an uncertain future. #news
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
@WholesomeMeme If I may refer you to this thread:
@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
My little sister is a psychopath
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
Jerry Spaeth, Carl Anderson, and Ken Stark are here cheering on Ken's wife, who has been running the #Bix7 for 22 years. "I ran it 15, now I stand here and drink beer," Carl said.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
I'll be helping cover the Iowa primaries tonight for The Gazette. Tune in to our website for updates!
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
3 years
I just keep finding more
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 years
Just did the math. By the twelfth day of Christmas, you own 184 birds
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
Beyond stoked for this
@gazettedotcom
The Gazette
2 years
Raising Cane’s plans are back on for a new Cedar Rapids location
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
1 year
Ok but the whole thing every day
@otherwilljames
Will James
2 years
Where are you on the Arc of Production today
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
I also learned what an Erdos-Bacon number is and it's just wild.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
2 years
I second this. I've worked with Tom at two separate newspapers, and if you've ever overheard him having an over-the-phone interview with a politician, you know this is a man who knows what he's talking about.
@ErinDMurphy
Erin Murphy
2 years
Just so y’all know, @tjbarton83 is a consummate professional and damn fine reporter. And I’m not just saying that because he’s on my team. I’ve seen this job done well and I’ve seen it done poorly. Tom does it well, every day. Period. Literal don’t @ me.
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 years
Hey y'all! I'm working on a story for @UniverseBYU about how holiday travel is changing this year. I'd love to hear about how your plans have changed, or what you're planning to do to stay safe while traveling. Thanks!
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@AftonEmily
Emily Andersen
4 years
Hey everyone! Who's planning on doing something for #GivingTuesdayNow ? I'm going to be writing a follow-up story about what local people and groups are doing, so let me know what your plans are!
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