Natalie Wallington

Section 8 tenants left in limbo by Memphis Housing Authority voucher problems Jerricia Harris sits for a portrait at her home on Mar. 5. Photo by Kevin Wurm / MLK50 / CatchLight Local / Report For America Right before Jerricia

Getting off the waitlist for a Section 8 voucher feels like a lucky break.

But recipients like Jerricia Harris struggle with unexplained charges and poor communication from the Memphis Housing Authority-- in some cases threatening their housing stability.

My latest:
mlk50.com/2026/03/09/s...

move slow and repair things

Exclusive: Iranian girls killed by ‘double-tap’ strikes on Minab school Eyewitnesses describe second blast which killed survivors as they sheltered in prayer hall

The girls’ school in Iran, where 165 people were killed by an apparent US-Israeli attack, was hit with two strikes, with the second missile killing sheltering survivors, two first responders and the parent of a slain child have told Middle East Eye.

thank you for putting words to an experience I hadn't considered deeply enough before!

Sound on.

Stand With Minnesota Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

This site lists 50+ local rent funds helping MN families pay their March rent: www.standwithminnesota.com

I think they're doing amazing work. I also think about how all the money raised is going into landlords' pockets.

Can we imagine a system where this isn't the case? Can we make it real?

"Ymelda deliberated her movements like a drunk doing their best sober impression."
What a great story and a well-deserved win!

omg so exciting, please keep us updated on chick totals!!

Maybe one of the lawyers on here can hop in the replies and tell me how a state can just decide that "private citizens and organizations" don't have to follow the Constitution... 🤔

"Private citizens and orgs are not bound by the 14th Amendment or by... Obergefell v. Hodges, and no private citizen or org... is required to recognize a marriage or a purported marriage between individuals of the same sex"

HB 1473 just passed the TN House today
wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf...

Sun management has once again disparaged our talented -human- reporters and their work, this time by filling more than half a page in today’s paper with AI slop.

'Even in Russia, they don't treat children like this': A family's nightmare in ICE detention A Russian couple and their children sought asylum in the U.S. In a Texas detention center, they say they endured worms in the food and hourslong waits for medicine.

This post is really taking off. I know the Thanksgiving detail is grabbing, but I would encourage everyone to also read the full article about this family’s struggle at Dilley.

They’ve been locked up for 130+ days.

I spent hours with them on Zoom this week, and their story deserves to be heard.

Mayor avoids talk of Trump’s task force during ‘State of the City’ speech Memphis Mayor Paul Young delivers his State of the City address at First Baptist Church Broad in Binghampton on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Wurm / MLK50 /

Mayor Paul Young tried to paint a glowing picture of Memphis Tuesday night. But protestors from MICAH and allied groups weren't having it.

My colleague @kathsburgess.bsky.social and I talked with activists about the true 'state of the city' under the federal task force:
mlk50.com/2026/02/12/m...

In its first two months, the Memphis Safe Task Force arrested thousands of people. Only 6% appear to be white Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations agents working with the Tennessee State Highway Patrol search a car during a traffic

White people make up around 24% of Memphis' population, but only around 6% of the people arrested by the so-called 'Memphis Safe Task Force' in its first two months.

My colleagues crunched the numbers to show its disproportionate impact on Black & brown Memphians:
mlk50.com/2026/02/10/i...

"Marry early" is so insidious. As if a life partner is some achievement to check off this list.

And you KNOW that spouse (let's be real, wife) is going to be shouldering all the admin, housework, life skills, & tasks this schedule leaves no room for.

Success in Durham has other tenant groups eyeing housing code changes • NC Newsline Durham tenants’ success in lobbying the city council to prohibit landlords from collecting rent if housing is dangerous has sparked interest.

“Landlords can be charged with a misdemeanor if they collect rent on housing that has immediately dangerous conditions.”

New from my former KC Star pal Jon Shorman 👀

Kansas Bill Will Strip Driver’s Licenses from Every Trans Resident Who Changed Gender — Assigned As Kansas passes a bathroom bill, another bill that will invalidate the driver’s license of every trans resident has been deemphasized in the coverage. Also, Trump’s Department of Education says San J...

An extreme Kansas bill will invalidate the drivers license of every trans person in the state. It was passed alongside a particularly extreme bathroom bill, meaning that the implications of every trans Kansan losing legal ID overnight has largely been missed.

Minneapolis’ Hotel Workers Are on Edge Staff across the city told NOTUS how their lives have changed since the start of the federal immigration operation. “It's frightening,” one said.

"Federal agents at her hotel are subsisting on microwavable bowls of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup, because it’s become so difficult for them to find restaurants willing to serve them."

Great reporting from @notus.com talking to hotel workers in Minneapolis: www.notus.org/immigration/...

My hot take as a former (& hopefully future) Kansas Citian is that it would be a terrible look for the KCATA to toss incentives at a property developer while they simultaneously fail to support the struggling bus system...

"Transit" is in their name for a reason, maybe they should focus on that.

To make matters worse, a partial government shutdown may temporarily shutter HUD as soon as this weekend.

This could further delay the grants that local homelessness service organizations like Alpha Omega rely on to operate.

bsky.app/profile/wash...

This Memphis nonprofit for homeless veterans faces a funding cliff due to HUD delays People working with the Community Alliance for the Homeless’ Continuum of Care Planning Committee gathered on Jan. 20 and to discuss strategies for facing

A Memphis group serving homeless veterans may be forced to cut programs or lay off staff if federal grant money from HUD doesn’t arrive before last year's funding expires.

Meanwhile, HUD says programs like theirs are "warehousing the homeless at exorbitant taxpayer cost."
mlk50.com/2026/01/28/a...

Make that two sitting City Councilmembers

Having a super normal time here in Memphis, where a sitting City Councilmember is posting about how the snow on the ground is actually made of plastic...
www.facebook.com/share/r/16kc...

Memphis blizzard update: A pickup truck just came down my street pulling someone in a canoe behind it. There are less than two inches of snow on the ground

Just walked around downtown Memphis for a couple hours talking to unhoused folks ahead of the blizzard.

7 people expressed interest in getting to the city's warming center, but most don't own a phone to call for a free ride. If you see someone outdoors, offer to call on their behalf! 901-486-0939

"I got to Minneapolis 24 hours ago and here's what I've seen--" I am BEGGING y'all to get your news from reporters who actually live in the city where The Thing is happening. There are local journalists on the ground. People who are deeply connected with the community. Follow them! Support them!

the way this happens every single episode.... if she's lucky it's *just* doing an autopsy smh

HUGE NEWS for trans people: We have the latest minibus, including the bill to fund the Department of Health and Human Services and it looks like there are no restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender people.
docs.house.gov/billsthiswee...

My hot take of the day is that even if this man had been undocumented, even if he did have a criminal record, this would still be a completely unacceptable and unlawful way to treat someone.