@renLarson_

reporter @theassemblync past:@TexasTribune @ProPublica @azcentral @UCBerkeley, always: learning spoken languages, climbing rocks

 Raleigh, NC
theassemblync.com/author/renlarson/
Joined March 2012
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354Media
BREAKING -@TheAssemblyNC spoke with families of two N.C. fathers legally in the U.S. apprehended by ICE & deported to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison. The families think its b/c: 1 They're Venezuelan 2 They have tattoos 🖊️Jeffrey Billman & me #ncpol theassemblync.com/politics/t…

He Was Living In N.C. Legally. Why Was He Deported?

Julio Zambrano, a Venezuelan asylum seeker with no criminal record, was living in Davidson. Why did the Trump administration deport him to El Salvador?

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Republican Rep. Andy Harris incorrectly told a reporter they were breaking the law as the reporter and others recorded an exchange with him last night. Harris had just wrapped up a debate with Democratic challenger Dan Schwartz.
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Social media conspiracies hampered agencies’ ability to provide relief after Helene struck Western North Carolina. Two years later, officials say they’re better prepared to address it. By @andrewlongg for @TheAssemblyNC. theassemblync.com/news/polit…

After the Flood Came the Lies

Social media conspiracies hampered relief efforts after Helene. Two years later, officials say they’re better prepared to address it.

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Ren Larson retweeted
CityView NC@cityviewncSep 10
BREAKING: North Carolina and a handful of local governments agreed to settle with Chemours for $455 million over its pollution in the eastern part of the state, the parties announced on Thursday.
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INDY Week@indyweekSep 8
The INDY's 2026 sample ballot tool is now live! Voters in the Triangle can see what their ballot will look like, with bios for each candidate written by our reporters, at the link below. indyweek.com/elections2026/

INDY 2026 Election Coverage

All of our election resources for Wake, Durham, and Orange counties, including a sample ballot tool, voter registration info, and more.

indyweek.com
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Multiple storms have swept homes out of a North Carolina trailer park, but new residents continue to move to those same flood-prone plots. @renLarson_ explains why this is allowed. propublica.org/article/weste… @TheAssemblyNC

Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the...

Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.

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2004's Hurricane Frances swept a mobile home near Clyde, NC, into the river, its owner evacuated minutes before In 2024, Hurricane Helene swept the neighboring home away, resident was unable to escape A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way theassemblync.com/news/busin…

Hurricane Helene Washed His Wife Away From Their Mobile Home. Now New Residents Live on the Same...

Residents of this riverfront trailer park have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap means many face repeated flodding.

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A heartbreaking story that raises major policy questions: Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land. propublica.org/article/weste… by @renLarson_ @TheAssemblyNC

Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the...

Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.

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In a new statement, Texas Comptroller @DonHuffines says “building a permanent wall through Big Bend National Park is one of the dumbest ideas I’ve heard in a long time.” He also says he’s pleased w/ the massive decrease in illegal border crossings. #txlege Full statement:
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Andy Specht@AndySpechtAug 19
The victim in this case, Logan Federico, was killed in South Carolina. The suspect, Alexander Dickey, was arrested and released several times in South Carolina prior to the murder. The ad uses a South Carolina case to attack a North Carolina candidate.
Senate Leadership Fund
@Senate_FundAug 19
NEW AD: @RoyCooperNC’s reckless policies and decision to release 3,500 violent criminals put every family in North Carolina at risk. Stephen’s daughter Logan was a casualty of an agenda.
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CBS News: ICE has directed deportation officers to refrain from making vehicle stops in most cases, following two fatal shootings involving drivers killed by agents over the past week, sources tell @NicoleSganga and me. The pause is an interim one for now. @CBSNews.
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Texas Tribune
@TexasTribuneJun 15
Breaking: University of Texas at Austin leaders fired KUT General Manager Debbie Hiott on Monday, a little more than a month after she publicly challenged safety as the reason why much of the public radio station’s inaugural festival was forced off campus.texastribune.org/2026/06/15/…

KUT General Manager Debbie Hiott fired after festival dispute

KUT’s Debbie Hiott believes University of Texas officials terminated her because she publicly pushed back against administration claims that the station’s security plans for an inaugural festival...

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Ren Larson retweeted
Neena Satija@neenareportsJun 15
A stunning update to this story today: @KUT general manager @dhiott has been fired by @UTAustin following a dispute over the station's inaugural spring festival. Here's our story, which will be updated: kut.org/education/2026-06-15… Context here: kut.org/education/2026-04-30…

UT Austin leadership fires KUT General Manager Debbie Hiott

The decision was effective immediately, according to Anita L. Vangelisti, the interim dean of the Moody College of Communication at UT. An interim general manager would be named as soon as Tuesday,...

kut.org
Neena Satija@neenareportsApr 30
NEW: This evening, @UTAustin general counsel sent a harsh letter to @KUT general manager @dhiott about the last-minute changes the university ordered the station to make to its inaugural festival. Here’s a copy of the letter, which the university shared with me. 1/4
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Michael Hewlett@mlhewlettJun 14
A troubling must-read by @j__still . Community Leaders Ignored Red Flags and Gave a CEO Millions to Buy Their Hospital. Now He’s Ghosting Them theassemblync.com/news/healt…

Community Leaders Ignored Red Flags and Gave a CEO Millions to Buy Their Hospital. Now He’s...

Politicians were so desperate to save Asheboro’s only hospital that they supported a for-profit buyer with a spotty track record.

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A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that immigration agents disregarded their own policies in making warrantless arrests and violated the constitutional rights of five North Carolina residents. theassemblync.com/news/polit…

Taking ICE to Court

A new federal lawsuit alleges immigration agents are making wrongful warrantless arrests, including a U.S. citizen who said agents stopped him twice and smashed his truck window.

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The nonprofit organization that owns most of the land once belonging to St. Andrews University, which closed last year, filed a notice for bankruptcy in federal court Tuesday. theassemblync.com/news/educa…

Owner of St. Andrews University Campus Files for Bankruptcy 

The move stopped a pending foreclosure and land auction filed by one of the creditors of the now-closed St. Andrews University in Scotland County.

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Spent today talking to just a few of the Black women who credit Jesse Jackson with their start in national politics. By inviting them in, he ensured they would help shape democracy for years to come. My latest : 19thnews.org/2026/02/jesse-j…

‘He gave me my wings’: Jesse Jackson opened doors for Black women in politics

Jackson, who died Tuesday, worked to diversify the electorate and brought Black women into Democratic politics who ascended to positions of power.

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With @propublica | NC created a new housing recovery program to avoid the delays and cost overruns that plagued rebuilding efforts after hurricanes Florence and Matthew. The Assembly and ProPublica have found that similar problems are starting to surface. theassemblync.com/news/polit…

As Helene Survivors Await State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their...

N.C. created a hurricane recovery program to avoid delays and cost overruns that plagued past efforts. Similar problems to ReBuild NC are surfacing.

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Really important piece by partner @renLarson_ @TheAssemblyNC: As Helene Survivors Wait for State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their Homes propublica.org/article/hurri…

As Helene Survivors Wait for State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their...

North Carolina created a new housing recovery program to avoid the delays and cost overruns that plagued rebuilding efforts after hurricanes Florence and Matthew. The Assembly and ProPublica have...

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Looks like Democrats are making another push to get into GOP primaries. This time, with a challenger to former Republican state Rep. Frank Sossamon. Pamela Ayscue Perry, a Vance County school teacher, has only voted in DEM primaries. #ncpol
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In February, we turn five years old. We’re ready to keep building for the next five years and assemble a place where you can always find smart, unbiased reporting about what’s behind the stories. Support our work here: theassemblync.com/subscribe/…
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