Sonia Smith

Dallas-based magazine writer for hire. @TexasMonthly writer-at-large. sonia.smith AT

[Sonia Smith @sonia_smith]

It is unfathomable, but 10 years ago today, freelance journalist Austin Tice was kidnapped on the outskirts of Damascus after spending 83 days reporting on the Syrian civil war. The U.S. intelligence community believes he is still alive, and in Syrian government custody (🧵1/6)

[Sonia Smith @sonia_smith]

@CustomerA48007 I’ve sent this information to @AirbnbHelp

[Christiane Amanpour @amanpour]

"We have heard from sources that have been vetted by the U.S. government that Austin is alive." Austin Tice has been missing in Syria for 12 years. Today his brother & sister tell me "every day is a day that Austin should be released and a day that Austin could be released."

[max seddon @maxseddon]

This is just the most incredible piece. All of Hollywood’s top stars should be fighting to play Ella Milman, Evan Gershkovich’s mom, in the movie https://t.co/5drfrFIJH0

[Sonia Smith @sonia_smith]

Today is a great day.

[The New York Times @nytimes]

The U.S. once looked to modular construction as an efficient way to build lots of housing and drive down costs. Sweden has put it into practice. Francesca Mari, a contributor for The New York Times, breaks down what it took for the idea to became a reality.https://t.co/oynTyD26Gi

[Sonia Smith @sonia_smith]

Russell "Texas" Bentley found fame & meaning as an information warrior for the Kremlin in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic where he had spent the last 9 years. Then, Russian soldiers kidnapped & murdered him last month. My story in @TexasMonthly https://t.co/GGAxLCdr6t

[Yaroslav Trofimov @yarotrof]

A Texan decided that Obama is a fascist and went off to join Russian forces in Ukraine in 2014, becoming a darling of Kremlin propaganda. This month, he was picked up by Russian troops and wound up dead. My piece on the unlucky end of Russell Bentley. https://t.co/QtAiccHYMK

[Sonia Smith @sonia_smith]

@dreamerintexas @thetexanist @TexasMonthly Working on it!

[Sonia Smith @sonia_smith]

Russell "Texas" Bentley is confirmed to be dead, 11 days after he was kidnapped on the outskirts of Donetsk by reported members of the 5th Tank Brigade of the Russian Federation, per his widow. I profiled him in 2018 for @TexasMonthly: https://t.co/y3SLbgr6YM

[The Sunday Long Read @sundaylongread]

Can a story be both rollicking and somber? Maybe in the bayou, where a generations-old tradition of turtle-catching ran into the wrong side of the law. @sonia_smith https://t.co/vpdsni2Gr1

[Ben Rowen @ben_c_rowen]

The Great Cajun Turtle Heist

Alligator snapping turtle populations in Texas were dwindling. One family of smugglers had been poaching them from the state for years. Read @sonia_smith’s epic:

https://t.co/wD5rBMiuuj

[John Schwartz @jswatz]

Escalating levels of BS are a pathetic attempt to derail action on climate change. Great story by ⁦@tiffkhsu⁩ that pulls no punches. https://t.co/TjhNzdi5Ts

[Simon Ostrovsky @SimonOstrovsky]

“Restauranteur dies in aviation mishap”

[Sonia Smith @sonia_smith]

Incredibly disheartened by these layoffs at the @TexasTribune. Bad for Texas https://t.co/c85FdkJhir

[Alexander C. Kaufman @AlexCKaufman]

"The paint’s properties are almost superheroic. It can make surfaces as much as 8° F cooler than ambient air temps at midday, and up to 19° cooler at night, reducing temperatures inside buildings and decreasing air-conditioning needs by as much as 40%." https://t.co/gNmjjZ3WXs

[Will Bostwick @WillHBostwick]

Experts call climate change the greatest threat to public health. Already this year, Texas has seen many tragic heat related deaths. And the health implications go far beyond heat stroke. I wrote for @TexasMonthly about fledgling plans to cool two cities: https://t.co/PeGu1jxD66

[Shawn Reynolds @ShawnReynolds_]

"It wasn't mental health that killed these people, it was an automatic rifle with bullets... I'm a former police officer, a former Army officer. These M4s, AR-15s, they've got to get off the streets or this is going to keep happening" - Allen, TX mall shooting witness Steven Spainhouer tells @CapehartJ on @weekendcapehart

[Andrew J. Tabler @Andrewtabler]

The U.S. has renewed direct talks with Syria to determine the fate of missing journalist Austin Tice and other Americans who disappeared during the nation’s civil war https://t.co/lkRKyFqTR3

[NowThis Impact @nowthisimpact]

'Journalism is not a crime.'

Pres. Biden discusses efforts to bring home Austin Tice, an American journalist who’s been detained in Syria since 2012. #WHCD

[alisaparenti @alisaparenti]

After more than a decade, it is well past time to #FreeAustinTice