Ciara O'Rourke is a freelance writer and editor. Previously, Ciara covered local government and public safety for the Austin American-Statesman and fact-checked elected officials and pundits for PolitiFact Texas. She was a 2015-16 Ted Scripps Fellow in Environmental Journalism and has contributed to publications including The Atlantic, Seattle Met and and The New York Times. She graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, with a degree in journalism and French.