Category «Freedom of Information»

Inside Trump’s coronavirus meltdown

The Financial Times – Free to Read – What went wrong in the president’s first real crisis — and what does it mean for the US?: “When the history is written of how America handled the global era’s first real pandemic, March 6 will leap out of the timeline. That was the day Donald Trump …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Economy, Education, Financial System, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Legislation

Congressionally Mandated Reports: Overview and Considerations for Congress

LC CRS Reports – Congressionally Mandated Reports: Overview and Considerations for Congress, May 14, 2020: “Congress frequently requires the President, departments, agencies, and other entities of the federal government to transmit reports, notifications, studies, and other information on a specified timeline. Reporting requirements may direct agency officials to notify Congress or its committees of forthcoming …

Subjects: Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Legislation

What it Means to be a Library During COVID-19

Internet Archive Blogs: “Library directors and staff are facing incredible challenges in meeting their community’s needs during this unprecedented time of library closure. As a recent article by NISO Director of Content, Jill O’Neill, points out “[o]ne take-away from this global pandemic might be the humble recognition that there are existing needs in the marketplace …

Subjects: Education, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Libraries

Unreleased White House report shows coronavirus rates spiking in heartland communities

NBCNews: “Coronavirus infection rates are spiking to new highs in several metropolitan areas and smaller communities across the country, according to undisclosed data the White House’s pandemic task force is using to track rates of infection, which was obtained by NBC News. The data in a May 7 coronavirus task force report are at odds …

Subjects: Censorship, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care

What’s at stake in Supreme Court fight over Trump financial records

Reuters: “The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday considers three blockbuster cases concerning efforts by the Democratic-led House of Representatives and a grand jury working with a prosecutor in New York City to obtain copies of President Donald Trump’s financial records.  Unlike recent presidents, Trump has refused to disclose his tax returns and other materials that …

Subjects: Congress, Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

States Are Suspending Public Records Access Due to COVID-19

The Markup – There is little precedent for such action, even in an emergency: “…Hawaii is among several jurisdictions around the country that have amended or suspended access to public records as the coronavirus spreads. Governors are taking emergency action in some states, ordering changes to public records compliance during the crisis. Other states and …

Subjects: E-Government, E-Records, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care, Legal Research, Legislation

Supreme Court Rules That Georgia Can’t Copyright Its Annotated Code

Reason.com: “The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5–4 today that the state of Georgia can’t claim copyright over its annotated code. The ruling is a victory for Carl Malamud, an open government activist who posted the state’s annotated code online in 2013. Malamud and his organization, Public.Resource.Org, have been working for more than a decade to digitally …

Subjects: Copyright, Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Libraries

2020 World Press Freedom Index

Entering a decisive decade for journalism, exacerbated by coronavirus: “The 2020 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), shows that the coming decade will be decisive for the future of journalism, with the Covid-19 pandemic highlighting and amplifying the many crises that threaten the right to freely reported, independent, diverse and reliable …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Health Care, Legal Research

Senate Intel Releases New Report on Intel Community Assessment of Russian Interference

“Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) released a new report, titled “Review of the Intelligence Community Assessment,” the fourth and penultimate volume in the Committee’s bipartisan Russia investigation. The latest installment examines the sources, tradecraft, and analytic work behind the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Congress, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

Can OSHA Protect Coronavirus Whistleblowers?

National Law Review – “As the nation debates when millions of employees should return to work despite the risk being infected with COVID-19, the grim reality of worker safety laws must be addressed.   The primary law requiring a safe working environment is the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). As reported by the Washington …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care, Legal Research

Most Americans Say Trump Was Too Slow in Initial Response to Coronavirus Threat

Pew Survey – Wide concern that states will lift COVID-19 restrictions too quickly – “As the death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to spiral, most Americans do not foresee a quick end to the crisis. In fact, 73% say that in thinking about the problems the country is facing from the coronavirus outbreak, …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Education, Financial System, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care

Attacks on press credibility endanger US democracy and global press freedom

“The Trump administration has stepped up prosecutions of news sources, interfered in the business of media owners, harassed journalists crossing U.S. borders, and empowered foreign leaders to restrict their own media. But Trump’s most effective ploy has been to destroy the credibility of the press, dangerously undermining truth and consensus even as the COVID-19 pandemic …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Congress, E-Government, E-Records, Economy, Financial System, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care, Knowledge Management, Medicine