Supreme Court Strikes Down Misuse of FOIA 'Personnel' Exemption

March 9, 2011–In the case of Milner v. Department of the Navy, the court rejected an expansive interpretation of the FOIA exemption on personnel matters. And in another FOIA case decided March 1, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations do not have a right of personal privacy that can prevent the federal government from disclosing records about them.

Proposed Rule for Power Plant Toxics Due March 16

March 2, 2011–The consent decree that established the March 16 release date also mandates that a final rule be published by Nov. 16, 2011 (nine years later than the deadline dictated by the Clean Air Act). Here are several tools you can use to get a handle on the power plants and their emissions in your audience area prior to release of the rule.

Issa's Push on Homeland Security FOIA Raises Worries

February 9, 2011–The House Oversight Committee Chair's method of investigating whether DHS was politically screening its responses to FOIA requests has at least one member of his committee worried about the privacy of the FOIA requesters due to Issa's demand for specifics of information.

House GOP Staff Meet with Energy Lobbyists Behind Closed Doors

January 26, 2011–Politico broke the story of a January 18, 2011, meeting between House and Senate GOP aides and energy industry lobbyists to map out strategy for handcuffing President Obama and EPA on climate regulations.

Watchdog Group Seeks Details of Issa's Regulatory Hit List

January 26, 2011–Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has started publishing the industry wish-lists on its own — including in some cases full texts of industry letters back to Issa.

BLM To Disclose Names and Addresses of Grazing Rights Owners

January 19, 2011–Permittees and lessees of public lands are a key part of covering issues that involve grazing, hunting, public lands access, utility corridors, and related topics. The public comment period on BLM's proposal to identify these people closes Feb. 7, 2011.

Updated Data for Tracking Environmental Law Enforcement Available

December 22, 2010–The US Environmental Protection Agency's Compliance and Enforcement information for 2010 is now online with data mapped and searchable by criteria such as state, city, zip code, and type of media affected (air, water, etc.).

Enviropork: Reporting on the Secret Santas

December 1, 2010–The Senate's Nov. 30 vote not to impose a moratorium on "earmarks" practically ensures that pork-barrel spending will live on as a subject for journalists — at least in fiscal 2011.

3/4 of Public Transportation Measures Approved in 2010

November 10, 2010–Some involved new fees, taxes, or bonds, while others didn't dip into voters' wallets. Get a thumbnail sketch of each measure, and its fate at the hands of voters

EPA Proposes Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy Trucks, Buses

November 10, 2010–The standards, now in a 60-day comment period, cover three types of heavy trucks but would not apply to vehicles built before the 2014 model year.