EPA Reverses Bush-Era Toxics Release Inventory Blackout

April 22, 2009–A new rule signed by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson restores cuts in how much data communities can get about nearby industrial releases of toxic substances.

Justice Department Issues New Guidelines on Handling FOIA Requests

April 22, 2009–The guidance was the latest in a series of orders seeking to turn around Bush administration secrecy, although "altering the mind set" might make change more difficult than originally thought.

Toolbox: EPA's Pesticide Emergency Exemptions Database

April 22, 2009–There could be a story breeding behind the emergency pesticide exemptions — which could number in the hundreds — in your state.

House Passes Limited Journalists' Shield Bill

April 8, 2009–The bill passed by the House now goes to the Senate, which had previously failed to act on a similar bill passed by the House in 2007.

Judge Rules That Feedlot Phone-Book Can Be Secret

April 8, 2009–As of March 31, 2009, the Agriculture Department may keep secret the locations and phone numbers of feedlots — however much the public may complain about their smell and the pollution emanating from them.

NIH Open-Access Policy Celebrates 1st Birthday — Will It Make 2nd?

April 8, 2009–A year-old National Institutes of Health policy requiring results of taxpayer-funded research articles to be posted online could be reversed by a bill introduced by Rep. John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Toolbox: Financial Disclosure Info on Obama WH Officials Online

April 8, 2009–The Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure reports themselves are not online, but you can request them.

WA State Secret Deal on Coal-Plant Emissions Raises Ire

April 8, 2009–Seattle Times lets the cat out of the bag with an April 7, 2009, story describing the secret agreement between the administration of Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Canada-based TransAlta.

Attorney General Sets Openness as Standard for Fed Info

March 25, 2009–Carrying out a January 21 order by President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder has reversed the so-called "Ashcroft Memo," which had encouraged agencies during the George Bush presidency to err on the side of secrecy.

Blue Sky for TRI?

March 25, 2009–EPA's public release of the latest Toxics Release Inventory data -- and rollback of Bush-era cutbacks on the amount of information chemical companies must report -- may have marked the beginning of a new era for the embattled program.