FOIA Facts: High Profile FOIA Requests – Scott A. Hodes comments on recent reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added a new layer of scrutiny for FOIA requests that came from what it considered high profile groups (basically political non-profits and media organizations). The argument is that this review did or could potentially deny these requesters material they should receive and these denials (or potential denials) were only for political purposes.
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Daily Archives: November 17, 2010
Regional Task Force Recommends Sweeping Changes to Improve Metro
News release: “Task Force report released today calls for dramatic changes to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to make certain that Metro is a safe and efficient transit system that meets the needs of the Greater Washington region. The key finding of the Task Force is that shortcomings in Metro’s governance structure are… Continue Reading
EPA Releases the 2010 Fuel Economy Trends Report/Carbon dioxide decreases as fuel economy increases
News release: “For the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reporting a decrease in average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and a slight increase in the average fuel efficiency for new cars and light duty trucks, according to EPAs annual report Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Federal Transit Programs, Health Information Technology, Private Pensions, Recovery Act
Federal Transit Programs: Federal Transit Administration Has Opportunities to Improve Performance Accountability, GAO-11-54, November 17, 2010 Health Information Technology: DOD Needs to Provide More Information on Risks to Improve Its Program Management, GAO-11-148, November 17, 2010 Private Pensions: Changes Needed to Better Protect Multiemployer Pension Benefits, GAO-11-79, October 18, 2010 Recovery Act: FEMA Could Take… Continue Reading
NYT: Digital Keys for Unlocking the Humanities Riches
NYT: “Members of a new generation of digitally savvy humanists argue it is time to stop looking for inspiration in the next political or philosophical ism and start exploring how technology is changing our understanding of the liberal arts. This latest frontier is about method, they say, using powerful technologies and vast stores of digitized… Continue Reading
CredAbility Consumer Distress Index: Grip of Financial Distress Tightens Again in Third Quarter
News release: “CredAbility, one of the leading nonprofit credit counseling and education agencies in the United States, today released the CredAbility Consumer Distress Index results for the 2010 third quarter. The Index, a quarterly measure that tracks the financial condition of the average U.S. household, found that the incremental improvements in consumer financial health in… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve issues guidelines for capital action proposals by large bank holding companies
News release: “The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday issued guidelines for evaluating proposals by large bank holding companies (BHCs) to undertake capital actions in 2011, such as increasing dividend payments or repurchasing or redeeming stock. The criteria provide a common, conservative approach to ensure that BHCs hold adequate capital to maintain ready access to funding,… Continue Reading
EEOC Explores Plight Of Older Workers In Current Economic Climate
News release: “The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission heard testimony that age discrimination is causing the nations older workers to have a difficult time maintaining and finding new employment, a problem exacerbated by the downturn in the economy. The number and percentage of age discrimination charges filed with the EEOC have grown, rising from 16,548… Continue Reading
White Paper – M&A Boom in Small & Mid-Cap Banks Creates Opportunity
White Paper – M&A Boom in Small & Mid-Cap Banks Creates Opportunity, November 15, 2010, Prepared by FJ Capital Management “In a white paper released today on the small- and mid-cap bank sector, Friedman, a banking expert [Martin Friedman, Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager] with more than 20 years of capital markets experience, points… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve issues proposal to implement Volcker Rule conformance period
“The Board is requesting comment on a proposed rule that would implement the conformance period during which banking entities and nonbank financial companies supervised by the Board must bring their activities and investments into compliance with the prohibitions and restrictions on proprietary trading and relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds imposed by section… Continue Reading
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Annual List of Candidates for Endangered Species Act
News release: “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) released its Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals considered candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). One species has been removed from candidate status, five have been added, and four have a change in priority… Continue Reading
