Yale University: Removing Government Notices from Newspapers Reduces Citizen Participation in Decision-Making . “In some states, lawmakers want to eliminate a centuries-old requirement to publish public notices about local government actions in newspapers. A study of Florida co-authored by Yale SOM’s Anya Nakhmurina found that weakening this rule appeared to decrease residents’ engagement […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/22/yale-removing-government-notices-from-newspapers-reduces-citizen-participation-in-decision-making/

StateScoop: New York City to host 10th annual Open Data Week. “The event, which originally launched as part the city’s 2012 Open Data law, will feature more than 80 free or low-cost in-person and virtual programs, including a new documentary film festival, a data art exhibition, a two-day conference and daily classes teaching residents how to make use of the city’s 6.3 billion rows of data.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/20/statescoop-new-york-city-to-host-10th-annual-open-data-week/

Fired. Replaced. Silenced. Federal inspectors who protect your programs are under attack. How far does this go? ⚡🇺🇸
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/2tdrcy4y
#FederalOversight #GovernmentTransparency #Watchdogs #PolicyMatters #CivicImpact #Underreported #News #MainstreamMedia #Alaska #KnikRiverBridge #Infrastructure
🔽 Former Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael J. Missal, removed in January 2025 during a purge of federal watchdogs. His office had been investigating safety risks in VA programs.

New York City Council: City Council Secures Commitment from Corporation Counsel to Release 9/11 Documents. “At today’s New York City Council Preliminary Budget hearing for the Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation, Speaker Julie Menin secured a commitment from Corporation Counsel Steve Banks that the City’s Law Department will create a public online portal to […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/18/new-york-city-council-city-council-secures-commitment-from-corporation-counsel-to-release-9-11-documents/

New Mexico Department of Transporation: NMDOT launches platform for transportation projects. “The electronic Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (eSTIP) uses Geographic Information System technology to display projects on a dynamic, statewide map. Users can zoom into specific regions, click on individual projects for details and search projects by location. Project information can also […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/18/new-mexico-department-of-transportation-nmdot-launches-platform-for-transportation-projects/

Ford defends FOI law change that would keep premier's records secret
Doug Ford defends changes to Ontario’s freedom-of-information laws that would keep records of the premier and his cabinet secret. He says it's about protecting confidential information, but as CBC's Lorenda Reddekopp explains protections already exist.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/9.7131149?cmp=rss

Windy City Times: Lightfoot’s ICE Accountability Project builds database of alleged immigration agent misconduct. “The ICE Accountability Project is a public database designed to collect and preserve evidence of ‘increasing misconduct’ by federal agents during recent immigration enforcement operations. It collects videos, photos and witness reports to preserve evidence and make it easier to […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/15/windy-city-times-lightfoots-ice-accountability-project-builds-database-of-alleged-immigration-agent-misconduct/

The National (Scotland): How a new tool lets you track Scotland’s progress on human rights. “This week, the Scottish Government launched a Human Rights Tracker which intends to improve transparency and aid efforts to implement recommendations from various human rights bodies and the United Nations (UN).”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/15/the-national-how-a-new-tool-lets-you-track-scotlands-progress-on-human-rights/

Taxpayer advocacy group calls on Ontario to reverse transparency changes
The Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement unveiled plans to shield the premier, his cabinet ministers and their staff from freedom of information laws.
#Politics #Fordgovernment #FreedomofInformation #Ontariopolitics
https://globalnews.ca/news/11730443/taxpayer-federation-foi-law-changes/

Taxpayer advocacy group calls on Ontario to reverse transparency changes
The Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement unveiled plans to shield the premier, his cabinet ministers and their staff from freedom of information laws.
#Politics #Fordgovernment #FreedomofInformation #Ontariopolitics
https://globalnews.ca/news/11730443/taxpayer-federation-foi-law-changes/