tldrdailynews.com logo
Tag

Foia

All articles tagged with #foia

USPTO Director Squires Postpones Controversial Anniversary Gala Amid Ethics Scrutiny
government-and-ethics11 days ago

USPTO Director Squires Postpones Controversial Anniversary Gala Amid Ethics Scrutiny

USPTO Director John Squires postponed a one-year anniversary celebration scheduled for September 29, citing scheduling conflicts. The event, which included a private film screening and remarks by Squires, has drawn criticism for potential ethical violations, including the use of a personal Gmail address for official communications and funding by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, an entity with business before the agency. Squires has not clarified whether the event is official or personal, nor who is paying for it, prompting calls for transparency and potential Freedom of Information Act requests.

via IPWatchdog.com|
#ethics#foia#government-and-ethics
Arkansas Col. Hagar urges context in use-of-force videos, defends ASP troopers
local1 month ago

Arkansas Col. Hagar urges context in use-of-force videos, defends ASP troopers

Colonel Mike Hagar released a statement defending Arkansas State Troopers, noting ASP conducts many Officer Violator Contacts daily and that uses of force comprise a tiny fraction (0.09% from 2023–Aug 2026). He says pursuit/use-of-force videos are publicly released mainly for FOIA requests and profits-driven streamers often lack context. He emphasizes force is a last resort and is reviewed, acknowledges recent trooper assaults, warns against sensationalized social media coverage, and pledges to continue highlighting the agency’s work while prioritizing Arkansans’ safety.

via KATV|
#arkansas-state-troopers#foia#local
AFPI files FOIA to probe Kanter Freedom ejection at Wintrust Arena
politics1 month ago

AFPI files FOIA to probe Kanter Freedom ejection at Wintrust Arena

The America First Policy Institute filed a six-page public-records request under the Illinois FOIA with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority to obtain documents on who authorized Enes Kanter Freedom’s removal and ban from a Chicago Sky game, including arena security policies, operating agreements, enforcement details, and related communications, as part of an effort to determine accountability for a public entity; no lawsuit has been filed.

via Fox News|
#afpi#chicago-sky#enes-kanter-freedom
politics1 month ago

Former Fauci aide pleads guilty to conspiring to dodge FOIA over COVID-era funding emails

David Morens, a longtime aide to Anthony Fauci, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to evade federal public records laws related to emails about coronavirus research funding. He admitted coordinating with outside researchers and using a personal Gmail account to hide exchanges to dodge FOIA requests and influence NIH funding for EcoHealth Alliance. Fauci is named in records as the Senior NIAID Official 1 but is not charged. Morens faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing set for November 12 as part of a plea deal that dropped four other charges.

via Politico|
#ecohealth-alliance#fauci#foia
New public tool reveals if Flock camera searches touched your license plate
technology1 month ago

New public tool reveals if Flock camera searches touched your license plate

A public site, HaveIBeenFlocked, lets drivers check via FOIA-sourced audit logs whether agencies using Flock license plate reader cameras have searched their plate. The tool shows when and why a plate was searched (most often for drugs or motor vehicle theft), not whether a vehicle passed by or what data the camera yielded. The initiative fuels privacy concerns about license-plate surveillance and potential immigration-enforcement access, spurring calls for oversight. Flock plans updates by Jan. 1 to flag abnormal searches, while civil-liberties groups urge continued scrutiny.

via KCRG|
#foia#law-enforcement#license-plate-readers
New public tool shows if your license plate was searched by Flock cameras
technology1 month ago

New public tool shows if your license plate was searched by Flock cameras

A site called HaveIBeenFlocked lets people check whether agencies using Flock license-plate cameras searched their plate, using FOIA-derived audit logs. The results reveal which searches were performed and why (often related to drugs or vehicle theft) but not whether the plate was observed. The story highlights privacy and civil-liberties concerns about immigration enforcement access and potential misuse by officers; Flock plans changes to flag abnormal searches, a move praised by critics but seen as insufficient by groups like the ACLU.

via FOX19 | Cincinnati|
#flock-cameras#foia#law-enforcement
Press groups sue over Truth Social early-access pricing and broader press freedom issues
media1 month ago

Press groups sue over Truth Social early-access pricing and broader press freedom issues

Freedom of the Press Foundation and The Intercept filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Donald Trump and his staff over selling early access to Truth Social posts, arguing it deprives the public of official government communications; the newsletter also covers a chilling climate for Columbia student journalists, calls for strengthening FOIA, safety guidance for journalists using AI, steps to guard against doxxing, and related reporting pieces.

via Freedom of the Press Foundation|
#doxxing-protection#foia#freedom-of-the-press
New online tool lets drivers check if Flock cameras searched their license plate
technology1 month ago

New online tool lets drivers check if Flock cameras searched their license plate

A new HaveIBeenFlocked website lets people check whether their license plate was searched by agencies using Flock cameras by querying FOIA-sourced audit logs. It shows which agencies performed searches and why (often for drugs or vehicle theft) but not whether the car passed by; the data is publicly available via FOIA requests, and privacy advocates warn about potential misuse and immigration-enforcement concerns. Flock plans to add an abnormal-search flagging tool by January 1 to curb abuse.

via WAVE News|
#flock-cameras#foia#haveibeenflocked
politics2 months ago

DoJ’s Trump banners come with a nearly $1 million price tag

Records show the Justice Department spent about $892,192 (with a $54,768 supplemental) on a RFK Beautification Project that cleaned the Main Justice exterior, upgraded the lighting, and installed six banners featuring Donald Trump, including two on Pennsylvania Avenue corners. The banner costs are redacted, and the project—executed under a sole-source contract by Llorente Enterprises—has drawn congressional scrutiny as a potential use of taxpayer funds for political promotion; similar Trump banners have appeared at other agencies.

via Politico|
#banners#department-of-justice#donald-trump
UMich’s $12M Athletics Probe: Findings Secret as Costs Mount
education2 months ago

UMich’s $12M Athletics Probe: Findings Secret as Costs Mount

Michigan has spent more than $12 million on Jenner & Block’s investigation into the Sherrone Moore ouster and athletic department culture, with two new invoices for about $200,000, but the university is refusing to release the findings citing attorney‑client privilege; a Detroit Free Press FOIA lawsuit seeks access, while outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The Athletic have reported details.

via Detroit Free Press|
#athletics#attorney-client-privilege#education
Warde Manuel's Michigan AD Status Under Scrutiny Amid Leaks and Jenner & Block Findings
sports2 months ago

Warde Manuel's Michigan AD Status Under Scrutiny Amid Leaks and Jenner & Block Findings

Rumors swirl about Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel’s job status after reports that it was 'in doubt' and a Regents meeting produced no update; insiders describe a leak problem and a push to release Jenner & Block findings on the Sherrone Moore scandal, with FOIA requests yielding no formal report yet. The investigations are said to reveal department missteps rather than a smoking gun against Manuel; Manuel was aware of the Moore-Shiver situation in 2024, and while initial Jenner & Block reviews found no wrongdoing by Moore or Shriver, Moore was fired for-cause in December 2025, prompting a second Jenner & Block review to ensure nothing was missed. Manuel's future remains uncertain as the department remains under scrutiny.

via Sports Illustrated|
#foia#jenner-and-block#michigan
Judge Allows Release of Biden Memoir Recordings to Heritage
politics3 months ago

Judge Allows Release of Biden Memoir Recordings to Heritage

A federal judge ruled that hours of audio from Joe Biden’s 2017 memoir interviews must be released to the Heritage Foundation under FOIA, denying Biden’s bid to block disclosure. The ruling emphasizes public interest and FOIA’s transparency goals, with redactions deemed sufficient. Biden has sought an injunction pending appeal as the dispute over whether the recordings, tied to Hur’s classified-materials inquiry, proceed toward release.

via USA Today|
#biden#classified-information#foia
Biden Secures Three-Week Stay on Hur Interview Tapes Release
politics3 months ago

Biden Secures Three-Week Stay on Hur Interview Tapes Release

A federal judge granted a three-week injunction to pause the release of audio recordings and transcripts from Biden’s interviews tied to Special Counsel Hur’s classified‑documents probe, pending an appeal. The stay blocks the DOJ from releasing the materials while the D.C. Circuit reviews Biden’s challenge, after he sought emergency relief claiming public disclosure would end the case and violate privacy protections. The recordings, connected to ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer and cited in Hur’s report, fueled scrutiny of Biden’s memory and the decision not to prosecute, amid long-running FOIA efforts by the Heritage Foundation to obtain them.

via Fox News|
#audio-recordings#biden#foia