Morning news roundup
Sep 6th, 2007 by dani_k
The Carlisle Sentinel writes that there are still too many gaming secrets, at least in regards to information on casino operators’ license applications. The Gaming Board maintains that the name of applicants’ references, as well as the letters they write, aren’t public information. The Sentinel calls their reason (”So that people can speak freely with the board.”) “one of the oddest pieces of reasoning we’ve heard for keeping affairs that should be the public’s business behind close[d] doors.”
The Uniontown Herald Standard, Allentown Morning Call and York Dispatch editorial boards are all questioning the motives behind local governments’ opposition to the PA Open Records Challenge. The Herald-Standard urged their readers to participate, adding, “If your township supervisors, county commissioners or school board members don’t think it’s OK for you to make one public information request in your lifetime, after all the money they’ve drained from your wallet, elect new ones who do.”
Our friend at State Sunshine and Open Records is intrigued by the debate, writing yesterday on past open records audits in PA.
I’m sure you thought the contents of your kitchen had nothing to do with open records request - but they do. A story has popped up (if you’ll pardon the pun) in national news about a food product that may be hazardous to your health - “popcorn lung” caused by inhaling chemicals that give the popular microwaved snack its delicious buttery goodness. The Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy, tried to get the EPA to release results of its study on popcorn-related diacetyl emissions, even issuing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request without success. The report is classified as a nonreleasable record.
I’ll finish with two bright spots: The Washington Observer-Reporter shows its readers how to obtain PA laws online, and PennDOT’s website on bridge ratings even includes info on bridges that they are responsible for.