Obama names Corvington, veteran of nonprofit groups, to national service postOctober 2nd, 2009 Obama picks Corvington for national service postWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has named a veteran of nonprofit groups to head the Corporation for National and Community Service. The president said Friday that Patrick Corvington will lead the agency that oversees Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America.
Senators, AP's Curley: Agencies still shielding information from public despite Obama policySeptember 30th, 2009 Senators, AP want more government info made publicWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's new standards of openness in the federal government have not trickled down to some of its agencies, where officials have used special statutes inserted into bills to skirt the Freedom of Information Act, open government advocates said Wednesday. Efforts to strengthen the 42-year-old law "have been hampered by the increasing use of legislative exemptions that are often sneaked into legislation without debate or public scrutiny," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said in remarks prepared for a hearing on the issue.
Senate Judiciary chairman wants to limit agencies' exemptions from Freedom of Information ActSeptember 30th, 2009 Leahy: Congress should make agencies be more openWASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee wants new measures to clamp down on special exemptions that federal agencies are using to avoid disclosing information to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. Democratic Sen.
Final flight: NASA names astronauts for last space shuttle voyage next yearSeptember 18th, 2009 Veteran crew named for final space shuttle flightWASHINGTON — NASA's chief astronaut will shut off the lights on America's space shuttle program. NASA announced Friday the crew for the last scheduled space shuttle mission, targeted for next September.
Billionaire businessman joins academics, activists demanding freedom of expressionAugust 17th, 2009 Leaders demand freedom of expressionMEXICO CITY — Billionaire businessman Carlos Slim joined academics and human rights advocates on Monday in demanding a renewed national commitment to a free press and an end to attacks on journalists. Declaring free speech as a fundamental human right, the group of 21 leaders signed a nine-page Commitment to Freedom of Expression, a detailed proposal for Mexico to provide the public with access to information, transparency in government activities and the right to safely report news.
Special cell to help Chandigarh-origin NRIsAugust 15th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - A special cell was launched Saturday for the early settlement of legal disputes filed by Chandigarh-origin Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), an official here said. "Problems of NRIs vary from property-related cases to matrimonial issues to various kinds of financial disputes.
Feature: Taragana remembers the forgotten freedom fighters of India on the eve of Independence dayAugust 14th, 2009 Fear the country that has heroes. Pity the one that forgets them
While this news came to our new desk, I was at once reminded of this quote from a movie.
Marilyn Clement, health care advocate and civil rights activist, dies at age 74August 6th, 2009 Health care advocate Marilyn Clement dies at 74NEW YORK — Marilyn Clement, a social activist who advocated tirelessly for a national health care program and who rallied for civil rights alongside Martin Luther King Jr., has died. She was 74. Clement died Monday of cancer in Manhattan, said Katie Robbins, who is assistant national coordinator for Healthcare-Now! Clement founded that organization in 2004.
White House stands by decision to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ireland's RobinsonAugust 4th, 2009 White House stands by decision to honor RobinsonWASHINGTON — The White House is standing by its decision to award a Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Irish President Mary Robinson. Some Jewish groups say Ireland's first female president is biased against Israel.
37 senators ask Vietnam's president to free dissident Roman Catholic priestJuly 2nd, 2009 37 senators seek freedom for Vietnamese priestWASHINGTON — Thirty-seven U.S. senators are asking Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to release a dissident Roman Catholic priest serving prison and house arrest terms totaling 13 years.
INSI welcomes Daniel Pearl Act passed by US HouseJune 13th, 2009 BRUSSELS - The International News Safety Institute on Friday welcomed passage of the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act by the US House of Representatives and urged the Senate and President Obama to speed its progress into law. The measure, passed late on Wednesday as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, expands the examination of press freedom worldwide in the State Department's annual human rights report and establishes a grant programme aimed at strengthening media independence internationally.
Gun rights advocate hosts open carry firearms picnic at park in La Crosse CountyMay 13th, 2009 Hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and guns at picnicTOWN OF ONALASKA, Wis. — A picnic open to the public at a park in La Crosse County will offer free brats and hamburgers and an invitation to bring your gun.
Israel, Italy slip in press freedom amid decline worldwideApril 30th, 2009 Report shows press freedom declines worldwideWASHINGTON — Press freedom declined worldwide in 2008 as even once-unfettered nations such as Israel and Italy imposed new limits on media coverage, according to a report by media analysts. "Declines in Israel, Italy and Taiwan illustrate that established democracies with traditional open media are not immune to restricting freedom," said Arch Puddington, research director for Freedom House, a nonprofit organization that plans to release the report on Friday in advance of World Press Freedom Day on Sunday.
Sources: Specter tells allies he intends to switch partiesApril 28th, 2009 Sources: Specter intends to switch partiesWASHINGTON — Several officials say veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania intends to switch parties, advancing his own hopes of winning a new term next year while pushing Democrats one step closer to a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.
Sources say Republican Sen. Arlen Specter tells allies he intends to switch partiesApril 28th, 2009 Sources: Sen. Specter intends to switch partiesWASHINGTON — Several officials say veteran Republican Sen.
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