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CRS PUBLISHES BACKGROUNDER ON JOURNALISTS' PRIVILEGE

The Oct. 18, 2007 issue of Congressional Research Service has published a useful backgrounder on the current lack of a "shield law" protecting reporters from legal penalties, including jail, when they refuse prosecutors' requests to disclose the identities of confidential sources.

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PENNSYLVANIA FORBIDS LABELING OF MILK PRODUCED WITHOUT ARTIFICIAL HORMONES

Consumers who want to choose milk produced without the use of artificial hormones are out of luck - if they live in Pennsylvania. That is not a choice the state will allow them.

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Artist Sues Local Cops Over Right To Photograph Power Lines

Shirley E. Scheier, a University of Washington fine-arts professor, was handcuffed, frisked, and detained for 44 minutes when she took some art photos of powerlines against the sky in Snohomish County, Washington.

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SEJ, OTHER J-GROUPS ASK SENATE TO DROP ANIMAL SECRECY

Even as major companies recalled their shipments of hamburgers made with possibly tainted meat, beef and pork lobbyists worked hard to keep U.S meat eaters from finding out what was going on. They lobbied to amend the Farm Bill to include secrecy language that would make make it illegal for anyone to publicly disclose such information. SEJ and other journalism organization are urging senators to remove that language from the bill.

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National Response Center Changes Leak Report Policy

The National Response Center has changed its policy on releasing chemical accident reports, making it much harder for journalists to gather crucial information about hazardous materials spills on deadline.

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SEJ Opposes Defanging of FOIA Ombud Office

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) urged Congress to use its funding power to establish a new independent "ombudsman" office.

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Now Environment Canada Muzzles Scientists, Too: Report

"Environment Canada has 'muzzled' its scientists around the country, ordering them to refer all media queries to Ottawa.

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NIEHS Director Schwartz Resigns

David Schwartz, the embattled director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), resigned the post Feb. 8, 2008

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Cool Tool: Libraries Offer Online Help With Government Info

Reporters looking for help in penetrating the labyrinth of federal information have a new ally: librarians.

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Did CDC Agency Suppress FEMA Trailer Health Info?

Two House Science subcommittees are investigating allegations that the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) suppressed information on harmful levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers given out after Hurricane Katrina.

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