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Report says a second Trump term would add 4 billion tons of climate pollution; Trump predicts a bloodbath for the country if he is defeated in November's election; Nevada leaders discuss future of IVF, abortion in the Silver State; and anglers seek trawler buffer zone as Atlantic herring stock declines.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Critics: Interior Department Moves to Limit Transparency

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Wednesday, January 9, 2019   

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The U.S. Department of the Interior has taken steps to restrict public-records requests allowed through the Freedom of Information Act.

The proposal would allow the agency to deny requests that it deems "burdensome" or "vague," and officials at the agency say it's necessary because FOIA requests are bogging down the department's work.

Jayson O'Neill, deputy director of the Western Values Project, called the move an attack on open public records and transparency.

"As our organization and others have found," he said, "there's been a clear link between special interests, industry interests, and the work and the rule changes that have been done at Interior under this administration."

Without access to government records, O'Neill said, his group would not have uncovered documents showing industry requests for changes to the Greater Sage Grouse Management Plan to tip the scale for oil and gas producers over ranching and other interests.

Interior Department officials also have said the changes are needed because FOIA requests have been used for political reasons.

Under previous administrations, O'Neill said, Interior Department moves were made in an open and public process. He said watchdog organizations such as his, as well as the news media, rely on the Freedom of Information Act when agencies aren't transparent in their decision making.

"Citing an uptick in requests when you're making decisions behind closed doors," he said, "that obviously is going to be the outcome because these affect our public lands, our wildlife, our waters - our way of life out in the West."

The public has until Jan. 28 to comment on the Interior Department's proposal. According to news site The Hill, because of the government shutdown, the agency isn't currently processing public comments. Interior also is the only federal agency that has shut down online FOIA requests until the government reopens.

The Interior proposal and link for comments are online at federalregister.gov, and the Hill report is at thehill.com.


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