Saturday, January 11, 2014

CNN, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, News On The Fly

Cinco de MAYO!
 (Photo credit: Shari Alisha)










Here is the latest news on the fly from CNN, The Wall Street Journal This Morning and Bloomberg.  The Wall Street Journal This Morning allows downloads of their podcasts so you can play it later on the fly, the rest you have to catch here on the fly.  About an hour and a half of podcasted news right here at your fingertips.  If you missed it before, here is your chance to play catch up.
Enhanced by Zemanta

U.S. senator sues over healthcare subsidy for Congress

Girls going out in the Gaslamp
 (Photo credit: San Diego Shooter)


From the Wall Street Journal, This Morning Podcast.  News not normally caught.  Don't have time to listen to this now?  Download a copy and play it on the fly when you do have time.  Give the President, the Senators and Congress exactly what they have given all of us and nothing more whatsoever and let's see how well they can live with it all.  Of course this is not how it works today, but that is how it is supposed to work.  Da Comrade, tis how it's supposed to work.  But who cares about the people anyway?
Enhanced by Zemanta

Governor McDonnell Announces Lumber Liquidators to Expand Presence in Virginia

Map of Virginia highlighting Henrico County
Map of Virginia highlighting Henrico County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Company intends to invest over $60 million as a result of business enhancements

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL), the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in North America, intends to invest over $60 million in connection with the expansion of its presence in Virginia.  Among other things, the company is looking to create approximately 250 new jobs in Virginia over the next three years through the augmentation of its corporate and manufacturing operations, led by the expansion of its flagship Bellawood hardwood flooring finishing. The company is also consolidating its East Coast distribution operations in Henrico County, which will allow for the retention of 500 jobs in Virginia.  These enhancements are designed to support Lumber Liquidators’ value proposition and the growth and development of its business.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Lumber Liquidators is a shining example of why the Commonwealth consistently ranks as the best state for business in the U.S. Since relocating its headquarters to Virginia in 1999, the company has become one of the fastest growing companies in America, and today’s announcement ensures that the Commonwealth will remain home. Lumber Liquidators is a great testament to how all of Virginia’s assets, from our natural resources used to manufacture their products to our ports that ship them around the continent and globe, create a formula for success and continued growth.”

“This tremendous expansion and consolidation project further solidifies Lumber Liquidators’ roots in Virginia,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “We commend the company’s success that requires the need to expand manufacturing capacity and workforce in the Commonwealth as it continues to expand in North America. Virginia is proud to boast Lumber Liquidators on its corporate roster, and welcomes the addition of 250 new jobs and the retention of 500 jobs.”

With more than 315 locations, Lumber Liquidators is North America’s largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring. The Company features more than 340 first quality flooring varieties, including solid and engineered hardwood, bamboo, cork, laminate and resilient vinyl. Additionally, Lumber Liquidators provides a wide selection of flooring enhancements and accessories to complement, install and maintain your new floor. Every location is staffed with flooring experts who can provide advice and useful information about Lumber Liquidators' low priced product, much of which is in stock and ready for delivery.

With quality brands including Bellawood Prefinished Hardwood and Morning Star Bamboo, Lumber Liquidators' flooring is often featured on popular television shows such as HGTV's Dream Home.

Robert Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lumber Liquidators commented, “Virginia has been a wonderful home for Lumber Liquidators, and we are so excited about reconfirming our commitment to this great state.  Virginia just has the perfect mix of what is needed for a growth company – a talented workforce, a strategic location and a pro-business climate, all of which has allowed our company to flourish here and will drive continued growth.”

As one of the largest hardwood flooring and home improvement retailers in the United States, Lumber Liquidators is expected to boost its use of Virginia’s ports to import and export wood products for domestic and international markets.  In addition, the Company has undertaken a pilot project to increase the use of Virginia-grown wood in its product mix.

“It is great to see a company which has built its reputation on quality products embracing expanded use of Virginia’s forest resources,” said Virginia Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry Todd Haymore. “As one of the largest industries in the Commonwealth, forestry provides important jobs and economic benefits to Virginia's residents. As the McDonnell Administration closes its final days, this announcement is just the latest example of how the Governor's decision to fully integrate agriculture and forestry into his economic development and jobs creation agenda has resulted in tremendous results for the Commonwealth. We look forward to assisting Lumber Liquidators supply Virginia grown products to consumers around the world.”

“The Port of Virginia is pleased that Lumber Liquidators has made the choice to continue to invest and create jobs in Virginia,” said Rodney W. Oliver, Interim Executive Director, Port of Virginia. “As a valued customer, the port looks forward to continued partnership with Lumber Liquidators to provide the import and export services necessary for Lumber Liquidators to be successful. Thanks to Governor McDonnell and the General Assembly, the port was able to assist the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in keeping a top shipper in Virginia through the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant and Virginia Port Tax Credit programs.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Lumber Liquidators to help secure a $2 million performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies and approved by Governor McDonnell. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.

The Company considered focusing its resources on other locations around the country before deciding to maintain and expand its presence in Virginia.

“James City County is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Lumber Liquidators as part of the company’s continued growth and expansion,” said Mary Jones, Chairman, James City County Board of Supervisors. “The County has been fortunate to have them as part of our local business community for nearly a decade and we look forward to their continued success.”
Enhanced by Zemanta

Governor McDonnell Announces Signed Agreement to Extend Amtrak Virginia Service to Roanoke

English: New Orleans, LA, October 9, 2005 - Am...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Train Travel Will Return to Star City for First Time in 34 Years

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and Norfolk Southern Corporation have entered into an agreement to improve rail related infrastructure between Lynchburg and Roanoke. The improvements will allow passenger rail to once again serve the Roanoke Region. Governor McDonnell’s 2013 transportation funding plan was instrumental in funding the return of intercity passenger rail service to Roanoke.

“DRPT and Norfolk Southern continue their strong partnership to advance intercity passenger rail service in the state of Virginia,” said Governor McDonnell. “Intercity passenger rail service is central to the Commonwealth’s economic growth, vitality and competitiveness in the region. Now the major population centers will have intercity passenger rail service.”

“The historic transportation bill has opened the door for continued expansion and growth of intercity passenger rail service in the State. The extension of intercity passenger train service from Lynchburg to Roanoke would not be possible without passage of this legislation,” said Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton.

“During this administration, new train service to Norfolk, and funding for the continuation of six state regional trains occurred,” said Thelma Drake, director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). “With the signing of this agreement, the State will be able to extend Amtrak Virginia daily intercity passenger train service to Roanoke within four years with direct same seat service to as far north as Boston.”

Wick Moorman, Norfolk Southern Chairman and CEO, stated, “Norfolk Southern is proud to expand our partnership with DRPT and the Commonwealth. Virginia’s leadership enables both passenger mobility and economic development through a strong rail network.”

“The signing of the agreement between Norfolk Southern and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation is an important milestone in bringing Amtrak rail service to our community. This is a tremendous accomplishment for the Commonwealth, the Roanoke Valley region, and our city, and with this signed agreement we can accelerate the return of passenger rail to the valley,” said Roanoke City Mayor David A. Bowers.

Included in this agreement are track additions and realignments, signal and communication upgrades along the route, clearance adjustments, and a platform and train servicing facility in downtown Roanoke.  Design work will begin immediately. In another effort funded by the Commonwealth and Norfolk Southern, the downtown Roanoke rail connections are currently being reconfigured to improve the flow of train traffic through Roanoke, which is a prerequisite to reintroducing passenger rail service.

Known as the “Amtrak Virginia” partnership, Roanoke is the latest step for the Commonwealth to lead the way as one of the few states in the country to successfully negotiate the addition of new intercity passenger rail service in major rail corridors, balancing freight and economic development needs with additional intercity passenger rail options.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, January 9, 2014

McDonald's Shuts Down Employee Website Advising Workers to Avoid Fast Food...

English: McDonalds' sign in Harlem.
. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
McDonald's is the poster child for the modern Western diet and all the health problems that it engenders. As a general rule, "food" was designed to supply your body with all the nutrients it needs.
Processing destroys many of the nutrients and is the primary contribution to most of the chronic degenerative diseases many experience today. I would also argue that food processed to the point of not decomposing after more than a decade is not actually real food and shouldn't be consumed...
Ironically, the fast food giant recently ended up with a PR nightmare after suggesting its own employees forgo fast food fare for healthier options like salad and water. As reported by Business Insider:1
"Several excerpts from the posts, which were created from a third-party vendor, warned against the negative effects of fast food, even going so far as labeling a cheeseburger and fries, core items on its menu, as an 'unhealthy choice.'"
The site also warned employees that fast-food meals are "almost always high" in calories, fat, sugar, and salt—and rightfully so, I might add. Warning employees of the health hazards of the very food they produce and serve, however, does not make for good PR.
In response to the controversy, McDonald's shut down the website in question, which was aimed at providing "work and life advice" to employees. According to a company spokesman,2 the information was "taken out of context," thereby generating "unwarranted scrutiny and inappropriate commentary." Employees will still be able to receive work and life advice over the phone.

Is Fast Food Giant Skirting Social Responsibilities?

McDonald's has received a variety of unflattering attention lately. Last month, fast food workers around the US rallied in protest of low wages, demanding the hourly wage to be raised to $15 per hour.
At present, the average fast food worker makes less than $9 per hour, and according to a recent study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, more than 50 percent of US fast food workers are enrolled in some form of public assistance program,3 costing US tax payers an estimated at $7 billion annually.
You might be asking yourself why you're being forced to subsidize fast food profits, especially when you consider that such foods are at the heart of our current health crisis...
Contrary to popular belief, nearly 70 percent of fast food workers are actually adults, and the main wage earners in their family. Gone are the days when fast food joints were staffed primarily with high school students. This too, I believe, is a sign of how the food culture has changed in this country.
Fast food restaurants are a primary source of food for a lot of people these days. British chef Jamie Oliver is but one vocal "real food" advocate who addresses this issue head-on, pointing out that our food culture has changed so drastically over the last 30 years that a majority of today's youth do not even know what fresh, whole food is.
Fast food restaurant work is also full-time employment—if not a career, albeit a poor-paying one—for many. Case in point: Nancy Salgado, a single mother, claims she still makes $8.25 after working for McDonald's for a decade! The following video went viral last October, when Salgado was threatened with arrest for shouting out a protest during a talk given by McDonald's president Jeff Stratton.
"It's really hard for me to feed my two kids and struggle day to day. Do you think this is fair, that I have to be making $8.25 when I have worked for McDonald's for 10 years?" she shouts.
How Government Farm Subsidies Have Created a Disease-Ridden Country
There's little doubt that the Western diet, high in ultra-processed food, is a major source of many of our modern diseases. McDonald's and other fast food restaurants are not necessarily the root of the problem, though. They're simply an outgrowth of the food system created and upheld by the US government.
As you can see below, US food subsidies are grossly skewed toward factory-farmed meats, grains, and sugars, with very little fresh fruits and vegetables or healthy fats from nuts and seeds. What you end up with when you get paid to mass produce those ingredients is a cheap fast food diet.
The following chart was published by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine4 (PCRM) back in 2007, yet little has changed since then. The fact that a hamburger can be had for less than an organic salad is a major contributing factor to why fast food is consumed as frequently as it is. The same goes for soda, loaded with cheap high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), compared to a bottle of plain water.
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Needless to say, if your diet consists of burgers and super-size sodas, your meals may be cheap, but it is also excessively high in grains, sugars, and factory-farmed meats. This is a recipe for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, just to name a few of the conditions that commonly befall those who consume "the Standard American Diet."
Tellingly, in contrast to third-world countries, in the US, higher rates of obesity is actually linked to poverty, suggesting that the American "poor man's diet" (which tends to be exceptionally high in processed foods and fast food) has a drastic and adverse impact on your metabolism. Indeed, many on the most limited food budgets, such as those who receive food assistance dollars, live in "food deserts"—areas without grocery stores, and perhaps only a convenience store or a fast-food restaurant where they can purchase their food.

The Food Lobby Wields Great Power Over Public Health...

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the powerful food lobby, Congress keeps subsidizing foods that we really should be eating LESS of – including factory farmed meats and corn (which ends up as HFCS that is used in nearly every single processed food and sweet beverage on the market.) The farm bill also has a direct impact on what your child gets fed in school, and what food assistance programs will distribute to poorer households.
I believe many of our society's chronic health problems could be resolved if attention was paid, at the highest levels of government, to the root problem – our agricultural subsidies. If growers of subsidized fresh vegetables were in a clear majority, you might start to see some fine advertising campaigns promoting the consumption of those veggies.
Unfortunately, the Department of Agriculture is deeply entrenched with the agri-business, and current legislations protect the profits of these large industries at the expense of public health. Sadly, you also see this influence in nutrition science. It is actually not designed to help you make sound dietary choices but rather to allow food companies to make health claims to increase profits, and this is a primary reason why you cannot get sound dietary advice from the US government.

Processed Food Contains Many Potentially Dangerous Ingredients

I've written numerous articles highlighting the hazards of specific fast food fare, and why such heavily processed foods cannot be considered "real food." This includes:
  • Chicken McNuggets, which have made it into mainstream news on a number of occasions because of the potentially hazardous additives they contain.
  • Soda can contain any number of health harming substances, from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to benzene andaspartame.
  • French fries are loaded with the worst types of fat on the planet -- typically highly refined and genetically modified omega-6 oils, such as corn, canola, and soybean oils.

    Thankfully, the FDA recently announced it may remove trans fats found in margarine, vegetable shortening, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils from the list of "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) ingredients. This would be the first step toward ridding the American diet of this harmful fat.
  • McDonald's seasonally-available McRib sandwich contains more than 70 ingredients, including a chemical used in gym shoes. And the pork is actually a restructured meat product made from the less expensive innards and scraps from the pig.
It's quite clear that fast food leads to obesity and insulin resistance. As demonstrated in one 15-year long study,5 eating fast food just twice a week can make you gain 10 pounds and double your risk of developing insulin resistance, compared to eating it less than once a week. The bottom line is that if you want to stay healthy, and keep your children healthy, you have to avoid fast food and other processed foods, and invest some time in your kitchen, cooking from scratch.

What Makes for a Healthy Diet?

I firmly believe that the primary keys for successful weight management and optimal health are:
  1. Severely restricting carbohydrates (refined sugars, fructose, and grains) in your diet
  2. Increasing healthy fat consumption
  3. Unlimited consumption of non starchy vegetables. Because they are so low calorie, the majority of the food on your plate will be vegetables
  4. Limit the use of protein to less than one half gram per pound of body weight
Healthful fat can be rich in calories, but these calories will not affect your body in the same way as calories from non-vegetable carbs. As explained by Dr. Robert Lustig, fructose in particular is "isocaloric but not isometabolic." This means you can have the same amount of calories from fructose or glucose, fructose and protein, or fructose and fat, but the metabolic effect will be entirely different despite the identical calorie count. Eating dietary fat isn't what's making you pack on the pounds. It's the sugar/fructose and grains that are adding the padding.
So please, don't fall for the low-fat myth, as this too is a factor in the rise in chronic health problems such as heart disease and Alzheimer's. Your brain, heart, and cardiovascular system need healthy fat for optimal functioning. In fact, emerging evidencesuggests most people need at least half of their daily calories from healthy fat, and possibly as high as 85 percent. My personal diet is about 70-80 percent healthy fat. Add to that a small to medium amount of high-quality protein and plenty of vegetables. You actually need very few carbs besides vegetables. However, by volume the largest portion of my plate is clearly vegetables.

Take Control of Your Diet and Your Health

I don't think fast food companies like McDonald's are as clueless about the health impact of their food as they would like you to believe. And advising their employees to forgo fast food fare and soda for more wholesome food is indeed good advice. The thing is, it's advice that applies to every single one of their customers as well... Healthy eating is actually far easier than most people think. Here's a quick and dirty summary: if you're new to healthful living, these four basic steps can put you on the right path toward vastly improved health, regardless of what your government's dietary guidelines are:
  • Focus on raw, fresh foods, and avoid as many processed foods as possible (for those who still have trouble understanding what "processed food" is: if it comes in a can, bottle, or package, and has a list of ingredients, it's processed)
  • Avoid foods that contain fructose (check the label for ingredients like corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup)
  • Limit or eliminate grain carbohydrates, and replace them with healthful fats, such as avocados, butter made from raw grass-fed organic milk, grass-fed meats, and organic pastured eggs, coconuts and coconut oil, and raw nuts such as macadamia
  • Replace sodas and other sweetened beverages with clean, pure water
Enhanced by Zemanta

The Globalist: Asia - Podcast E194

Gloucester, VA - FOIA and Private Email Accounts In Virginia

Over the past several years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of instances in which elected officials and their staff have been caught utilizing private email accounts to conduct government business or pass insider information through what they would have us believe to be a Freedom of Information exempt means. The names of many of them are familiar to us all and include former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, former President George W. Bush, almost the entire Obama administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the list goes on.  It has been argued unsuccessfully by many that government information contained in private emails is exempt from FOIA because the information is not in the control of the government entity. 
 
The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council(A state agency with the expertise to help resolve disputes over Freedom of Information issues) and the Code of Virginia do not support such contentions.  The following is the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council’s opinion on email communications.  This opinion is basically the Commonwealth’s adopted legal opinion on the use, access and retention of email communications as pertains to the Commonwealth of Virginia Freedom of Information Act. 
 
 E-MAIL:
USE, ACCESS & RETENTION
The use of e-mail in the business place has become routine and is a preferred mode of communication. For state and local government officials and employees, the application of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) relating to access to records and the Virginia Public Records Act (the PRA) relating to the retention of records comes into play.
 
Government officials and employees frequently ask two key questions about the use of e-mail --"Can the public and media access my e-mail under FOIA?" and "Do I have to save my e-mail?"
 
This document will attempt to answer these questions and provide guidance about the use and management of e-mail by state and local government.
 
The nature of e-mail
E-mail generally refers to any communication that requires an electronic device for storage and/or transmission.1 E-mail is a medium for correspondence -- essentially, e-mail is the "envelope" for the communication. For purposes of FOIA & the PRA, e-mail provides a medium for communication, much like a telephone or the U.S. Mail provides a means of communication. The fact that a communication is sent via e-mail is not alone conclusive of whether that e-mail must be accessible to the public under FOIA or retained pursuant to the PRA; one must look at the text and substance of the communication to determine whether it is indeed a public record.
 
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act
FOIA addresses access to public records. Section 2.2-3701 of the Code of Virginia defines public records for purposes of FOIA to include "all writings and recordings that consist of letters, words or numbers, or their equivalent, set down by handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostatting, photography, magnetic impulse, optical or magneto-optical form, mechanical or electronic recording or other form of data compilation, however stored, regardless of physical form or characteristics, prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees or agents in the transaction of public business."
 
Clearly an e-mail would fall under this broad definition of a public record, because it applies to all writings and recordings…set down by…mechanical or electronic recording…however stored, regardless of physical form or characteristics. As noted above, e-mail is just the medium, or the envelope, used to convey the communication. Just as a letter sent via U.S. Mail from one public official to another concerning public business would be a public record under FOIA, so would that same communication sent via e-mail.
 
FOIA requires that unless subject to a statutory exemption, all public records must be open to inspection and copying. Therefore, an e-mail relating to public business would be accessible just like any other public record, and may be withheld from public disclosure only if a particular exemption applies to the content of the e-mail.
 
The Virginia Public Records Act
While FOIA governs access to records held by state and local government, the PRA governs how long a government entity must retain certain records. The PRA defines "public record" for purposes of records retention, and like FOIA, the definition is fairly broad and would include e-mail as a public record. Section 42.1-77 defines a public record to include recorded information that documents a transaction or activity by or with any public officer, agency or employee of the state government or its political subdivisions. Regardless of physical form or characteristic, the recorded information is a public record if it is produced, collected, received or retained in pursuance of law or in connection with the transaction of public business.
 
The PRA sets forth different retention schedules for different types of records. Several factors shape how long a record needs to be held. Many records are only kept for so long as business requires them to be kept, although if a record has historical significance or is created by an agency head or director, it may need to be kept longer. For example, certain records are required to be maintained permanently, such as records from standing committees of the General Assembly, annual reports of state agencies, and correspondence of agency directors. Other records need only be kept so long as they are administratively necessary, such as reminders of events like blood drives or fund raisers, courtesy copies of correspondence, or messages received from a listserv. Along the continuum, other records may be required to be retained for 30 days to ten years, depending on their content. After the retention time has expired for a particular document, then that record may be destroyed pursuant to the guidelines set forth by the Library of Virginia.2

2 PRA is administered by the Library of Virginia. For more details on retention schedules for particular types of records or for a particular agency, or for information regarding the proper disposal of records, please contact the Library of Virginia. Records retention information and contact information is also available on the Library's website at http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwedo/records/index.htm.
 
In providing guidance for adhering to the PRA, the Library of Virginia notes that e-mail should be treated the same as paper correspondence. Again, e-mail is only the medium, or the envelope, by which the correspondence is sent; the retention schedule for a particular e-mail will depend on its content and should be preserved the same as its paper equivalent. Both incoming and outgoing e-mail should be retained, along with any attachments sent via e-mail.
 
Tips for using and managing e-mail
All e-mails related to public business are subject to the provisions of FOIA and the PRA, and should be managed in the same manner as all other public records.
 
There is a tendency with e-mail to hit the delete button as soon as you are finished with a particular message. However, consideration must be given to whether that particular e-mail must be retained for purposes of the PRA -- you can't automatically delete your e-mail, just as you can't automatically throw away paper correspondence and records.
 
FOIA governs access to records. The PRA dictates how long you are required to keep certain records. If a government entity keeps an e-mail (or any other record) for longer than its retention schedule requires, that e-mail will still be subject to FOIA if requested. Conversely, if a government entity properly disposes of a record pursuant to a retention schedule, and a subsequent FOIA request is made for that record, FOIA does not require the government entity to recreate the record.
 
E-mail is often used as a substitute for a telephone call, and is quite informal. However, e-mail creates a record of that communication that must be retained pursuant to the PRA and will be available upon request to the public under FOIA. Consider the consequence of choice to use e-mail instead of the telephone -- it may not be in your best interest to be as informal on e-mail as you are on the telephone.
 
The Library of Virginia discourages the practice of maintaining permanent records solely in electronic format, without a paper or microfilm backup.3 For records that do not need to be maintained permanently, these e-mails can be printed out and stored in a traditional, paper file (and the electronic copy can be deleted) or electronic folders can be created on the computer to organize e-mails based on functions, subjects or activities. The Library of Virginia suggests that these folders are assigned to your home directory on the computer, and not on the network. By way of example, at the FOIA Council we print a copy of all of the FOIA questions that we receive via e-mail, along with our corresponding response, and file the paper copy in a chronological file. After we have printed a copy to retain for our records, we delete the e-mail off of the computer.
 
Public officials and employees should not commingle personal and official e-mails. Private e-mails do not need to be retained; e-mails relating to the transaction of public business do. From an e-mail management perspective, it is probably not a good idea to mix personal and official business in the same e-mail. Official e-mails that need to be retained should be maintained with other public records that relate to the same content.
________________________________________________________________________
 
As is clearly evident; the Commonwealth of Virginia does have established guidance pertaining to the use of private email accounts by elected officials and government employees.  Virginia also has laws against government officials and employees passing insider information, holding non-public meetings, conducting government business outside of the parameters of FOIA. Unfortunately, Virginia has not established laws prohibiting its officials and employees from sending government information to their private email accounts. There are no specific laws defining what can and cannot be done with government information sent to their private email accounts.  There are no specific laws that allow for government or public access to their private accounts to establish audit trails or fulfill FOIA requests.  There are no specific laws that prevent the disclosure of information protected from public disclosure when information is sent to a private email account.  There are no specific laws requiring the registration of private email accounts used to conduct government business.  Without more specific laws regulating private email use in government it is essentially left up to each official’s and employee’s conscious and integrity to decide whether or not they will follow the guidelines established by the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council and the Code of Virginia.      
 
Many communities throughout the United States of America like Gloucester CountyVirginia now see many of their elected government officials and government employees using private email accounts to conduct government business, pass insider information, hold private meetings and skirt FOIA requirements.  A quick look at email addresses for Gloucester County Supervisors on the Gloucester County website revealed each Supervisor having there own county government email address.  A quick look at the Gloucester County Public Schools website revealed six of the seven Gloucester County School Board members list private email addresses.  A review of FOIA obtained Gloucester County Public Schools email conversations revealed email conversations that were either sent to, forwarded to, carbon copied to or originated from private email addresses belonging to Gloucester County School Board members and school administration personnel.  This is further evidence of these officials’ and employees’ ongoing conscious and deliberate effort to minimize transparency in local government. 
 
 
Betty Jane Duncan…BJDuncan12@cox.net
Ben Kiser…Kiserben@gmail.com  AND
Ben Kiser… hkiser1@cox.net
Diane Gamache…dgamache2@cox.net
Charles Records…crecords@zandler-dev.com
Ann Burruss…Aburruss2@cox.net
Carla Hook…hookc@cox.net
Kevin Smith…kevinsmith914@gmail.com   AND  
Kevin Smith…rev.kev2@verizon.net
Kimberly Hensley… kimberlyehensley@gmail.com
Randy Burack…georgeburak@cox.net 
Troy Andersen…troyandersengp@cox.net
Enhanced by Zemanta