ACLU hires Gastañaga as new ED

Contributors

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today announced that it has hired Claire Guthrie Gastañaga to succeed executive director Kent Willis, who last week announced he was leaving after 25 years with the organization. Gastañaga is scheduled to start at the beginning of June. “Claire brings to the ACLU a huge network of people…

Earth Talk: Just Label It

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: Can you fill me in on what the “Just Label It” campaign is and what it is trying to accomplish? – Eric Altieri, Columbus, Ohio Just Label It is an effort spearheaded by organic farmers and food producers, consumer and public health advocates and environmentalists to persuade the federal government to require that…

Court: State can’t privacy advocate from publishing most records found on government websites

Contributors

In an order signed Wednesday, United States District Court Judge Robert E. Payne ruled that privacy advocate B.J. Ostergren may post public records that contain Social Security Numbers on her website, despite a 2008 Virginia law prohibiting the dissemination of such information. The injunction, which was agreed upon by Ostergren and Virginia Attorney General Ken…

AG backs effort to clarify state gambling laws

Chris Graham

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli today announced his support for new legislation which clarifies Virginia’s gambling laws. Questions about the law arose in 2010 when a number of Internet gambling businesses started to appear around the Commonwealth. Companion bills, House Bill 1700 and Senate Bill 1195, patroned by Del. Clay Athey (R-Front Royal) and Sen….