'National Science Foundation (NSF) is creating the first-ever prototype open knowledge network. Known as Proto-OKN, it will be a free, publicly available, searchable database containing troves of research data from major U.S. government agencies. '
by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott & Alex Mierjeski @ProPublica
#Thomas has attended at least two #Koch donor summits, putting him in the extraordinary position of having helped a #political network that has brought multiple #cases before the #SupremeCourt.
While most Americans aren’t familiar w/the 1984 case #ChevronvNRDC, it’s one of #SCOTUS’s most-cited decisions. #Legal scholars sometimes mention it in the same breath as #BrownVBoardOfEducation & #RoeVWade. In essence, #Chevron is about #GovernmentAgencies’ ability to issue #regulations. After a #law is enacted, it’s generally up to #agencies across the gov to make detailed rules to put it into effect. The Chevron decision said courts should be hesitant to second-guess agencies’ determinations.
In 2005, #ClarenceThomas wrote the majority opinion in a case that EXPANDED #Chevron’s #protections for #GovernmentAgencies. 10yrs later, he was openly questioning the doctrine. Then in 2020, Thomas renounced HIS OWN earlier decision, writing that he’d determined the doctrine is #unconstitutional after all — a rare #reversal for a justice w/a reputation for being unmovable in his views.
WOLVES COULD SLOWLY BE MAKING THEIR COMEBACK IN THE NORTHEAST
An article in #TheNewYorkTimes explores the story of a #wolf that was killed by a hunter after being mistaken for a #coyote in central #NewYork. The article points to conservationists who question if #GovernmentAgencies are doing enough to safeguard #wolves in the region— especially if wolf territories continue to expand back into their native regions.