Kansas state legislators recently opened up the Kansas Open Records Act for review after finding more than 360 exemptions that will expire on July 1, 2005.

The Bush administration is considering a plan to allow low-level radioactive material to be stored in ordinary landfills and hazardous waste sites. Currently, such waste must be stored at facilities specifically licensed for radioactive material. Under the plan, EPA would permit radioactive waste to be disposed of in landfills designed and permitted only for chemical waste, industrial waste and municipal garbage.

Congress recently approved legislation that allows logging in old-growth forests and does little to limit wildfire risks in areas close to homes. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act passed the House by a vote of 286 to 140, with the Senate following suit by voice vote. The measure, which takes its cue from President Bush’s “Healthy Forests Initiative,” allows increased commercial logging of old-growth trees in national forests, purportedly to reduce runaway forest fires that have plagued the West in recent years, even though such trees are not the source of the problem.

The first academic study comparing the effectiveness of faith-based and secular providers of social services was released this month. It showed in one area – job training – secular groups were more effective than faith-based groups. But the research notes that broad conclusions can not be reached yet.