Keep reading for an today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis including studying clouds with help from the cloud, radical disclosure in India, and harmonizing FOIA and open data programs. 

National News

• NASA is teaming with Amazon Cloud Services to study actual clouds. The project is an attempt to harness open climate and earth science data for innovative uses. (Fed Scoop)
• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a version of the DISCLOSE Act that would require all organizations spending $10,000 or more on political ads to disclose all of their donors. (POLITICO)
• David Ferriero, the head of the National Archives, testified that the IRS did not follow the law after losing emails that are now being sought by a Congressional committee. The IRS was supposed to notify NARA as soon as they noticed a problem with the records. (New York Times)

International News

• The leader of India’s Aam Aadmi party is proposing a pretty radical solution to the problems of black money in India’s economy. The proposal would require all Indian citizens to disclose their foreign and domestic bank accounts, business ties, and other assets every year. (The Indian Express)
• Zambia has been slow walking a right to information bill through parliament for a decade, with no tangible results. (Lusaka Times)

State and Local News

• FOIA is key to any good open data process, but the two processes are often disconnected. This can lead to problems, as illustrated by the recent controversy involving poorly depersonalized taxi data. (Civic.io)
• 15 ways, with real world examples, that your city can innovate digitally. (GovLab)

Events Today 

• Business Meeting to Consider the Nomination of Shaun Donovan to be Director of OMB among other items. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Wed. 6/25. 10:00 am. 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• How Data Mining Threatens Student Privacy. House Committee on Education and Workforce’s Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education with House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. Wed. 6/25. 11:00 am. 311 Cannon House Office Building.

Events Tomorrow

• More Equality, More Democracy: The case of Brazil. National Endowment for Democracy. Thurs. 6/26. 3:00 – 4:30. 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800.

Do you want to track transparency news? You can follow the progress of relevant bills, court cases, and regulations using Scout. You can also get Today in #OpenGov sent directly to your preferred news reader. If you would like suggest an event, please email mrumsey@sunlightfoundation.com by 7 am on the Monday prior to the event.