Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis, including Inspector General publicity, a not-so-transparent law in Spain, and lots of money for government tech start ups. 

National News

• Inspectors General often have trouble getting their reports heard over the din of Washington. Luckily, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction runs a robust PR operation and believes in sharing tips with other watchdogs. (POGO)
• The third round of Presidential Innovation Fellows has been announced. (The White House)
• The GOP is looking increasingly likely to take the Senate in October and K street is already preparing. A group of Republican Senators met with major lobbyists and donors for a strategy session yesterday morning. (POLITICO)
• Fitbit, the personal health tracking company, is stocking up its Washington pantry after Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) questioned the privacy practices of it and similar companies. (National Journal)

International News

• Spain is set to launch its transparency law in three months but, despite calls from civil society, the government has not been forthcoming with any guidance as to how it will be implemented. (Access-Info)

State and Local News

• The new GovTech venture capital fund will focus on funding software and hardware start ups building tools aimed at state, local, and national governments. (Fast Company Exist)
• Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is tackling civic technology problems with open data and students in the City University of New York’s Service Corps program. The CUNY students will learn how to mine the Big Apple’s data portal. (Gotham Gazette)
• Predictive analysis is helping cities predict and move to ameliorate public health crises before they happen. (Harvard Business Review)

Events Today

• Seminar: Evaluating Transparency Initiatives Using Field Experiments. Inter-American Development Bank. Tues. 9/16. 9:00 am. 1300 New York Ave NW, Room Andres Bello 1.
• Innovative State: How new technologies can transform government. Hooks Books. Tues. 9/16. 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave SE.

Events Tomorrow

• Markup: The Inspector General Empowerment Act, among other business. House Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Wed. 9/17. 12:00 pm. 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.
• Legislative Hearing on H.R. 5066, to reauthorize the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program Act of 2005 through 2019, and other legislation. House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. Wed. 9/17. 2:00 pm. 1324 Longworth House Office Building.

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.