Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis including more problems with government accessing its own data, a new tool to track bike accidents, and more.

National News

• It’s not a bad episode of the West Wing, it’s merely a misadventure in Federal technology procurement. The government may end up paying a bankrupt contractor more than $14 million to ensure that USASpending.gov and FPDS-NG don’t disappear. The contractor essentially owns these systems and the government is trying to buy them back. (Washington Business Journal)
• Congress is locked in a battle with investigators looking into allegations of insider trading involving a top aide on the House Ways and Means Committee. The STOCK Act may have significant implications on the case in question. (National Journal)
• A challenge to the FBI’s use of “National Security Letters” to conduct warrant-less searches of electronic data, as well as the gag orders that keep the companies served with the letters from going public, is going before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. (National Journal)

International

• Open Knowledge and the Open Definition Advisory Council announced version 2.0 of the Open Definition, which is intended to to support the open data ecosystem by setting out principles for openness in data and content. (Open Knowledge)
• Collideoscope is a new tool from mySociety designed to track bike accidents and near-misses in an attempt to improve the amount of data on such incidents available in the UK. (mySociety)

State and Local News

• Chuck Reed, the Mayor of San Jose California, argues that open government makes it easier for tough fiscal decisions to be made by allowing citizens to fully engage and understand complicated policy decisions. (Governing)
• Los Angeles has its first chief data officer in Abhi Nemani. One of his main goals will be connecting the public with LA’s growing data resources. (Bedrosian Center)

Events Today

• Publish What You Fund’s 2014 Aid Transparency Index Launch. Center for Global Development. Wed. 10/8. 9:00 – 11:00 am. 2055 L Street NW, 5th Floor, 20036.

Events This Week

• Major Drivers for the Development Agenda: The Trade and Development Nexus, Science and Technology, and Governance in the Extractive Industries. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Thurs. 10/9. 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. 1616 Rhode Island ave NW, Second Floor Conference Room, Washington, DC 20036.
• Outside, In: eDiplomacy. POLITICO. Thurs. 10/9. 11:30 am. Carnegie Library, 801 K Street NW, Washington, DC.
• Delivering on the Data Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa. Center for Global Development. Thurs. 10/9. 3:00 – 4:00 pm. 2055 L Street NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036.

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.