Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis including the billion dollar midterms, spreading anti-corruption success in Europe, and hiding public institutions behind corporate doors in Florida.

National News

• Spending on TV ads is expected to top $1 billion over the course of the 2014 midterm election season. (Washington Post)
• K Street firms are gearing up for the possibility of a Republican Senate, staffing up and making sure that their top Republican staff are getting some public attention. (Roll Call)

International

• A new documentary on Edward Snowden argues that the only way for governments to avoid more embarrassing leaks is to make themselves more transparent. (The Guardian)
• The Czech Republic joined with representatives from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Transparency International to organize a conference exploring anti-corruption efforts in those countries. (Transparency International)

State and Local News

• Three steps to starting or improving open data programs: Start with data that is already public, look for “desire lines” towards data that people want, and go offline and into the real world. (Government Technology)
• Waze, a mapping app recently acquired by Google, is looking to partner with governments to get more public data incorporated into their systems. (CivSource)
• Florida’s 12 public universities are avoiding state public records laws by setting up corporations to oversee everything from athletic programs to dorm construction. (Miami Herald)

Events Today

• How Data Journalism Drives Results in Developing Countries. Center for International Media Assistance. Wed. 10/15. 12:00 – 2:00 pm. National Endowment for Democracy, 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC.

Later This Week

• Tech Rising: The influence of social media and new technologies in Afghanistan’s Democracy. United States Institute of Peace. Thurs. 10/16. 9:00 am – 1:30 pm. 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC.

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.