When people are asked to shift the ways that they think about and use data, resistance is normal. Here's how Tempe, Arizona is building a culture that treats data as a strategic asset.
Continue readingHow Scottsdale plans to use complementary policies to open up city data
We often speak of an “open data policy,” but there may be multiple policies working together to create a sturdier framework. Scottsdale, Ariz., is taking advantage of this model to ensure its data is truly open.
Continue readingMesa embraces open data with new portal and policy
As a part of its participation in the What Works Cities initiative, Mesa, Ariz., has made major progress toward establishing a comprehensive and sustainable open data program over the past several months.
Continue readingState legislatures taking aim at dark money, disclosure
Legislators in nine states are polishing bills aimed at outing the largest donors of politically active dark money operations.
Continue reading$10 million in political ads might be heading to a TV near you
With 40 days until the general election, party committees dropped a combined $10 million over two days, pouring money into negative ads in competitive races.
Continue readingMucho dinero for broadcast ads in Arizona and Colorado; nada at Spanish-language stations
Since the beginning of July, groups have bought millions of dollars worth of TV air time in Arizona and Colorado, but not one dime has gone towards ad time at Spanish language stations.
Continue readingWisconsin governor scandal shows states as the new front in fight for dark money disclosure
It's still an open question whether the allegations brought against Scott Walker will end his career, but they could signal the beginning of the end to loopholes that wealthy donors use to keep their names out the public eye.
Continue readingDenver TV station pulls its biggest political ad order from public site
A TV ad-buying company with close ties to Republican Party leaders pulled a $740,070 contract from a Denver TV station when a reporter tried to learn who was footing the bill.
Continue readingOn gun control, states are where the action is
While their efforts to win new federal gun regulations stalled out this year, gun control advocates did win some victories in big states.
Continue readingStart your engines: GOP makes first 2014 ad buys against Democratic House members
(Updated: 2:25 p.m.)
The National Republican Congressional Committee is making its first ad buy of the 2014 season with a blitz against seven vulnerable House Democrats.
Sunlight's Ad Hawk, which allows mobile phone users identify the sources of political advertising, picked up new spots aimed at the incumbents overnight. The early ads underscore the already-intensifying battle for the House, which President Barack Obama has vowed to put back in Democratic control. The president is travelling to the West Coast today for a series of fundraisers benefiting the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Read the details on Political Party ...
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