Matthew Heller

Tech Giants Seek Right To Disclose National Security Demand Details

Facing huge potential losses from the fallout of Edward Snowden’s NSA disclosures, four Internet giants push to sidestep a gag order limiting their transparency.

Matthew Heller
By Matthew Heller
GoogleWeb

LOS ANGELES --- One of the indirect casualties of the National Security Agency's surveillance activities has been the reputations of several of the world's largest Internet companies, including Google Inc., Facebook Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Yahoo Inc. Based on the disclosures of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, the Guardian and Washington

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Oakland’s Anti-Spy Center Campaign Sets Template For Other Cities

Unprecedented public outcry and opposition prompts Oakland to dial down its plans for a mass surveillance system.

Matthew Heller
By Matthew Heller
Oakland

LOS ANGELES -- Less than a year ago, the city of Oakland, Calif., took what privacy activists considered to be a major step toward a surveillance state. In July 2013, the Oakland City Council unanimously approved the implementation of the Domain Awareness Center, a surveillance hub that would combine public and private cameras and sensors from

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Black And Hispanic Students Punished More Severely Than White Counterparts

The data are clear: Black and Hispanic students are punished more often and more severely than their White counterparts. Less clear, however, is why this is or how to fix it.

Matthew Heller
By Matthew Heller
School Weapons

LOS ANGELES --- Amid increasing concern over racial disparities in the administration of student discipline in America's schools, many have pointed to the racial bias of school officials to account for the disparities. “[I]n our investigations we have found cases where African-American students were disciplined more harshly and more frequently

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Fight At Big Calif. Grower Tests Workplace Democracy

Thousands of California farmworkers are facing a tough choice: pay dues to a union they don’t want to represent them or lose their jobs.

Matthew Heller
By Matthew Heller

LOS ANGELES --- The sealed ballot boxes now stored in the regional office of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board in Visalia, Calif., contain the votes of thousands of employees of Gerawan Farming Inc., the nation's largest peach producer. The workers cast those votes in November to decide whether to strip the United Farm Workers, the union

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Advocates Press On In Chevron’s Ecuador Contamination Case

Despite a legal setback, advocates cite “overwhelming” evidence of Chevron contamination in Ecuador — especially the results of Chevron’s own tests.

Matthew Heller
By Matthew Heller
Chevron Oil Soaked Jungle

LOS ANGELES --- With Chevron Corp. recently having won a major victory in its marathon legal battle over environmental pollution claims in Ecuador, advocates for indigenous Amazonian farmers are trying to refocus attention on evidence showing the extent of Chevron's alleged toxic contamination of the rain forest. U.S. District Judge Lewis A.

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FEC Decision Pushes Bitcoin Further Toward Legitimacy

Bitcoin, a crypto-currency that offers a cloak of anonymity to its users, can now be used in campaign contributions — as long as the contributor provides identifying information.

Matthew Heller
By Matthew Heller

LOS ANGELES --- The U.S. Federal Election Commission has taken a leap into the Digital Age, approving the use of the virtual currency Bitcoin to make financial contributions to political candidates. The FEC's move comes as several candidates running in this year's midterm elections have started accepting Bitcoin contributions. In an opinion

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IRS Furniture Spending Puts Question Mark Over Request for 7% Budget Hike

After spending millions renovating and updating the furniture in IRS offices around the country, the agency’s proposed budget hike could be a hard sell to Congress.

Matthew Heller
By Matthew Heller

As the IRS seeks a 7 percent budget increase, news that the agency has spent $96.5 million on office furniture under the Obama administration may not encourage Congress to loosen the purse strings. The proposed $1.2 billion hike would increase the IRS budget from $11.29 billion for fiscal year 2014 to $12.48 billion for fiscal year 2015. “The

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