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Nearly one in five Virginia local governments received failing grades in an advocacy group's survey of how easy it is for taxpayers to access their budgets online.
The Virginia Coalition for Open Government surveyed the state's 134 counties and cities, and found 26 localities received F grades for having extremely limited or no budget data on their websites. Eighteen localities received A grades, led by the city of Fairfax with the only A-plus.
The organization's review began with a check of how many mouse clicks it takes to get to the locality's budget. It then delved into details, including whether documents were searchable by keyword and whether past budgets were available for comparison purposes.
The testers also checked for context, explanations and summaries.
James Gandolfini Dies; 'Sopranos' Actor Was 51
Actor James Gandolfini, 51, has reportedly died. Variety magazine reports that he suffered a "sudden stroke." The cause of death is not yet known with certainty, but HBO says the actor may have suffered a heart attack.And The Winner Of The World Food Prize Is ... The Man From Monsanto
The prize is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize for food and agriculture." And this year's winners include Monsanto executive Robert Fraley, a pioneer in genetically engineered crops. If there's a single person who personifies the company's controversial role in American agriculture, it's probably Fraley.Meet The New Governor: Sharply Partisan And Upwardly Mobile
For years, governors were considered the most pragmatic figures in politics. Now, they're using their states to run ideological experiments.Microsoft Responds To Fan Outcry, Changes Xbox One Policies
Microsoft has changed policies regarding Internet connection and used game capabilities for its upcoming Xbox One gaming console. The company says it is responding to feedback from consumers.Leave a Comment
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