Spencer Hsu reports in the Washington Post that chemical manufacturers will be able to store and ship larger amounts of potentially dangerous chemicals, including chemical fertilizers and flammable gases, without disclosing this activity to the Department of Homeland Security.  Environmental organizations have criticized the changes as favoring industry at the expense of public safety.

How can we fix the contracting mess that leads to mistakes and wasteful spending across the government?  By training more people to work in government as contracting specialists.   In the category of obvious and urgent reforms, this one’s at the front of the file, and the U.S. Army seems ready to act.
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Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic Monthly points out here that crossing the border into the United States is becoming a less and less pleasant experience for people from around the world.  I’ve seen it myself, and friends of mine visiting from abroad have been subjected to what can only be called arbitrary cruelty by officials at the border.  It didn’t used to be this way.  Customs and Border Protection needs to remember out that part of their job is to welcome foreign travelers and immigrants.