Inmates in the criminal justice system accrue billions of dollars in estimated debt annually. We’re taking a look at the prison “pay-to-stay” policies responsible.

A federal provision has practically knee-capped research into the violent uses of guns. So if the federal government can’t treat gun violence as a public health problem, then we will.

To celebrate our new non-profit status and over one million pages of public records published, we’re launching our first round of limited-edition MuckRock gear: A hoodie perfect for all your FOIA filing adventures.

Last week, we wrote about the DEA’s files on Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin, the so-called “grandfather of ecstasy.” Included in the report is the agency’s guide to rave culture circa 2001 - so strap in that pacifier, and tighten up that fuzzy backpack, because things are about to get weird.

After the tremendous response to our piece on the CIA’s cafeteria complaints, Michael Morisy immediately filed a follow-up FOIA for the most current copy. Two years and a switch to a far inferior food service contractor later, it’s finally arrived.

The scientist Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin had already been consulting with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for decades. But after an unflattering “High Times” article, they decided to raid his house.

In 2006, Orlando gunman Omar Mateen decided to devote himself full-time to the pursuit of a career in law enforcement. According to a 2015 application for admission into a law enforcement academy at the Indian River State College, he quit his job as a Sales Associate at the General Nutrition Center “to start preparing to become a police officer.”

Much like our previous audit of Texas police departments’ proposals to train officers in the operation of military-grade armored vehicles, similar documents from Californian law enforcement agencies revealed that there is no clear qualification standard when it comes to use of 18-ton Mine-Resistant vehicles.

On the anniversary of the CIA-backed overthrow of Guatemalan leadership, MuckRock wants you to take part in building our collection of coup-related documents.

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife drew international attention for a proposal straight out of a Sci-Fi Original Pictures plot – a program that would turn an island off of the Quabbin reservoir into an endangered rattlesnake sanctuary. While praised in the conservation community, some residents, leery of an island full of snakes, took a different tack – or as one concerned citizen put it, “Have you lost all reason?”

With the summer heat approaching, we look at the process inmates go through for relief before resorting to rioting - the ways you can question operations near you.

Since our founding six years ago, MuckRock has focused on one mission: To be the easiest way to request, analyze and share government documents in order to make politics more transparent and our democracy more informed. We’ve recently restructured into a non-profit to continue to serve that mission for years to come.

With few opportunities to voice their experiences, inmates offer their own insights into prison culture through their complaints. But between record-keeping and paperwork control, access makes them a hard resource to look at until its too late.

When the Lowell Police Department first revealed its new firearms policy last October it was immediately confronted by critics who insisted their constitutional right to bear arms was being violated - despite the fact that the new policies were explicitly designed to make it significantly easier to carry a gun.

Last July, International Business Times reporter David Sirota filed a FOIA with the State Department for all communications sent by Hillary Clinton referencing the Trans Pacific Partnership. After an initial estimate that records would be ready for release by April 30th, 2016, just last week the agency wrote that due to unavoidable delays, that would have to be revised … to November 31st.

Documents provided by the Federal Trade Commission detail nine complaints made about Coursera, several of which allege borderline or outright illegal policies implemented by the firm described as an “educational technology company that offers massive open online courses”

Last year, days before the 46th anniversary of the eponymous riots that sparked the modern LGBT movement, the Stonewall Inn was granted landmark status by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. After a FOIL request, the City released written testimony from the open hearing that led to the Commission’s decision.

By April 29, 2015, the country had had over a week of Baltimore riots and national protests after the arrest, injury, and death of Freddie Gray. In Denver, bystanders captured the chants of marching citizens and police efforts to contain them, including the blast of pepper spray on the streets near the Capitol that caught a child in the face. But of the minutes comprised of mace and arrests, the DPD’s official footage only contains 25 shaky seconds, mostly of pavement.

We’re opening projects to everyone, so that any MuckRock user may create a project to launch an investigation, build an archive, or crowdsource information. What story will you tell?

Five years ago, Jason Smathers filed a FOIA request with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. A week later, the BOP closed out the request due to lack of interest - three days before they even acknowledged receiving it.

The Department of Education has rejected a FOIA request for departmental feedback on the FBI’s Countering Violent Extremism website, which recruits teachers to spy on “troubled” Muslim teens.