VR Research, 510 16th Street, Ste 520, Oakland, CA (2026)

04/08/2021

Stock trading by members of Congress has faced increased scrutiny following several reports of well-timed stock trades by members leading up to the financial crash that accompanied the coronavirus pandemic. The 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act requires members of Congress to report these stock trades. In our latest blog, we discuss where to find those reports, as well as the helpful Senate Stock Watcher site, which makes it easier to navigate market transactions by Senators.

Stock trading by members of Congress has been closely scrutinized following several reports of well-timed stock trades by members leading up to the financial crash that accompanied the coronavirus pandemic. Contemporary public knowledge of Congressmembers’ stock transactions has existed for le

11/18/2020

In our new blog, we discuss a recent federal court ruling that is slated to compel the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department to release the names, addresses and precise loan amounts of all Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan recipients, including those under $150,000. Read our blog to learn about the SBA's response to the court order and what it means for transparency.

In this blog, we discuss a recent federal court ruling that is slated to compel the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department to release additional details about Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan recipients. When the SBA and Treasury Dept. released data on the recipi

10/14/2020

Our new blog discusses how origin stories can provide powerful connections to consumers, but can also be scrutinized by critics who may latch onto inconsistencies or exaggerations to undermine a business.

A recent Los Angeles Times piece illustrated that while origin stories can provide powerful connections to consumers and help launch or sustain companies, these foundational narratives can also be scrutinized by critics or competitors who may latch onto inconsistencies or exaggerations to undermin

09/29/2020

How would you figure out what a 1940s Los Angeles gas station looked like? What about a Roman gladiator’s helmet or the inside of a Cold War era submarine? When filmmakers have sought to recreate a bygone era, they have traditionally turned to research libraries to understand the nuances of a particular historical moment. In our new blog we discuss the Harold and Lillian Michelson Library, a storied Hollywood institution that has been a resource to filmmakers for over 50 years, but which has recently struggled to find a home for its collection.

How would you figure out what a 1940s Los Angeles gas station looked like? What about a Roman gladiator’s helmet or the inside of a Cold War era submarine ? When filmmakers have sought to recreate a bygone era, they have traditionally turned to research libraries to understand the nuances of a

08/25/2020

Our new blog discusses the recent US Appeals court decision that found the federal judiciary is overcharging for public access to online court records. The decision came in response to a 2016 class action lawsuit that challenged PACER fees.

In this blog, we discuss a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that found the federal judiciary is overcharging for public access to online court records . The decision came in response to a 2016 class action lawsuit against the federal courts’ record keeping syste

07/24/2020

In our new blog, we discuss how public records can be used to identify the individuals behind a business venture by looking at a recent expose on the e-cigarette company. The nonprofit news organization FairWarning utilized a variety of records - including corporate filings, litigation, trademark applications and a podcast- to shed light on the company.

In this blog, we discuss how public records can be used to identify the individuals behind a business venture by looking at a recent expose on the e-cigarette company Puff Bar. The nonprofit news organization FairWarning utilized a variety of records - including corporate filings , litigation ,

07/21/2020

Our new blog discusses the disclosure of loan data for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department. Researchers can now search for the names of any loan recipient who received more than $150,000, which the SBA and Treasury Department claimed accounted for “nearly 75 percent” of all loan dollars approved under the program.

In this blog, we discuss the disclosure of loan data for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department. The release follows multiple calls from good government groups and politicians for transparency related to the $659 bill

07/09/2020

Researching your family history, which used to require trips to state libraries and obscure archives, has become much easier in the digital age. In our most recent blog, we outline some different resources that can be used to gain a more nuanced understanding of our ancestry.

Researching your family history, which used to require trips to state libraries and obscure archives, has become much easier in the digital age. In this blog we’ll outline some different resources that can be used to gain a more nuanced understanding of our ancestry

06/08/2020

When most people think about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests being utilized to expose wrongdoing in government, they think of journalists exposing corruption, discrimination or waste. However, there are many different types of organizations that utilize FOIA to hold government agencies accountable, including educational institutions. In this blog, we discuss a recent lawsuit filed by researchers at Stanford University and the University of Oregon School of Law against the California prison system in an attempt to access race and ethnicity data for parole applicants.

When most people think about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests being utilized to expose wrongdoing in government, they think of journalists exposing corruption , discrimination or waste . However, there are many different types of organizations that utilize FOIA to hold government age

05/08/2020

The recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security bill, or CARES Act, allocated $669 billion to aid small businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus, which has already generated controversy. In this blog, we discuss a new COVID Stimulus Watch website unveiled by the non-profit Good Jobs First to track the distribution of CARES Act funding, as well as to provide a summary of each recipient’s history of regulatory violations, prior government assistance, tax avoidance issues and CEO pay.

The recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security bill, or CARES Act, allocated $669 billion to aid small businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus that has devastated our economy, which has already generated controversy surrounding the distribution of these funds . In this

04/10/2020

Where Can You Find Pictures of Bootleggers, Popeye Cartoons & Amelia Earhart's Palm Print? Try America's "Book Palace"

The Library of Congress (LOC) is the largest library in the world, with a collection of over 168 million items – from a 19th century glass flute to a lock of Thomas Jefferson’s hair . In fact, the LOC holds several of the world’s largest collections , including the largest collection of cartog...

04/02/2020

In times of increased uncertainty, there is an even greater need for informed decision-making, guided by up-to-date insight from public records. Yet as the coronavirus continues to impact all aspects of our society, public records research is no exception. There are government offices closed across the country, while offices that continue to operate are in some cases seeking exemptions from transparency laws. In our new blog, we’ve outlined several strategies to help researchers navigate these uncertain times.

In times of increased uncertainty, there is an even greater need for informed decision-making, guided by up-to-date insight from public records. Yet as the coronavirus continues to impact all aspects of our society , public records research is no exception. There are government offices closed ac

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