In brief: Chicago approves setting aside land for presidential library

CHICAGO – The Chicago City Council on Wednesday took the step supporters of a Barack Obama presidential library on the South Side hope clears the way for the project to move forward, voting unanimously to turn over about 20 acres in one of two parks should the University of Chicago’s bid be chosen.

Many aldermen and Mayor Rahm Emanuel spent nearly an hour heaping praise on the prospect of having the library in Chicago before the 47-0 vote to transfer the land in either Jackson Park or Washington Park. A re-election-seeking Emanuel, who has pushed hard for the library both as a possible economic engine for the city and as proof of his ability to land the big deal, said the strong show of support is important as Chicago vies against New York and Hawaii for the distinction.

The Barack Obama Foundation is expected to announce a location after the April 7 Chicago election.

Trump forms campaign panel

WASHINGTON – Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to form a presidential exploratory committee.

“I am the only one who can make America truly great again,” the Republican businessman and reality television star declared in a statement announcing the move.

While a step short of a formal campaign launch, the formation of an exploratory panel allows him to begin raising money and hire staff as he weighs a White House bid. Trump said he’s already hired political aides in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, which host the first three contests on the presidential nominating calendar.

The outspoken Republican has long hinted at presidential aspirations, but he appears more serious this time.

Senate OKs campus gun bill

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas would allow people to carry concealed handguns on college campuses under a measure given preliminary approval by the state Senate, just a day after it passed a proposal allowing open carry of guns almost anywhere in the state.

Panned by most student groups and key leaders of Texas’ top colleges – including a retired Navy SEAL who led the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden before becoming the University of Texas’ new chancellor – the “campus carry” bill nonetheless was strongly supported by gun rights groups and the Senate’s Republican majority. It sailed through on a 20-11 party line vote.

The bill still needs a final vote – likely today – to send it to the GOP-controlled state House, where it will also enjoy strong support from many quarters, though passage is not a slam-dunk.

The measure would mandate allowing concealed carry at public universities. Private schools could still ban them.

Records access at new low

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration set a record again for censoring government files or outright denying access to them last year under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, according to a new analysis of federal data by the Associated Press.

The government took longer to turn over files when it provided any, said more regularly that it couldn’t find documents and refused a record number of times to turn over files quickly that might be especially newsworthy.

It also acknowledged in nearly 1 in 3 cases that its initial decisions to withhold or censor records were improper under the law – but only when it was challenged.

Its backlog of unanswered requests at year’s end grew remarkably by 55 percent to more than 200,000. It also cut by 375, or about 9 percent, the number of full-time employees across government paid to look for records. That was the fewest number of employees working on the issue in five years.

Citizens, journalists, businesses and others made a record 714,231 requests for information. The U.S. spent a record $434 million trying to keep up. It also spent about $28 million on lawyers’ fees to keep records secret.