Immigrants in Small Business, TroopTube, Distance Learning via Cell Phones, and more

• The Free Government Information blog posts about a new OMB Watch report, MOVING TOWARD A 21ST CENTURY RIGHT-TO-KNOW AGENDA: Recommendations to President-elect Obama and Congress. Another related post here is on OpenCongress.org.
  
  
• The Washington Post has an article on a new report by the area's Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on greenhouse gas emissions, recommending that "governments, businesses and residents in the region cut greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent below forecast levels by 2012, 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050." Another recommendation urges local governments to purchase energy jointly and encourage water conservation and recycling. See the press release or the report for details.
  
  
• Docuticker.com points to a new report by the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Estimating the Contribution of Immigrant Business Owners to the U.S. Economy. See also the press release or research summary for an overview.
  
  
• The Free Government Information blog also posts about the President-Elect's plans for establishing the nation's first Chief Technology Officer in the federal government.
  
  
• The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on community college systems offering distance learning via cell phones. Another article from Inside Higher Ed reports that online enrollments are rising sharply due to the economy (unemployment, reducing commuting costs, etc). And who knew it was National Distance Learning Week? And I've also been meaning to blog about ODU offering lectures and more via iTunes.
  
  
• The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has a new Best Practices report on mentoring.
  
  
• Paul Taylor blogs at Government Technology, "Internal Catalysts for Community Collaboration in Public-Sector Renewal," including discussion of D.C.'s Apps for Democracy competition and other progressive web 2.0 applications be used there. Also mentioned are two new online social networks for veterans, including CommunityofVeterans.org and MyVetwork.com. I read via Wired that the DoD has established TroopTube for military families, since it banned YouTube.
  
  
• The Daily Press reports that Gloucester County officials have created a website "to assist nonprofits and other organizations in publicizing their needs this holiday season." Included are requests for donations and volunteers.
  
  
• Another state has established an accountability website, this time it's Louisiana with its LaTrac website. Read more about it via The Times-Picayune.