Steamboat Pilot & Today: Freedom of information advocates are raising concern about a U.S. Department of Interior policy that limits what staff can tell the public about deaths and serious injuries that occur at national parks.

The Society of Professional Journalists and 11 other journalist and civic organizations sent a letter to the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Aug. 12, asking him to reconsider the policy outlined in an internal memo, which was first reported by the Washington Post.

“This policy stifles the free flow of information, keeping pressing information about our public lands from Americans while also potentially violating public employees’ First Amendment rights,” the letter states.

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