Unspecific, unknown deaths rose 10 times more among Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people than among white Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis by MuckRock. The true toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on many communities of color is worse than previously known.

We are now accepting submissions for The Foilies 2023, our annual collaboration with the Electronic Frontier Foundation to give tongue-in-cheek awards to the officials and institutions that behave badly (or just ridiculously) when served with a request for public records.

Need some inspiration or just a good laugh? Read through prior years' "winners" here, including ridiculous fee estimates, endless waits and a mysteriously redacted detail about a hero dog.

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• Life imitates art: A top aide to Gov. Ron DeSantis used a private email address with the alias “Clarice Starling” — a reference to the Hannibal Lecter serial killer novels — to help his former client win a state contract to operate Florida’s controversial migrant flight program, recently released public records show. Read more from Nicholas Nehamas at the Tampa Bay Times.
• High cost of secrecy: The city of San Diego has paid more than $240,000 in attorney fees and court costs since the start of last year for denying California Public Records Act requests — and more judgments are likely coming soon, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Diego Union Tribune.

For The Record was written by Michael Morisy.