Every week, journalists, researchers, and every day people use public records laws and the Freedom of Information Act to shine light on important (or at least interesting) issues in the most unexpected places. Whether you’re just getting started with public records or are a seasoned document hunters, here’s ideas to help jumpstart your own requesting.

After requesting emails between Donald J. Trump Inc. and the the Worcester Police Department, the department said it would cost over $800, citing the sizable task of separating the police officers’ emails from those of other city employees. A revised request for all of the emails then brought the cost to nearly $9,000, with WPD arguing that “due to the sensitive nature of the emails, each will take 15 minutes to review and redact.”