Despite Montana’s strong public information laws, news organizations in many Montana counties, including Missoula and Butte, have long fought for the public’s right to access the photographs taken of accused criminals when they are booked into jail.
Thanks to a recent district court ruling, that fight has been largely settled. Not surprisingly, public access triumphed.
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A Wisconsin bill that would shine light on the emerging investigative technologies and techniques being used by law enforcement is headed for a public hearing this week.
The Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations has scheduled a hearing on the legislation for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Capitol.
As law enforcement agencies face new crime-fighting challenges in the Digital Age, they are employing technology and tactics that raise civil liberties concerns.
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Read More… from Hearings slated for surveillance technology, WIAA open records bills in Wisconsin
Meeting the public’s demand for open government data presents opportunities for elected and appointed officials, as well as many challenges, including associated costs and privacy issues, a Rutgers report finds.
Forty representatives from academia, civic groups, media, municipal, county and state government and open government advocates participated in an Open Government Data Thought Forum to learn about issues related to making various data collected and held by government agencies available to the public in unrestricted, reusable and redistributable form.
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At some Arizona schools, more than 30 percent of children haven't been vaccinated against such dangerous infectious diseases as whooping cough and measles.
Parents, state Representative Juan Mendez says, have a right to know which ones.
The Arizona Department of Health lists vaccination rates for kindergarten and sixth-grade children online for most public, charter, and private schools. But, to find the data, you have to know where to look and then wade through a hefty spreadsheet.
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Read More… from Bill requires Arizona schools to list immunization rates for infectious diseases
Freedom of Information Oklahoma is accepting nominations for its annual awards that will recognize individuals and organizations that promoted the First Amendment and the free flow of information to the public in 2015.
Those who opposed dissemination of public information are recognized with the organization’s Black Hole Award. The Ben Blackstock Award is presented to a non-governmental person or organization that has shown a commitment to freedom of information.
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Read More… from FOI Oklahoma seeks nominations for 2015 First Amendment, FOI awards
Only a handful of Kansas' 165 legislators have signed an initiative to promote openness and transparency in state government by taking what is being called the "transparency pledge," but the list does include most Lawrence-area legislators.
The Open Kansas initiative was announced Jan. 27 by a coalition of advocacy groups, including Kansas Appleseed, El Centro, Communities Creating Opportunity, Kansas Action for Children, and Kansas Association of Community Action Programs.
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Read More… from Kansas transparency pledge drawing few lawmakers
Records related to “critical infrastructure” would become exempt from disclosure under public records law if a bill that was introduced Friday passes.
“Anyone can walk into any government office and get whatever blueprints they want,” Will Hart, executive director of the Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities Association, told the House State Affairs Committee.
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Read More… from Idaho bill would exempt infrastructure records from disclosure
House Republican and Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico have been gathering in closed-door committee and subcommittee meetings over the last two weeks to discuss how to allocate more than $6 billion in state money, without the public scrutiny that comes with most committee hearings.
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Read More… from New Mexico open-government group questions secret budget talks
Months after statewide body camera legislation took effect and the Houston Police Department outlined its policies regarding the devices, local criminal justice watchdogs worry that some video from high-profile incidents may never see the light of day.
At issue, they say, are provisions in the law that could stymie requests for camera footage, privacy protections, and local departmental reluctance to release information.
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Read More… from Concerns raised about accessibility of police body camera footage in Texas
Law enforcement agencies in South Carolina would need a judge's permission to withhold dashcam video under legislation intended to prevent police from indefinitely blocking the public's ability to scrutinize an officer's action.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin said Thursday his bill could inject confidence in a police decision.
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Read More… from South Carolina bill requires police to get judge’s OK to withhold video
