National Freedom of Information Coalition
Protecting Your Right to Open Government

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State police release prelimary details of shredding scandal investigation

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Illinois State Police investigators interviewed 20 witnesses and reviewed thousands of documents as part of their investigation into the Springfield Police Department's destruction of internal affairs records, newly released documents show.

A seven-page memorandum outlining a timeline of key dates and excerpts of the state police investigation was released to The State Journal-Register on Friday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

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Federal Court Denies Anti-Abortion Group FOIA Request

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An antiabortion group’s appeal, under the Freedom of Information Act to have access to documents involving a federal grant being awarded to a Planned Parenthood Agency, has been rejected by the federal appeals court.

In 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded federal grant funds to the Planned Parenthood Agency. The New Hampshire Right to Life subsequently filed a lawsuit, which sought documents related to the award of the grant.

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FOIA Complaint Against Dewey Beach Over Land Deal

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A Freedom of Information Act complaint has been filed with the Delaware state Attorney General’s Office against the town of Dewey Beach.

Around a dozen property owners say they are not happy with how the resort cut a deal for a contingency contract to buy two properties along Coastal Highway.

The complaint was filed on February 13th and includes former Commissioner Joy Howell. Continue>>>
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Opinion: Don’t Let UW Hide Research Records

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Deep in the bowels of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2015-17 budget is language to exempt research done by the University of Wisconsin System from the state’s open records law, unless it is published or patented.

This blanket exemption would spare the UW from needing a good reason to deny access to these records, as current law requires. Instead, universities could categorically spurn inquiries from citizens, media and even lawmakers looking into controversial research, potential threats to public safety, conflicts of interest or how tax dollars are spent.

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Assistant AG says Oakley’s ‘phantom philanthropists’ don’t qualify for police exemption of FOIA

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A Saginaw County judge has approved a motion from the Michigan Attorney General's Office allowing the state agency to get involved in a case about the release of the names of approximately 100 Oakley Police Department reserve police officers.

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Bill creating court to hear FOIA complaints passes House

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The South Carolina House has given key approval to a bill that creates a new court to handle disputes over how government agencies handle open records requests.

The bill approved 90-16 on Wednesday would cut the amount of time agencies can take to answer a request for public records to 10 business days. It also would require agencies to post fee schedules to assure they are not trying to block requests by charging excessive money for copying and research.

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Opinion: A Stronger Freedom of Information Act

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Congress came tantalizingly close last year to passing a bill to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, which allows journalists and the public to access federal government records. The legislation, which would have brought more transparency, was blocked in December when the House speaker, John Boehner, refused to hold a vote on the Senate bill with no explanation. Two months later, lawmakers have a second chance.

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Leveling the price of the freedom of information

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Starting this summer, most public bodies in Michigan will be somewhat more accountable, a bit more transparent, in allowing people to discover what they do and how they do it.

The so-called Freedom of Information Act — so-called because it’s studded with exceptions and doesn't apply to the legislature or courts — was modified during the just-ended legislative session to give people a bit more leverage to press government for information.

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