National Freedom of Information Coalition
Protecting Your Right to Open Government

Author: NFOIC

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COMPLY-Investor advocates push to see trove of arbitration records

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From Reuters: Dec 5 (Reuters) – A long-running battle over whether the top U.S. securities regulator should release records about its supervision of Wall Street’s arbitration process is about to go another round, this time with input from a vocal consumer advocate.

For nearly four years, a group of lawyers has been pushing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to release documents about its oversight over how the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority selects arbitrators who hear legal disputes between brokerages and investors.

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The Center for Media and Democracy may settle open records case

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From Sawyer County Record: The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), a Madison-based research and reporting group, is currently in settlement negotiations with the state attorney general's office over an open records case.

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AP files open records lawsuits against NM governor

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From Las Cruces Sun-News: SANTA FE – The Associated Press filed lawsuits Thursday against Gov. Susana Martinez and administration agencies for refusing to release records about her work and travel schedules, cell phone calls and expenses of the security officers who travel with the governor.

The lawsuits alleging violations of the Inspection of Public Records Act are the latest by media and watchdog groups against Martinez, who has promoted herself as a strong advocate of a transparent government.

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‘Giftgate’ prompts ethics reform

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From The News Virginia: RICHMOND — Virginia has historically prided itself on its relative lack of government scandals.

But recent events — namely when Gov. Bob McDonnell accepted significant gifts from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams — have prompted concern over the state’s system of ethical checks and balances, leaving some to question whether the law goes far enough in holding its governing officials financially accountable.

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Did South Dakota officials skirt Open meeting laws?

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From Rapid City Journal: When Rapid City school officials heard of the dust-up over the Pledge of Allegiance in Sioux Falls, they decided to get out in front of the issue. They had an informal chat among board members, and without any public input or discussion, approved a change in practice by adding the pledge to the beginning of every student's school day.

But the change did not sit well with some freedom of information advocates.

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Newtown 911 tapes released after court fight

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Newtown school shooting 911 calls reveal a mixture of calm and anguish from the callers, and gunshots from the assailant are heard in the background, audio recordings released on Dec. 4 reveal.

Officials in Newtown, Connecticut, released recordings of 911 emergency phone calls from the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

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Opinion: Don’t believe the spin from ALEC

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From PR Watch: The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) will gather state legislators and corporate interests this week in Washington, DC, to craft a corporate-friendly legislative agenda for the coming year. Below we address some common spin from ALEC and its supporters so reporters and citizens don't get fooled.
 
MYTH: ALEC is "Transparent"

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Arkansas Republican Party official sues governor over rejected public records request

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From The Republic: LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — The executive director of the Arkansas Republican Party filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to force Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe to comply with her public records request for documents his office received from those seeking appointments to state boards or commissions.

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Julian Assange unlikely to face U.S. charges over publishing classified documents

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From The Washington Post: The Justice Department has all but concluded it will not bring charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified documents because government lawyers said they could not do so without also prosecuting U.S. news organizations and journalists, according to U.S. officials.

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