NFOIC – Page 411 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Google urges US gov to be more open about online spying

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From Firstpost: Search giant Google Inc pushed the US government to be more open about its online spying on Wednesday in the first such testimony before Congress by a major technology company since a series of news leaks began in June.

In written testimony submitted to a US Senate judiciary subcommittee, a Google executive said that the official secrecy was contrary to American values and hurting US economic interests.

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Homeland Security must disclose ‘Internet Kill Switch,’ court rules

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From The Washington Times: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must disclose its plans for a so-called Internet “kill switch,” a federal court ruled on Tuesday.

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia rejected the agency’s arguments that its protocols surrounding an Internet kill switch were exempt from public disclosure and ordered the agency to release the records in 30 days. However, the court left the door open for the agency to appeal the ruling.

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Maine Supreme Court ordered to release 911 transcripts in Biddeford murder case

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From Portland Press Herald: (Nov. 14, 2013) The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled unanimously in favor of the Portland Press Herald’s appeal requesting authorities to release transcripts of 911 calls in a Biddeford murder case, opening the door on whether other 911 recordings are public record.

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Gubernatorial candidate Abbott calls for greater privacy protections, legalizing open carry

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From The Republic: AUSTIN, Texas — Republican candidate for governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday he supports making it legal to openly carry handguns in public and wants to place stricter limits on state agencies selling personal information from public records.

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Limits on fees for public records passed by Michigan state House committee

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From Detroit Free Press: LANSING — Public bodies would be limited in what they could charge for copying public records under the Freedom of Information Act under a bill passed by a House committee Tuesday.

The bill would allow public bodies to charge $0.10 per page for documents requested by anyone under the Freedom of Information Act. They also could charge labor costs of up to three times the minimum wage in Michigan of $7.40 per hour.

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Florida teacher value-added data is public record, appeal court rules

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From The Florida Times-Union: The Times-Union sued the state in February for the data’s release. Tuesday’s decision reverses a lower circuit court ruling in March, which concluded the data were exempt from public inspection.

According to state law a teacher’s evaluation is not subject to disclosure under the public records law until a year following the school year in which the evaluation was given, but “it does not follow that any information or data used to prepare the evaluation is likewise exempt from disclosure,” the appeal court ruled.

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Judge sets South Bay commissioner sentencing for Dec. 9; Gov. Scott mum on removal from office

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From Palm Beach Post: WEST PALM BEACH — South Bay City Commissioner Shirley Walker-Turner will be sentenced Dec. 9 after being convicted last week for violating the state’s Sunshine law, a Palm Beach County court judge decided Tuesday.
Gov. Rick Scott has not yet decided whether he will remove the longtime commissioner from office — again — a spokesman said. Scott will wait until the legal proceedings are complete, said spokesman John Tupps.

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Charles Hill: Bill would make government information easier and cheaper for public to obtain

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From Michigan Coalition for Open Government: Most government officials and politicians will agree in public that the work of government should be transparent so citizens can judge whether money is being spent wisely and decisions are being made properly.

But the reality is that getting your hands on specific government information isn’t always easy, even when the law says it should be available.

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Penn State alum starts fund for open records fight

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From The Kansas City Star: STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A Penn State alumnus is organizing a drive to fund his legal efforts to obtain records pertaining to the school’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky child-sex scandal, and to make the school more transparent and subject to open records laws in the future.

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Changes to Indian Trail public records policy raises questions

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From wsoctv.com: INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — Proposed changes to the public records policy in Indian Trail are raising questions about government transparency.

Tuesday evening, the Town Council will vote on the proposal, which civil rights experts said could limit citizens’ access to information.

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Under the new policy, residents would have to prepay a 75 percent deposit for any records requests that could exceed $100.

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Author: NFOIC

Posts by NFOIC

Google urges US gov to be more open about online spying

Homeland Security must disclose ‘Internet Kill Switch,’ court rules

Maine Supreme Court ordered to release 911 transcripts in Biddeford murder case

Gubernatorial candidate Abbott calls for greater privacy protections, legalizing open carry

Limits on fees for public records passed by Michigan state House committee

Florida teacher value-added data is public record, appeal court rules

Judge sets South Bay commissioner sentencing for Dec. 9; Gov. Scott mum on removal from office

Charles Hill: Bill would make government information easier and cheaper for public to obtain

Penn State alum starts fund for open records fight

Changes to Indian Trail public records policy raises questions