From Contra Costa Times: SACRAMENTO — In a resounding victory for open government advocates and the California media, Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature on Thursday backed away from plans to make the state’s open-records law essentially optional for cities and other local agencies.
[…]
Read More… from Legislature, Gov. Jerry Brown back down on attempt to weaken open records law
From the Ohio Coalition for Open Government: The Ohio Newspaper Association has begun pushing four suggestions to improve Ohio’s open records laws.
[…]
From Miami Herald: GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba — The Obama administration Monday lifted a veil of secrecy surrounding the status of the detainees at Guantánamo, for the first time publicly naming the four dozen captives it defined as indefinite detainees — men too dangerous to transfer but who cannot be tried in a court of law.
[…]
Read More… from FOIA suit reveals Guantánamo’s ‘indefinite detainees’
From Hartford Business: Sherman D. London, a consultant with the Trumbull-based public relations firm Michael J. London & Associates, has been named this year’s recipient of the Helen M. Loy Freedom of Information Award by the Connecticut Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
[…]
Read More… from SPJ honors London with FOI Award Girl Scouts elect 3 Emmys to NBC
From The Republic: SACRAMENTO, California — Cities and counties could dramatically restrict the information they release to the public without explanation under a bill approved by the state Legislature and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown as part of the state budget package.
[…]
From KPBS: Last-minute language introduced into a trailer bill to California’s state budget would seriously threaten government transparency.
Peter Scheer, executive director of California’s First Amendment Coalition, said the amendment is meant to cut costs, but it would actually eliminate the public’s ability to get information with public records requests.
[…]
Read More… from Budget bill threatens public records access in California
From Daily Democrat: Cities and counties could dramatically restrict the information they release to the public without explanation under a bill approved by the state Legislature and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown.
[…]
Read More… from Public records law ‘eviscerated’ by budget bill
From The Columbus Dispatch: The latest effort by state lawmakers to close public records in Ohio would eliminate the ability for journalists to view concealed-handgun-license records.
Sen. Joseph Uecker, R-Loveland, said other states are moving toward closing off access to concealed-carry-license information. Journalists currently are the only members of the public with any ability to view the records in Ohio.
[…]
