Two Spokane-area representatives were named to a group trying to develop rules for records the Legislature long believed could be kept private but a judge has ruled should be open to the public. Reps. Matt Shea, of Spokane Valley, and Mike Volz, of Spokane, are the House Republican Caucus choices to sit on a Public […]
A federal judge in a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Burlington granted a request by an Iowa watchdog group to intervene in the case. U.S. Senior Judge James Gritzner on Friday granted the request to intervene by the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, but has deferred the watchdog group’s request to unseal police […]
Read More… from Federal judge lets Iowa watchdog intervene in wrongful death lawsuit
WASHINGTON — Before he resigned on Thursday, Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, was facing new questions about whether aides deleted sensitive information about his meetings from his public schedule and potentially violated the law in doing so. Last summer one of his senior schedulers, Madeline G. Morris, was fired by Mr. […]
Read More… from E.P.A. Aide Questioned Deleting Sensitive Meeting Details. Then She Was Fired.
Connecticut has passed a law giving agencies a way to deny “vexatious requesters” access to public records. House Bill 5175 was signed into law by Gov. Dannel Malloy on June 7, 2018. Under the law, a public agency can petition the state’s Freedom of Information Commission “for relief from a requester that the public agency alleges […]
The King County Sheriff’s Office recently got a much-deserved slap on the wrist for sharing inaccurate information with the public and the press and not correcting it in a timely manner. After the June 14, 2017, fatal shooting of 20-year-old Tommy Le by a deputy, the law enforcement agency told the press and the public […]
Read More… from Editorial: Clear communication from law enforcement is crucial
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – The Cuomo administration has announced the launching of a new website that provides access to the public records of dozens of New York state agencies and public authorities. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that Open FOIL NY is a centralized online location to file Freedom of Information Law requests with 59 […]
Read More… from New York: State launches new Freedom of Information Law website
Attorneys for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press have filed a lawsuit on behalf of award-winning freelance journalist Azmat Khan against the United States Department of Defense and Central Command (CENTCOM) after the agencies failed to comply with her Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for records related to civilian casualties in the U.S-led campaign […]
As a parent raising children in a city whose education system is ruled by the scandal du jour, I worry about a proposed amendment which will further entrench us into a culture of darkness. The D.C. Council’s “BEGA Amendment Act of 2018” will end the independent nature of the Office of Open Government. D.C. residents risk losing […]
Read More… from DCOGC: BEGA amendment will hinder public education advocacy
Maine’s judiciary has seen the sunlight: Court records will one day be available online. The decision announced by Chief Justice Leigh Saufley earlier this month stands to open blinds on parts of the state’s judiciary that are difficult to access, currently requiring journalists, activists and members of the public to travel to courthouses in each county to […]
Read More… from A boon for transparency in Maine’s court system
Incrementally, in fits and starts since 2010, the D.C. government has become more transparent to the people it serves. In response to the Fenty administration’s attempts to evade meaningful public oversight, and corruption scandals ensnaring high elected and appointed officials and political operatives, the D.C. Council enacted a new Open Meetings Act (OMA) and created […]
Read More… from DCOGC’s Thomas Susman opposes budget act BEGA/OOG amendments
