A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week:
Judge’s ruling confirms Nevada public records are public
Once again, it’s taken a judge to remind government officials in Nevada of their responsibilities under the Nevada Public Records Act. … District Judge James Russell told the attorney general’s office to give the Gazette-Journal a list of more than 100 emails written to and by former Gov. Jim Gibbons during a six-month period in 2008 when he was involved in a nasty divorce and was accused of using his state email — written on a state computer and sent to staffers, family, friends and campaign contributors — for personal matters.
Visit Reno Gazette-Journal for the rest.
Changes would have improved South Carolina FOIA
State senators failed South Carolina residents this past legislative session when they did not even vote on a change to the state’s Freedom of Information Act that would have made it easier for all state residents to access public records. … This bill would have strengthened a state Freedom of Information Act that needs to forcefully recognize that public records belong to the public and should be readily available to the public, and that elected and appointed officials and state and local agencies have a duty to make those records available at a minimal cost and within a reasonable time.
Visit The Greenville News for the rest.
Illinois Attorney General investigating Varna FOIA complaint
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office is investigating a Varna man’s complaint alleging the Illinois State Board of Education did not fully comply with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act when he recently requested records under that law. The inquiry is one of the latest developments in a saga that began more than three years ago with disputes with the Midland School District over special education practices and later spilled over into federal litigation.
Visit pjstar.com for the rest.