The California-based First Amendment Coalition has sued a county in the state for violating California’s Public Records Act. Ventura County officials have refused to disclose information about COVID-19 deaths and about outbreaks at businesses and other non-residential settings. “It’s troubling that government officials would so blatantly disregard their transparency obligations at a time when people […]
Read More… from California coalition sues county for access to COVID-19 data
In an April 14, 2021, article, The New York Times shares insights on its use of open-records laws to gain information on COVID-19 cases. Editors say using state and federal FOI laws has allowed the Times to provide a comprehensive look at coronavirus cases nationwide, and has revealed racial inequalities regarding who has faced the […]
A Wisconsin appeals court panel on Monday, April 5, ruled that a business association cannot stop the state health department from releasing data about businesses linked to COVID-19 cases. The state’s Supreme Court still could prevent the release of the records, if it takes the case. The National Freedom of Information Coalition had signed an […]
Read More… from Wisconsin court says business group cannot block COVID-19 data
The University of Michigan is being sued for refusing to provide a significant portion of documents requested concerning the science and data used to support the state’s lockdown orders. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s legal foundation filed the lawsuit Dec. 7 in the state’s Court of Claims. The center’s executive vice president, Michael J. […]
Read More… from Pandemic response prompts FOI lawsuits in Michigan
North Carolina residents know exactly which hospitals will get doses first from the state’s initial supply of coronavirus vaccines. N.C. officials on Thursday released a list of 53 medical centers and health care systems that will soon receive shipments of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, which federal regulators are expected to approve for emergency use […]
Read More… from South Carolina refuses to say where COVID vaccine is going
The Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health violated state law by failing to honor two separate public records requests filed by the Los Feliz Ledger during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to those well-versed in the law. Following a spate of coronavirus outbreaks at congregate living facilities, Ledger Publisher Allison B. Cohen filed a California […]
Read More… from Los Angeles County Violates Public Records Act, Citing COVID-19
A government geek who hoped to flip open her laptop and watch the Maryland State Ethics Commission in action on Thursday was in for a disappointment. The panel, which met at 9 a.m. in its office near the State House, has never live-streamed its meetings. Critics say requiring the public to attend board and commission […]
Read More… from When it Comes to Government Openness, Maryland Is a ‘Backwater’
COVID-19 has presented a host of challenges. Things that were commonplace and done without a second thought six months ago, like going on a date or working out at the gym, are totally different now. Life in the time of COVID has completely changed society, and few areas have been impacted more than government operations. […]
Read More… from Government transparency: Is enough being done in age of COVID?
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office ruled the Texas Health and Human Services Commission should disclose most of its data on COVID-19 in nursing homes to the public, according to a July 6 ruling. Paxton’s office rejected most of the arguments the commission made to conceal COVID-19 outbreak data related to nursing homes, according to […]
Read More… from Texas AG rules HHSC should release COVID-19 nursing home data
In the first four months of COVID-19 when Georgia saw more than 84,000 confirmed cases and nearly 3,000 deaths, journalists, advocates and lawyers submitted more than 40 records requests for emails about the Department of Public Health’s response to the pandemic. The requesters sought emails regarding the state’s allocation of resources, Gov. Brian Kemp’s April […]
Read More… from Georgia health agency stymies requests for public records during pandemic
