From The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: TUPELO – The Daily Journal has requested an advisory opinion from the Mississippi Ethics Commission after the city of Tupelo denied an open records request for emails between Mayor Jason Shelton and former city Development Services Director BJ Teal.
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Read More… from State ethics opinion sought in records denial
From Des Moines Register: Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald has provided more than 7,100 of his emails to a federal agency as part of a legal dispute with the U.S. government that involves a $7 billion wireless first-responder network.
Fitzgerald has alleged the network is being improperly or unethically commissioned, court documents show.
Visit Des Moines Register for more.
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Read More… from Sheriff turns emails over to feds after Story County resists
From inewsource: In the midst of an inewsource investigation and with state and federal agencies eyeing its practices, the North County Transit District is considering a policy change that would direct employees to delete certain emails after 60 days.
NCTD currently keeps emails, which often are important documentation of official public business, for two years. The NCTD board is scheduled to vote on the matter Thursday, and it comes at a key point in the agency’s accountability.
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Read More… from County transit district (Cal.) set to change email retention policy
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. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
Acting ND University System chancellor says NDSU president emails are not gone for good
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From The Washington Post: After the Associated Press reported this month that some Obama Cabinet officials have used alternative e-mail accounts in addition to government addresses to conduct federal business, The Washington Post talked with the National Archives and Records Administration about it and what’s new in the world of electronic recordkeeping.
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Read More… from U.S. chief records officer details federal e-mail record-keeping programs
From The Washington Times: Richard Windsor never existed at the EPA, but the agency awarded the fictional staffer’s email account certificates proving he had mastered all of the agency’s technology training — including declaring him a “scholar of ethical behavior,” according to documents disclosed late last week.
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Read More… from Newly released emails show EPA director’s extensive use of fictional alter ego
From Yahoo: WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of President Barack Obama’s political appointees, including the secretary for Health and Human Services, are using secret government email accounts they say are necessary to prevent their inboxes from being overwhelmed with unwanted messages, according to a review by The Associated Press.
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Read More… from Top political appointees use secret email accounts
Robert Becker, Lori Mince and Joey Senat discussed best practices and best outcomes when issues related to email and digital communications are legislated or litigated in states. The panel was moderated by Scott Sternberg.
Please find the speakers' biographies here.
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Read More… from #FOISummit brief: Digital Dodges and the Email Sleight of Hand
From East County Magazine:
May 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The First Amendment Coalition has issued advice to public officials in light of a court ruling that found private e-mails used by San Jose city officials to discuss public business must be disclosed if a Public Records Act request is received. The ruling is on appeal and is expected to be upheld, according to legal experts, which would set a statewide precedent.
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Read More… from Officials wrestle with disclosure requirements for private emails
From San Diego City Beat:
I love public records laws like a firefighter loves his ax. I love the heft of the federal Freedom of Information Act (or the California Public Records Act) when I slam it into the door of the establishment. And I love it when it gets sharpened.
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