Arguing that citizens shouldn’t be locked out of a court hearing that could produce reforms to Minnesota’s troubled sex-offender treatment program, the Star Tribune, New York Times and 13 other news and open-government organizations have asked a federal judge to reverse himself and allow the public to attend the Aug. 10 conference.
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Read More… from Minnesota: News organizations ask judge to open MSOP hearing on Monday
The past few weeks of Minnesota's 2015 legislative session aredisproving that old saying about legislation — much like sausage, you don't want to see how it's made.
The more Central Minnesotans learn about last-minute legislative offers, rejections and stealthily silent changes to legislation, the more they should watch and push lawmakers to change how they do the public's business. Continue>>>
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Read More… from 2015 session in Minnesota shows importance of transparency
Today marks the seven-month anniversary of my oldest outstanding public records request, so please indulge me in some ventilation. Back on April 14, before the snow of last winter melted, I made a Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Today, snow once more whitens the ground, and I'm still waiting.
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Last week, I invited readers along on my journey through the Freedom of Information Act via one record request filed May 20. I asked the Department of the Army for records of a government contractor who had been blacklisted in April for some kind of violation. The story so far: Aside from a letter acknowledging my request, I have received zip.
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Read More… from My mystifying journey into the world of FOIA (part 2)
Senate File 1770 had already received unanimous support in the House and the Senate. Known as the Timberjay bill, it would require that all government contracts with private business be subject to the Minnesota Data Practices Act, even if that open access is not specifically identified in the contract.
Last week Gov. Mark Dayton signed that bill, demonstrating that he understands and agrees with the public’s right to open access to government data.
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From Pioneer Press: Advocates for more transparency in payouts to government employees who resign under fire won another victory this legislative session, but full disclosure remains elusive.
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Read More… from Minnesota: More light, but still loopholes, in public employee payouts
From MinnPost:
Matt Ehling, a television TV producer, documentary filmmaker, writer and MinnPost contributor, has won the John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information Award, bestowed each year by the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information.
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Read More… from Matt Ehling wins Finnegan Freedom of Information award
