FOI and Open Government News 
Kentucky cabinet ordered to pay fines for open records violations
Dec. 11 — The State Cabinet for Health and Family Services must pay a newspaper more than $16,000 for improperly withholding records. Continue...
Nominations invited for 2016 class of the National Freedom of Information Hall of Fame
Dec. 11 — Nominations are invited for inductees to the 2016 class of the National Freedom of Information Hall of Fame, which honors those who have made significant contributions to developing, protecting and expanding access to government information. Continue...
GRC asked to review Bayonne's improper use of extensions in responding to OPRA requests
Dec. 11 — The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG) has asked the state to review the city of Bayonne’s practice of granting itself extensions for responding to public records requests. Continue...
Champaign officials release documents related to use of force FOIA requests
Dec. 11 — The City of Champaign and the Champaign Police Department has released several documents to the public in response to several inquiries regarding the department's Use of Force policy, litigation, and Freedom of Information Act requests regarding a Champaign Police officer. Continue...
Editorial: Cop cams are a start, but watch for the fine print
Dec. 11 — Everyone likes first steps. But before anyone gets warm and giggly with Waukegan's $1 million purchase of body cameras for all its officers, it's time to read the small print. Continue...
Wisconsin board's records action appears to have violated open meetings law
Dec. 10 — A board overseeing Wisconsin's public records gave so little notice of a move to sharply limit electronic records that it appears to have violated the state's open meetings law, attorneys and open records advocates say. Continue...
Privacy concerns delay final passage of cybersecurity info-sharing bill
Dec. 10 — Final passage of federal legislation to thwart hack attacks is being delayed as lawmakers clash over how best to protect the privacy of Americans' personal information. Continue...
Colorado appeals court hears arguments in dispute over disclosure of teacher sick-leave records
Dec. 10 — An attorney for the Jefferson County Education Association argued that a Colorado district court judge erred in ruling that teacher sick-leave records can be disclosed to the public. Continue...
New Jersey county ordered to release details of generators used during Sandy
Dec. 10 — A New Jersey court has upheld a ruling that Warren County should release records of the investigation into sheriff's officers who used county-owned generators after Superstorm Sandy. Continue...
Nevada Governor's text messages should be made public, experts say
Dec. 10 — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has weak legal and public policy grounds to defend his decision to withhold text messages in state's net metering controversy, open government experts say. Continue...
County attorney in Florida advises officials on deleting records
Dec. 9 — Hillsborough County Attorney Chip Fletcher has told county commissioners they don’t need to retain many of their work-related emails and text messages, even though he acknowledges many of the communications may be considered public records under the state’s Sunshine Laws. Continue...
Editorial: South Carolina bill would streamline FOIA process
Dec. 9 — A state senate bill would provide an inexpensive yet timely step in addressing the release of police dashcam videos in South Carolina. Continue...
Colorado school board to get sunshine law training — in secret
Dec. 9 — Members of a Colorado school board are planning a closed-door session for open government training, a plan criticized by state watchdogs. Continue...
Wisconsin Governor finding new way to deny public records
Dec. 9 — Gov. Scott Walker’s administration has found another novel method to deny the public access to government records. Continue...
Editorial: Rhode Island needs more transparency
Dec. 9 — Resisting public access to government records is a Rhode Island tradition that needs addressing. Continue...
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FOI Summit Wrap-up and All Things Summit
2015 FOI Summit from Denver
NFOIC and co-sponsor Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition convened the 2015 FOI Summit on Friday, October 9th, and Saturday, October 10th in downtown Denver, Colorado. The FOI Summit features ideas, experiences and discussions about the latest issues and trends around freedom of information laws, policies and practices at the state and local levels across the nation. Continue>>>
Knight FOI Fund
About the Knight FOI Fund
The Knight FOI Fund offers financial support in open government lawsuits, fueling and assisting the pursuit of important FOI cases. The need arose from the realization that the economic crisis and the evolution of the news media has resulted in declining levels of FOI advocacy. Continue > >
About NFOIC
We are a nonpartisan alliance of state and regional affiliates promoting collaboration, education & advocacy for open government, transparency and freedom of information. We award grants, publish FOI and FOIA news, provide transparency education and support to state and local governments, supply state sample FOIA request letters and Federal FOIA request letters. Continue >>
Your NFOIC
The National Freedom of Information Coalition protects the right to open government. We are a national, nonpartisan nonprofit 501(c)3 organization consisting of more than 40 state and regional affiliates, with a membership representing journalists and news media organizations, attorneys and law firms, educators, watchdog groups and individuals.
Our mission is to ensure openness, accessibility and transparency in government and public institutions. NFOIC exercises advocacy, education and resolve. We are keenly aware of the challenges to access information in an increasingly digital world.
We strive to bridge the gap between the public and the written, verbal and increasingly digital information held by public officials that citizens are entitled to in our democracy. NFOIC works as an intermediary to resolve conflicts between the public and their public institutions through collaboration and understanding of the challenges that create them and the solutions to resolve them.
We welcome your involvement and financial support as a member or donor to help advance our mission. We encourage you to also support your NFOIC state affiliate. Opinions, comments, suggestions and questions are always welcome. Please follow us on Twitter and “like” the cause of open government on Facebook. Read more about NFOIC...
File and track FOI requests at NFOIC state and regional coalition sites using FOIA Machine
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The National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC) and FOIA Machine (FM) have teamed to help people file and track their FOI requests online through select NFOIC state and regional member web sites. Visitors to NFOIC coalition web sites will be able to use FOIA Machine's technology to prepare, file and track their FOI request to public agencies at the local, state, or federal levels. More...
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