Why don’t we know how often college athletes get concussions, or when students get disciplined for hazing, and whether those problems are getting better or worse? They’re simple questions with complex answers, and in each episode of the “Why Don’t We Know” podcast, investigative reporter Sara Ganim will lead a team of University of Florida […]
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied UNC-Chapel Hill’s appeal regarding the release of sexual assault records, ending a four-year legal battle between the university and local media. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2016 records request filed by The Daily Tar Heel campus newspaper, the Charlotte Observer, the Herald-Sun and Capitol Broadcasting, which owns WRAL. […]
More than $6 million in taxpayer money flowed to Austin nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but taxpayers might never learn the identities of the organizations that got the money or get a chance to dig into their stated need for assistance. Citing a little-known state law that government transparency experts are only now learning exists, the city has […]
Read More… from Austin, Texas, not saying where $6 million in coronavirus aid went
The new executive director of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records sees the role she is taking on as a continuation of her current work at the state’s auditor general’s office in holding government accountable and transparent. Liz Wagenseller takes over a position on Jan. 19 that has been held for the past six years by Erik Arneson, […]
Message from New Mexico Foundation for Open Government President Susan Boe: Several weeks before a mob swarmed our halls of Congress, Executive Director Melanie Majors and I discussed making democracy the NMFOG theme during 2021. Today, that focus is more relevant than ever. We at NMFOG have long emphasized that among the pillars of democracy […]
Read More… from New Mexico coalition makes democracy theme for 2021
The New England First Amendment Coalition is launching a monthly educational series featuring short, practical lessons on journalism and the First Amendment. The goal of the program — called “30 Minute Skills” — is to provide reporters and other citizens knowledge they can use immediately in newsgathering, data collection, storytelling and other areas of journalism and First […]
Read More… from New England coalition offers journalism, First Amendment training program
Fritz Mulhauser | DC Open Government Coalition We put aside year-end reflections on D.C. affairs as two events consumed the city this week— initially, Wednesday’s (6) news about the election in Georgia that changed the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and, not least, that could increase the possibility of D.C. voting rights. Then […]
Read More… from D.C. coalition reflects on open government in wake of riot
On Jan. 5, Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, Colorado Press Association, Colorado Broadcasters Association, Society of Professional Journalists – Colorado Pro Chapter and Colorado News Collaborative sent the following letter to Steven Vasconcellos, Colorado State Court administrator, regarding online public access to civil court records: Dear Mr. Vasconcellos, Free remote access to civil court records for all […]
Read More… from Colorado Judicial Branch urged to retain free, online access to civil court records
Fourteen organizations, including Reinvent Albany, sent a letter to legislative leaders asking that the New York State Senate and Assembly adopt rules reform to ensure a more open and democratic legislative process. One of the proposals in the letter was for the Senate to align its FOIL rules with the Assembly’s. Currently, the Assembly’s rules go beyond […]
Read More… from New York legislators urged to support FOIL reform
Admitting its failure to comply with the state’s Opening Meetings Law, the Pitkin County government settled a lawsuit where its commissioners were accused of doing public business in private. The agreement was reached in December. It came after Pagosa Springs attorney Matt Roane filed a court complaint in late October saying the county failed to […]
Read More… from Colorado county admits fault in open meetings case
