Attorneys for the Brechner Center and a coalition of open-government groups are urging Pennsylvania’s highest court to reaffirm that journalists are entitled to view video from school surveillance cameras that capture newsworthy information. A brief filed Wednesday with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court argues that footage from security cameras cannot be withheld on the grounds of a […]
by Tracy M. Neal | NWA Democrat-Gazette | January 23, 2019 at 12:28 p.m. BENTONVILLE — The Pea Ridge School District violated the Freedom of Information Act when it released a former teacher’s personnel file without first giving the woman a chance to object. Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green today ordered the school district […]
Read More… from Judge finds Pea Ridge School District violated the FOI
The Virginia General Assembly now has two former journalists as members, and they are hoping to move forward with bills to increase press freedom. High school newspapers shouldn’t be bullied or told what to do by principals and administrators. That’s the idea behind a bill introduced by Delegate Chris Hurst, a Democrat from Blacksburg who […]
Read More… from Former Journalists Push Press Freedom in Virginia House of Delegates
The state’s highest court on Tuesday overturned a lower court and ruled a western Wyoming airport board must follow the state’s public records law. In overturning the Teton County District Court, the court noted the absurdity of the lower court’s ruling that the public records act did not apply to the Jackson Hole Airport Board. […]
Nominations sought for the State Open Government Hall of Fame January 14, 2019 The National Freedom of Information Coalition is seeking nominations for this year’s “Heroes of the Fifty States,” the Open Government Hall of Fame. The open government hall of fame recognizes individuals for their “long and steady effort to preserve and protect the […]
Read More… from Nominations sought for the State Open Government Hall of Fame
Douglas Burns, a fourth-generation journalist, is co-owner of the Daily Times Herald in Carroll, Iowa, a newspaper that has been in his family since 1929. He writes a regular column, “Taking Note,” for the Times Herald editorial page, and he has covered politics in the Midwest since the late ’80s, with a focus on rural issues. He’s a fixture in his […]
Read More… from How local journalists are facing the media’s hostile environment
A Wisconsin state lawmaker is introducing legislation that would prevent legislators from destroying public records. Other government agencies are required to keep public records for set periods of time. However, an exception state lawmakers wrote themselves decades ago allows them to avoid such rules. As FOX6 discovered in a recent investigation, state lawmakers regularly delete emails, […]
Read More… from New bill would prevent Wisconsin lawmakers from destroying public records
State Sen. Danny Carroll said he will withdraw a controversial bill critics had said would gut the state open records law. Carroll, a Paducah Republican, said he plans to withdraw the bill Wednesday because of concerns raised by the Kentucky Press Association and others familiar with open records laws over its impact on access to public information. “We’re just going […]
Read More… from Kentucky lawmaker to withdraw bill that would gut open records law
Portland Public Schools will pay an additional $105,000 to cover legal fees in a dispute that began when the district refused to release the names of staffers it had put on paid leave, the school board decided Tuesday. That puts the total bill for the district-initiated lawsuit at just over $277,000, which is 38 percent higher […]
Read More… from Final tally for Portland schools over public records disputes? Nearly $280,000
A candidate for Framingham state representative was seeking a list of all city voters who applied for absentee ballots. A reporter wanted information about Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer’s expenses. Insurance companies are asking for police records of clients’ car accidents. The city of Framingham posts on its website a log of public records requests, along with the […]
