National Freedom of Information Coalition
Protecting Your Right to Open Government

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Knox County mayor proposes to change open record law, increase transparency

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Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett is proposing a change to the county’s Public Records Policy that would increase transparency and make it easier for record seekers to examine documents. The mayor’s office sent a news release Tuesday morning and in it proposed a change which would allow public record seekers to take cell phone photos […]

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Pittsburgh Mayor and Allegheny County Executive refused to releasecity’s bid for Amazon’s HQ2

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The refusal by Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to release the city’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters shows how little regard officials have for the public’s right to know — and how easily the open-records law can be manipulated by government agencies preferring to operate in secret. Mr. Peduto and […]

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Former Oklahoma Attorney General address Open Meeting concerns at Tourism Commission

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Phone call meetings that happen before public meetings at the Department of Tourism are raising concerns among advocates of government transparency. FOX 25 detailed the phone-call meetings during our four-part investigation into the Department of Tourism. According to two former tourism employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, it is regular […]

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Requests for public records on teacher facing abuse charge denied by city, state

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FITCHBURG — Public records requests seeking information on accusations of abuse made against a Reingold Elementary School teacher were denied by the Fitchburg School District and the state Department of Children and Families. According to separate letters dated July 7, DCF found that allegations of physical abuse against special education teacher Lori Nogueira regarding two […]

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West Bridgewater assessors didn’t violate open meeting law, AG rules

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WEST BRIDGEWATER – The town’s assessors did not violate the state’s open meeting law when it failed to announce that it was returning to open session following a closed-door meeting in August, the state Attorney General has found. The ruling comes after a complaint was filed by Denise Reyes following the Aug. 2 meeting, in […]

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Many Wisconsin school districts fail test on records

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State law makes nearly all governmental records open to inspection and copying, and requires custodians to release records “as soon as possible and without delay.” So how are they doing? Recently, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty conducted an experiment to see how well school districts are complying with the state’s open records law. […]

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FL: State Attorney’s office clears Fairpoint Regional Utility System of violating Sunshine Law

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The State Attorney’s office announced Friday that it found no wrongdoing by Fairpoint Regional Utility System members who were accused of violating the state’s Sunshine Law. Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille wrote the utility system is not subject to the Sunshine Law, so members of the FRUS board of directors could not have violated the law. […]

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Florida – City to consider text messaging, public records policy

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — The City of Tallahassee will consider a new public records policy regarding text messages to and from city employees at its December meeting. In an item outlined in the meeting agenda, the City states, “As text messaging has become more prevalent, the City must develop a uniform system for retaining text […]

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Commissioners arrested for not fulfilling records request

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Florida – Two Martin County commissioners, and one former Martin County commissioner were arrested Tuesday for violating public records law, confirmed a spokeswoman with Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Current commissioners Sarah Heard, Edward Fielding and former commissioner Anne Scott turned themselves in. They were booked under similar circumstances and released according to MCSO. The case […]

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Unanimous Idaho legislative panel backs financial disclosure for all candidates, elected officials

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BOISE – It’s time for Idaho to end its distinction as one of just two states with no personal financial disclosure requirements at all for its elected officials, a panel of state lawmakers agreed on Monday. “Can you believe it?” asked Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, after the Legislature’s campaign finance reform legislative work group wrapped […]

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