National Freedom of Information Coalition
Protecting Your Right to Open Government

Author: Todd Fettig

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Helped by NFOIC and Knight FOI Fund, Colorado media entity sues for county records

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With support from the National Freedom of Information Coalition’s Knight FOI Fund and members of the community, Delta County Citizen Report (DCCR), a nonprofit media organization, filed a lawsuit Feb. 8, 2022, against Delta County and Delta County Administration citing four violations of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). JoAnn Kalenak, President of DCCR, said […]

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Fourth annual NFOIC competition invites research proposals focused on FOI, technology

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The fourth annual National Freedom of Information Coalition research competition welcomes one-page proposals for papers that shed light on freedom of information, particularly those focusing on technology and FOI. Top-three papers will earn cash prizes and will be guaranteed publication in the online Journal of Civic Information, published by the University of Florida’s Brechner Center […]

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Journalists banned from Iowa Senate floor; transparency advocates raise concerns

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Republican leaders in Iowa have banned journalists from the Senate floor, a break from a 140-year tradition that raises alarms among freedom of information advocates, The Washington Post reported Jan. 8, 2022. During the state’s 2022 legislative session, reporters will be barred from press benches near senators’ desks. Reporters told The Post that proximity to […]

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Audit of Maine police agencies produces inconsistent results; 1 in 5 didn’t respond

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When law enforcement agencies across Maine were asked to turn over records of complaints and discipline, some departments provided a bundle of records, some provided basic information — and one in five did not respond at all. That’s according to an audit conducted by the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition, a member of the National […]

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Kentucky coalition launches website, providing updates and opinions on legislation

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The Kentucky Open Government Coalition has launched a website, which features blog posts on issues of transparency, updates and opinions on legislation, and information about the coalition and how to support it. The Kentucky coalition was established in 2019. “Our goal is to galvanize supporters of the public’s right to know how state and local […]

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New Mexico Foundation for Open Government announces new executive director

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Albuquerque, N.M. — The Board of Directors of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) has named Shannon Kunkle as the new Executive Director of the organization beginning Jan. 3, 2022.  Kunkle is an Albuquerque native who graduated with honors from the University of New Mexico, where she studied journalism, advertising and marketing.  Her […]

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NFOIC hires Virginia Coalition for Open Government to handle administrative duties

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Three-year contract is intended to provide stability, continuous support to members FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 20, 2021Contact: Todd Fettig, NFOIC executive director Phone: 352-294-7082   Email: nfoic@nfoic.org The National Freedom of Information Coalition will hire the Virginia Coalition for Open Government to handle the NFOIC’s administrative duties, including collecting dues and donations, planning the annual FOI […]

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Michigan Supreme Court orders redistricting panel to release memos, video of private meeting

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The Michigan Supreme Court on Dec. 20, 2021, ordered the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to release a recording of an October 2021 private meeting and to release memos that the Commission sought to keep under wraps. The Commission’s attorneys claimed the memos should be concealed because of attorney-client privilege. The Michigan Press Association and […]

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When copyright and FOI collide, public access often is denied, law article explains

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State and local governments increasingly claim copyright protections to deny public access to records and data, and the tension between intellectual property laws and freedom of information laws raises difficult issues, according to an article by Frank LoMonte, director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, which is a partner of the National Freedom […]

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Delays to files ‘can result in a complete denial of meaningful access,’ argues brief signed by NFOIC

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The National Freedom of Information Coalition joined a Dec. 15, 2021, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press amici curiae brief. The brief, signed by 28 organizations, urges a federal appeals court to overrule a lower court that allowed Maine court clerks to delay public access to newly filed civil complaints. Maine’s recently implemented amendments […]

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