“The undersigned civil society organizations write to urge you to take bold presidential action now to carry out your pledge to ‘bring transparency and truth back to government.’” Signed by 43 organizations, including @NFOIC. http://ow.ly/wSjA50DGu9U […]
Read More… from NFOIC signs letter to President Biden: Bring back transparency
Attorneys for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press are currently fighting in court to help Pennsylvania journalists gain access to records that should be released under the state’s Right to Know Law. If they’re successful, reporters from local news organizations will be able to access records that reveal a forensic audit of a […]
Why aren’t candidates for local municipal offices required to fill out the N.C. State Ethics Commission’s statement of economic interest disclosure forms? It should be a common-sense move by the General Assembly to extend this requirement to local municipal officeholders. Local officeholders make the financial decisions that are most likely to impact our day-to-day lives. […]
Read More… from Letter: Elected officials should be more transparent
In a shocking effort by the Kentucky Legislature to undermine government transparency and accountability, Rep. Jason Petrie (R-Elkton) has introduced HB 387, which aims to make it harder for Kentuckians to know how their tax dollars are being used by the commonwealth to lure and incentivize businesses to locate there. What’s worse (if not knowing […]
Read More… from Open government is under attack in Kentucky (again)
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
Chestnut Hill resident Terry Mutchler, an AP award-winning journalist and the founding executive director of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records, is being inducted into the Open Government Hall of Fame, which recognizes long-term contributions of individuals to open government in their respective states. Mutchler is an experienced trial attorney who was appointed by former Pennsylvania […]
Judge Bobby Bell denied on Wednesday the Calhoun Port Authority’s latest motion to dismiss a Texas Open Meetings Act case filed by the Victoria Advocate. The newspaper claims the port should have written on the agenda for its May 9 meeting that it was going into closed session to discuss hiring former U.S. Congressman Blake […]
Read More… from Judge’s ruling keeps Texas open meetings lawsuit alive
One of the largest advocacy groups for municipal governments in the nation has committed to helping its members enhance their use of data and evidence to solve local problems. The National League of Cities (NLC) in partnership with Results for America (RFA), a lead partner within Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities, will cultivate several opportunities […]
Read More… from Newly Formed Partnership Will Better Train Cities to Use Data, Evidence
City and township officials in Mason County and across the state were rocked last week by a mysterious Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all copies of all Election Day ballots and personal absentee voter information from the 2016 presidential election. The request came from an organization called United Impact Group with a listed […]
Read More… from Michigan city and township officials respond to FOIA from ‘Emily’
If you follow The News & Observer’s investigative stories, you’ve probably seen this phrase: “a Freedom of Information Act request” or “obtained through a public records request.” Those requests are made through what’s known as FOIA — journalists pronounce it “FOY-ah” — and refer to laws that govern public information. While news reporters are some of the most […]
