Open government organization provides grant to fight county petition

From Carroll County Times:  A nonpartisan organization dedicated to the freedom of information has awarded the Carroll County Times a $12,500 grant to help cover litigation costs to fight a petition filed by the Carroll County Board of Commissioners that asks a judge to approve the county’s policy of redacting email addresses from Maryland Public Information Act requests.

The National Freedom of Information Coalition announced Friday that the grant to the Times is provided by the Knight Freedom of Information Fund, which it administers. The fund, which was created in 2010, offers financial support in open government lawsuits, according to the organization.

“It is mind-boggling to me how often public officials around the country feel they are entitled to a pick-and-choose attitude toward public accountability laws,” Ken Bunting, executive director of NFOIC, said in a prepared release.