Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming have the most restrictive laws regarding the disclosure of police body-camera recordings. That’s according to a May 10, 2021, article in The Hill. “With no federal requirements on releasing police videos, states often differ in their approach to making the footage publicly available,…
Tag: Arizona
Arizona coalition files motion urging court to keep recount methods open to the public
The Arizona First Amendment Coalition filed a motion Monday, April 26, 2021, opposing a contractor’s request to keep secret its methods of recounting ballots in the metro Phoenix area. The contractor, Florida-based Cyber Ninjas, was hired by Arizona’s state Senate to oversee the recount of 2.1 million ballots. A judge plans to review Cyber Ninjas’…
Arizona Court: Addresses cannot be kept from public records for candidates seeking office
A court order allowing certain people to take their address out of public records does not mean they can hide it when they run for office, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The justices, however, agreed to let this one slide and permit state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, R-Phoenix, to seek a second term in the…
Withheld details on coronavirus in Arizona care facilities critical to public safety, lawyer says
Letting the Arizona Department of Health Services withhold information about COVID-19 cases elevates the financial interests of long-term-care facilities above the public’s right to know — and protect itself — the attorney for state news outlets told a judge Wednesday. David Bodney asked Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Coury to rule that the state…
Phoenix New Times: Want Public Records From the Arizona Governor’s Office? Be Prepared to Wait.
In his first state of the state address, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey declared, “Our government needs to operate at the speed of business.” Two years ago, his office highlighted the progress of government agencies “working more productively, more efficiently, and doing so at a lesser cost to taxpayers.” But Ducey’s office hasn’t adopted the brisk speed and efficiency…
Scripps Howard Foundation establishes Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism
In a move to advance high-quality enterprise journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation today announced a $6 million investment into the creation of two centers for investigative journalism. Arizona State University and the University of Maryland will each receive $3 million over three years from the Scripps Howard Foundation to establish a Howard Center for Investigative…
Secretive Nonprofits Back Governors Around The Country
Optics aside, Greitens isn't the only governor connected to supportive nonprofit organizations.
Groups in Arizona, Illinois and Georgia have sprung up to help the states' governors, while avoiding traditional donation requirements. Robert Maguire of the Center for Responsive Politics said the groups are the "unlimited, undisclosed arm of the administration that basically … bolsters the agenda of the governor."
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Arizona OKs barring release of some crime witness info
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday signed legislation requiring police and prosecutors to keep the addresses and other personal information of crime victims and witnesses secret from the public and in some cases defense lawyers without a court order.
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery pushed the bill as a way to protect victims.
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Arizona bill would increase police transparency
Two Phoenix lawmakers outlined proposed legislation Monday that they said would increase police transparency, accountability and trust in the community.
Rep. Reginald Bolding and Rep. Ken Clark, both D-Phoenix, were quick to praise police officers, even as they proposed the new oversight measures.
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Bill requires Arizona schools to list immunization rates for infectious diseases
At some Arizona schools, more than 30 percent of children haven't been vaccinated against such dangerous infectious diseases as whooping cough and measles.
Parents, state Representative Juan Mendez says, have a right to know which ones.
The Arizona Department of Health lists vaccination rates for kindergarten and sixth-grade children online for most public, charter, and private schools. But, to find the data, you have to know where to look and then wade through a hefty spreadsheet.
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