Connecticut Court urged to order release of Newtown shooter’s belongings

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A newspaper lawyer urged the Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday to allow reporters to examine some of the Newtown school killer’s belongings, saying information on a possible motive for the 2012 massacre of 20 children and six adults is of high public interest and concern. The requested materials include a spreadsheet […]

Read More… from Connecticut Court urged to order release of Newtown shooter’s belongings

CT: Bridgeport Police launch body camera program

Mayor Joe Ganim called a “step of additional accountability and transparency.” “I’m happy and — actually in so many ways thankful — to people who, even before we were here, before this administration … have been pushing for this advancement in policing and community policing,” Ganim said. Since the beginning of February, the city has […]

Read More… from CT: Bridgeport Police launch body camera program

Proposed FOI ruling would force Stonington to release original operations report

Stonington — Ten months after The Day filed an appeal, a state Freedom of Information officer has found that the town violated state law by refusing to release a consultant’s report on town operations to the newspaper. Hearing Officer Valicia Dee Harmon found that the town’s reasons for refusing to release the report, which it […]

Read More… from Proposed FOI ruling would force Stonington to release original operations report

Connecticut task force to hold last public hearing on FOI vs. victim privacy on Oct. 16

From CT News Junkie: A task force weighing the privacy rights of crime victims against open access to public records under the Freedom of Information Act will have its third and final public hearing Wednesday morning in the Legislative Office Building.

[…]

Read More… from Connecticut task force to hold last public hearing on FOI vs. victim privacy on Oct. 16

Some town clerks, hack pols wage war against public records access

Opinion from New Haven Register:

You know the barriers to public records are getting beyond ludicrous when genealogists and Civil War researchers are considered enemies of the state.

This is just a taste of more to come. It’s looking more and more like Last Rites time for Freedom of Information in Connecticut.

[…]

Read More… from Some town clerks, hack pols wage war against public records access

Andy Thibault: Want the bum’s rush? Ask for public records in Connecticut

Opinion from FoothillsMediaGroup.com:

Connecticut’s Freedom of Information law was once the pride of the nation. It has withstood numerous assaults by judges, legislators and other officials with plenty to hide.

[…]

[…]

Read More… from Andy Thibault: Want the bum’s rush? Ask for public records in Connecticut

Ethics agency destroys public records Of Connecticut state officials’ financial interests

From Hartford Courant:

The Office of State Ethics has quietly destroyed a quarter-century’s worth of public records concerning the finances of present and former public officials, drawing a protest from the head of an open-government group who says the thousands of shredded files were an irreplaceable resource.

[…]

[…]

Read More… from Ethics agency destroys public records Of Connecticut state officials’ financial interests

FOIA complaint filed after City of Waterbury refuses to release John Rowland records

From Connecticut 5th District:

The New Haven Register and Register Citizen filed a complaint with the State Freedom of Information Commission Friday afternoon over the city of Waterbury’s refusal to release documents related to former Gov. John Rowland‘s work as a taxpayer-funded economic development coordinator.

[…]

Read More… from FOIA complaint filed after City of Waterbury refuses to release John Rowland records

Connecticut newspaper files FOI complaints against Board of Education

From The Westerly Sun

N. STONINGTON — The Westerly Sun has filed a Freedom of Information Act complaint against the Board of Education, alleging two violations. The complaint alleges that the board failed to give the public the required 24-hour notice of a meeting, and that its members cast anonymous votes on paper ballots.

[…]

Read More… from Connecticut newspaper files FOI complaints against Board of Education

Connecticut FOI exemption pulled from legislative bill

From The Register Citizen

The big surprise at the special session of the General Assembly Tuesday was a sentence that would have given companies looking for state grants a broad exemption from making public any records that could adversely affect their financial interest. 

[…]

[…]

Read More… from Connecticut FOI exemption pulled from legislative bill