Ohio Coalition for Open Government released newsletter

The Fall 2012 edition of the Ohio Coalition for Open Government newsletter is now available. Highlights of the issue includes: Updates on OCOG, public notices and legislative issues from OCOG President Dennis Hetzel; analysis on a number of recent Ohio Supreme Court open government decisions by OCOG counsel David Marburger of Baker Hostetler; open government news and editorials from around the state and nation.

Read the full newsletter here (PDF/1.86MB).

Inside the Issue:

OCOG must look toward future

By Dennis Hetzel, OCOG President

Available time and multiple priorities have ways of interesting with our best-intentioned goals. That is what happened to me in 2013 as your president.

We hope to change that in 2014, because the need for use to expand our role is there. Early in 2014, we plan to gather our board and other interested parties to do more thinking about OCOG's future roles and resources.

Currently, OCOG has two primary activities: We generate two annual newsletters that focus on developments with open government issues in Ohio and, upon request, we consider funding amicus "friend-of-the-court"cases that raise significant legal issues.

Ohio Supreme Court expands definition of 'education records' in closely watched OSU/ESPN case

By David Marburger

The score is Ohio State 1, ESPN almost-nothing in the Ohio Supreme Court after the global sports and entertainment broadcast network sued to see former Buckeye football coach Jim Tressel's e-mails in the scandal that ultimately cost Tressel his job.

While head coach, Tressel received e-mails from an attorney advising him that some star players on his team — including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor — may have received tattoos from the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor, and paid for them using Ohio State football memorabilia. Tressel did not inform his bosses at Ohio State about this violation of NCAA rules and nine months later, when the players’ trading of memorabilia for tattoos became public, Tressel still hadn’t told his superiors at Ohio State that he’d already received tips about the problem.

Ohio Roundup

Gov. John Kasich asserts executive privilege … Ohio's auditor warns fees illegal for online access to files … DeWine, Kasich administration agree to public records fix in JobsOhio … and more.

Editorials

Sheriff's sale ruling says government website not good enough … Penn State's records exemptions: A cautionary tale for Ohio … Local governments should know, comply with open-records law … and more.

National News

Obama's FOIA record worse than Bush administration's … Bill to counter lawsuits vs. journalists introduced … Journalists pushing to limit leaks legislation … and more.