Court secrecy, a handcuffed journalist, ‘Access Denied’: CFOIC’s year-in-review 2018
Two words come to mind when looking back at 2018’s government transparency highlights and lowlights in Colorado. Judicial secrecy.
Journalism
Despite what a police officer said, the editor of The Colorado Independent didn’t violate HIPAA
HIPAA is the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, enacted by Congress in 1996. The law’s privacy rules, designed to protect the confidential health information of patients, often are misunderstood and misapplied, and that certainly seems to be the case with the July 5 detention of Greene near the state Capitol, according to legal experts.
CFOIC, journalist groups ‘disappointed’ in chief’s response to letter regarding handcuffing of editor
Two journalist associations and the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition sent a second letter to Denver’s new police chief, expressing disappointment in his “dismissive, non-substantive” response to an earlier letter regarding the July 5 detention of Colorado Independent Editor Susan Greene while she took pictures of officers.
After editor’s handcuffing, CFOIC and journalist groups urge 1st Amendment training for police
“Deeply concerned, dismayed and disappointed” by the detention of Colorado Independent Editor Susan Greene last week while she photographed police officers, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition and two journalist associations are urging the Denver Department of Public Safety to institute intensive First Amendment training for its employees.
Governor’s veto: It’s ‘premature’ to phase out required newspaper publication of county notices
Worried about “reducing transparency” in rural Colorado communities that still lack broadband, Gov. John Hickenlooper vetoed a bill that would have phased out the required publication of certain county financial information in newspapers.
Wrap-up: Transparency takes a hit in the 2018 session of the Colorado legislature
Unlike a year ago, when state lawmakers improved access to public records, the 2018 session of the Colorado General Assembly was marked by the passage of legislation that will significantly hinder the public’s right to know if it’s signed into law.
Phase-out of required newspaper publication of county notices moves ahead in state legislature
State lawmakers took another step toward phasing out the required publication of county public notices in Colorado newspapers.
CFOIC honors Sen. Kefalas, citizen champion Anna for open government efforts
The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition honored state Sen. John Kefalas for his work in the legislature to expand Coloradans’ access to public records.
Colorado newspapers fight to keep publishing county public notices
Colorado’s newspaper industry is fighting proposed state legislation that would phase out the required publication of county public notices.
House committee kills bill aimed at stopping widespread encryption of police radio traffic
Legislation designed to stop law enforcement agencies and other governments in Colorado from encrypting all of their dispatch radio communications died in a committee of the state legislature.