Critics say new IL FOIA law could stifle information
A bill rushed through the closing days of the General Assembly's spring session is drawing the ire of a good-government group that contends it will restrict the ability of citizens to get information about their governments. Supporters, though, said the bill is a way to help municipalities deal with a comparative handful of people who file excessive requests under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, tying up employees who could better be used doing other work. read more ...
Advocates call for Georgia ethics chief’s head
An ethics watchdog group called for the resignation of the state ethics commission director Tuesday, citing her involvement in recent whistleblower payouts. read more ...
Effort to make state-related universities in PA more transparent clears key hurdle
The open records law has been viewed by most as a step toward transparency and accountability. But it has its problems. That’s why state Sen. Lloyd Smucker and other lawmakers in the Senate State Government Committee are proposing some changes ...
Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information announces open government award recipients
A police chief, a state senator, an FOI Commission employee and two journalists have won the annual open government awards from the nonprofit Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information, which has been advocating for freedom of information for six ...
Our View: Columbus (MS) city council strikes another blow against open government
Some concepts are just hard to grasp. Other ideas are easier to absorb. Or at least, they should be. It is apparent after Tuesday's city council meeting our elected leaders struggle to understand a fundamental aspect of the democratic process -- the idea of open government. read more ...
NY AG Schneiderman dodges open-records law
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has championed greater transparency for government and groups in his cross-hairs during his three-plus years as the state's top law enforcement official. But when it comes to his own dealings with a powerful political consultant and close adviser, Mr. Schneiderman is shielding them from public view—under legal reasoning some leading experts say is clearly wrong. read more ...
Statewide public records audit conducted in Ohio
Public employees asked to provide common records during a statewide test of Ohio's open records laws in April followed the law in nine of every 10 requests, according to audit results that found much higher compliance than a similar survey a decade ago. read more ...
Cherokee Nation improves citizen access to government information
The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council voted Monday to strengthen its Freedom of Information and Government Records acts and passed a resolution to initiate a dental crown program at all tribal health centers. To ensure citizens have better access to i ...
Shepherd: State agencies stonewall, stall on deleted emails of bureaucrat
The emails of a state government bureaucrat suddenly went ‘poof’ and the state has been stonewalling, stalling, and obfuscating for 5 months now – anything to keep this investigative reporter from digging deeper into an already big story ...
Mayor Bach ends “privileged” Colorado Springs Utilities emails
Mayor Steve Bach directed the city attorney to stop labeling Colorado Springs Utilities emails, memos and documents as "attorney/client privileged" - an apparent effort by Utilities to dodge releasing information about a fire at the Martin Drake Power Plant ...
