Editorial: Ferguson City Council needs transparency first, changes second
In confusing public relations with public governance, the Ferguson City Council took one step forward and two steps back this week. On Monday, in advance of a Tuesday night City Council meeting, the public relations firm hired by the city announced t ...
Editorial: Allow TV cameras in courtroom for James Holmes trial
In one of the most high-profile criminal trials in Colorado history, the state is seeking the death penalty against suspected Aurora theater shooter James Holmes. That should be reason enough for cameras to be allowed in the courtroom — to record every statement and allow scrutiny of the process that could result in the state putting someone to death ...
Sheriff Maketa withholds information, possibly violates U.S. Constitution
In his final 4 months as El Paso County Sheriff, Terry Maketa is withholding timely and possibly important safety information from a large segment of the public. It's apparently in retaliation for KRDO Newschannel 13's aggressive reporting into the scandal that surrounds him. One of the country's top 1st Amendment attorneys says Sheriff Maketa's latest move also violates the U.S. constitution ...
The problem with transparency
Opponents of Proposition 104, titled "School Board Open Meetings," have their work cut out for them. The proposed change, which voters will consider in November, would open school board meetings at which teachers' unions and other employee groups collectively bargain with school boards ...
Why 9News wants to televise Aurora theater shooting trial
Should the trial of Aurora theater shooting gunman James Holmes be televised? Television station KUSA has asked the judge's permission to set up a single video camera in the courtroom during Holmes's trial, which is scheduled to begin December 8 ...
Judge Splits Difference on EPA Cell Phone Records
Libertarians' pursuit of federal officials' text messages may proceed, a federal judge ruled, denying in part the Environmental Protection Agency's motion to dismiss a think tank's claims. read more ...
My mystifying journey into the world of FOIA (part 3)
Late last month, I found myself pleading with a U.S. Army FOIA specialist. How can you have no records for my request? My FOIA request for records of debarred contractor was three months old at this point, and my call to the FOIA Public Liaison (if that's really what he was) had succeeded in prompting some movement by the Army. But this wasn't what I was expecting. On Aug. 25, I got a letter pronouncing the final word on my May 20 request. No records exist. How could that be possible, I wondered. read more ...
FOIA portal, VistA bid, Army cyber and SANS templates
The federal web development team 18F is building a one-stop portal for requests for government documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The move advances a key goal of the Obama administration's open government action plan -- the creation of a consolidated online FOIA service. read more ...
GUEST VIEW: Open government essential to a democracy
Defending the U.S. Constitution is popular these days, when it centers on gun rights, states’ rights or search and seizure protections. As we guard the principles of our nation’s founders, let’s not overlook the all-important Firs ...
