News

Hastings city new laws take effect Friday

From KHASTV: Hastings, NE -- There are a few new laws on the books today. As a result, local governments can't overcharge for copies of public records. The law states that the fee can't exceed what it costs the public agency. As of Friday morning ...

SEC attorney lowers the boom on the agency

From Courthouse News Service: MANHATTAN (CN) - An SEC attorney sued the Securities and Exchange Commission, claiming it retaliated for her complaints that its New York Regional Office had a policy not to go after investment managers - including Be ...

3 thoughts on the White House’s last-minute call for transparency input

From NextGov: White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer Nick Sinai posted a call for comments this week, seeking input for an updated version of the Obama administration's National Action Plan for Open Government. read more ...

VCOG calls for 2013 OpenGov Awards nominees

From Virginia Coalition for Open Government: Each year the Virginia Coalition for Open Government presents awards at our annual conference to recognize contributions to open government in Virginia. We recognize efforts made by citizens, the news m ...

Yahoo issues transparency report

From Stuff.co.nz: Yahoo has released its first-ever transparency report, shedding some light on the number of government data requests it receives. The report comes amid damaging disclosures that the National Security Agency can crack the encrypt ...

Legal dispute over public access to 911 calls reaches Maine’s highest court

From Bangor Daily News: PORTLAND, Maine — Attorneys on opposite sides of a legal dispute over public access to 911 call transcripts suggested Monday that dangerous precedents could be set if their sides did not prevail. read more ...

VCOG internship honors Roanoke legislator Clifton ‘Chip’ Woodrum

From The Roanoke Times: The Virginia Coalition for Open Government has created a legislative internship in honor of the late Clifton “Chip” Woodrum, a former legislator from Roanoke who was a staunch supporter of the public’s right to observe the workings of government. The Chip Woodrum Legislative Internship will allow a college student to gain hands-on experience during the Virginia General Assembly. The Virginia Coalition for Open Government is a member of NFOIC. --eds read more ...

Public records sealed in Best Buy assault case

From ActionNewsJax.com: JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Circuit Court Judge Adrian Soud must decide whether to allow the release of what Jacksonville media argues should be public record and important to the coverage of a high-profile case. His decision coul ...

Judge threatens imprisonment, suspension of LSU board of supervisors in presidential records case

From The Times-Picayune: A district judge in Baton Rouge ordered the LSU Board of Supervisors on Monday to turn over records related to the university's presidential search, or face consequences that could include stopping all further court procee ...

Washington state appeals court voids $650K award to woman in public-records case

From The News Tribune: A state appeals court panel has ruled that now-retired Pierce County Judge Frederick Fleming was wrong to award $650,000 in damages and fees to an abuse victim who sued the Department of Social and Health Services to get investigative records. In a decision released Tuesday, the Division II panel ruled some of the records sought by Amber Wright were not subject to the state's Public Records Act and that others were not improperly withheld by DSHS because Wright's request for them was too vague. [. . .] read more ...