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February 2007 - Posts

Monday, February 26, 2007 1:26 PM

FOI Alert: Kyl amendment would criminalize publication of classified information

Sunshine in the Government Initiative Statement on Proposed Kyl Amendment to S. 236February 26, 2007The amendment that Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) intends to propose as an amendment to S. 236, a bill dealing with federal data mining efforts, would in effect
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, February 26, 2007 12:37 PM

Washington county cuts access to online records over identity theft fears

Snohomish County, Washington, plans to strip access to hundreds of thousands of public records from its online archives next month out of public concern over identity theft. Auditor Carolyn Diepenbrock announced Wednesday that 61 types of documents
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, February 26, 2007 12:02 PM

Vermont Governor battles to open legislative records

MONTPELIER – It was a nasty, bitter battle last time, and it appears the fight between the administration and the Legislature over access to public records may have at least one more round.Gov. James Douglas is making an effort to strip away provisions
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, February 26, 2007 11:53 AM

School district releases tapes of illegal meetings

After pressure from Utah's Attorney General, (Salt Lake City) Deseret Morning News and the Utah Headliners Chapter of SPJ, the Jordan School District agreed to release tapes of illegal meetings about payment of security personell.See the whole story at
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, February 26, 2007 11:30 AM

Utah Court considers creating reporter's privilege

While other states have sought a shield law through the Legislature, Utah journalists are hoping to convince the state's highest court to adopt a favorable reporter's privilege rule. A study committee recommended a policy that one media attorney says
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 10:41 AM

Hands-on FOI, Indianapolis Star shows us the future

Thanks for this tip from former FOI committee chairwoman and president Kyle Niederpreum:The Indianapolis Star has assembled some great resources at its online Data Central site. What a great way to connect with readers by providing these important documents
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, February 15, 2007 6:09 PM

Federal agencies set record lows for FOIA response

Coalition of Journalists for Open GovernmentFor Immediate Release: Feb. 15, 2007FEDERAL AGENCIES SET RECORD LOWS FOR FOIA RESPONSE;WAIT TIME AND DENIALS CONTINUE TO INCREASEWASHINGTON – The federal government's overall FOIA performance is at the
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, February 12, 2007 6:47 PM

Illinois corrections officials won't release info about attack, standoff

Read the entire story at saukvalley.comPlease also not the comments at the end of the story.Dixon Correctional Center employees complained publicly in April about understaffing at the prison, faulty equipment and blind spots in hallways.They wanted
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, February 12, 2007 6:35 PM

Arizona bill would make crime victims anonymous

A sweeping assault on your right to know about crime victims is under way at the state Legislature, and so far no one has noticed. Senate Bill 1286 is catch-all legislation about victims' rights sponsored by Sen. Chuck Gray, R-Mesa, but largely crafted
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, February 07, 2007 3:26 PM

Advocate: Iowa needs tougher sunshine laws

Read more at the Souix City JournalDES MOINES -- An advocate for government openness told lawmakers Monday that public officials in too many instances break Iowa's open meetings and records laws and are never held accountable.Kathleen Richardson,
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:49 AM

Sunshine Week Webcast -- chapter program idea

From FOI Committee Member Charles Davis:I was hoping we could make all of our chapters aware of some greatready-made programming that OpenTheGovernment.org is puling together.I'm on a working group of a BUNCH of organizations that are co-producingthis
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments