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September 2007 - Posts

Thursday, September 27, 2007 3:29 PM

Labor Department denies newspaper request to attend mine investigation interviews

The Labor Department has denied The Salt Lake Tribune's request to be present for interviews with witnesses as it investigates the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster. The department claims allowing access would compromise the investigation, damage reputations
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Thursday, September 27, 2007 3:05 PM

Salt Lake newspaper Web site opens door to public records

The Salt Lake Tribune and Media One of Utah, the company that handles printing and advertising for the Tribune and the Deseret Morning News recently launched Utahrights.com, a Web site allowing people to search databases of public records. Among the records
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Monday, September 10, 2007 9:18 PM

R.I. seeks to clamp down on reporter's prison access

In an bold move to censor journalists and limit face-to-face interviews with prison inmates, the Rhode Island Depatment of Corrections wants to enact draconian journalist access rules.Read the story in the Providence Journal.Based on its research on Covering
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Saturday, September 08, 2007 2:22 PM

Bill that would give Del. AG FOI enforcement power dies

When he was campaigning for attorney general, Beau Biden pledged to work to revise the state's Freedom of Information Act so that the Attorney General's Office is not required to represent the state in FOIA cases brought against a state agency.
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Saturday, September 08, 2007 2:18 PM

Cloud forms over Washington state's "Sunshine Committee"

dark cloud has already formed over Washington state's new Sunshine Committee, a 13-member panel formed to review and modify or eliminate exemptions to the state's public records law.Gov. Chris Gregoire has decided not to name those who applied
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Saturday, September 08, 2007 2:09 PM

Ohio U. shuts down ethics tipline after records request

Ohio University officials have said they felt they had to stop taking anonymous tips on suspected ethics violations after OU's student newspaper obtained records of the tips through a public-documents request.The student who was editor of the OU
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Saturday, September 08, 2007 1:57 PM

Prof. tells panel that Iowa's records laws are confusing

Iowa's open records laws are a labyrinth of contradictions and imprecision. At least that's the opinion of University of Iowa law professor Arthur Bonfield, the first presenter before a legislative panel seeking to rewrite the rules.Read more in
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Saturday, September 08, 2007 1:53 PM

Rhode Island needs records law changes, ACLU says

The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union says that five incidents this summer highlight the blatant disregard some public officials have for the state’s Access to Public Records Act.  In a report released Sept. 6, the
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, September 06, 2007 4:27 PM

San Diego PD restores journalist's credentials

After an appeal and a letter of support from the FOI Committee, the San Diego Police Department has restored the credentials of freelance  photographer/journalist Ed Baier.See attached image of the letter and the committee's earlier letter.
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Attachment(s): DOC.jpg
Thursday, September 06, 2007 4:20 PM

Calif. Supreme Court opens records

FOI advocates are hailing the a recent California Supreme Court decision where justices ruled Oakland must disclose names, salaries of officers who earned more than $100,000 in 2004; in separate decision court says names, other details from state
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, September 06, 2007 4:16 PM

New FOI Report: Mediation Without Litigation

The National Freedom of Information Coalition is happy to announce the latest edition of our FOI Reports, “Mediation Without Litigation” by Harry Hammitt, editor and publisher of “Access Reports” and a member of the board of the Virginia Coalition
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments