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November 2007 - Posts

Friday, November 30, 2007 10:22 AM

New Mexico AG says agencies can decide whether to accept requests via e-mail

The New Mexico attorney general's office issued an opinion this week that said a public agency can decide whether to accept a public records request via e-mail because the state law doesn't specifically say that e-mail is a valid "written" form for a
posted by DavidCuillier | 2 Comments
Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:12 PM

SPJ expands Sunshine Campaign to local and state level

In 2008, SPJ will help extend the ASNE Sunshine Campaign to the local and state level by identifying FOI issues specific to each state and encouraging journalists to ask political candidates how they stand on the issue. See SPJ press release.
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:59 PM

Pennsylvania open record law moving through Legislature

The Pennsylvania Senate approved its version of the open records law (SB1) and the House now has it on the floor for debate (HB2072). The proposals would provide some benefits for open government, but still some drawbacks, such as making secret 911 records,
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:38 AM

Virginia court rules that officials don't get to decide what e-mails are private

A District Court judge in Virginia ruled this month that a government official doesn't get to pick which of his or her e-mails are private and which are public. In the case, a citizen requested e-mails regarding a certain land-use issue sent to and from
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 5:51 PM

12 states sue EPA to open data on toxic chemicals

Today 12 states sued the EPA to force greater disclosure of information regarding toxic chemicals that companies store, use and release into the environment. The states oppose proposed rules that allow companies to disclose less information to the public.
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 9:48 PM

Judge orders "Top Secret" markings to be removed from documents in trial

Two men accused of unauthorized disclosure of classified information will be able to have a fairer trial if the "Top Secret" markings are removed from the documents in question, a judge ruled this month. The judge in the trial of Steven J. Rosen and Keith
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, November 26, 2007 6:06 PM

Illinois school association bans press photogs from games

As reported by the Associated Press, the Illinois High School Association banned photographers from The (Bloomington) Pantagraph, the (Springfield) State-Register, The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald, and the (Crystal Lake) Northwest Herald from taking
posted by DonaldMeyers | 2 Comments
Monday, November 26, 2007 1:12 PM

Georgia attorney general doesn't prosecute sunshine law violations

Here's a great item from Johnny Edwards, Sunshine Chair in Georgia: Next time you get nabbed for speeding, wouldn’t it be nice if, instead of paying a fine or going to court, a friendly prosecutor called you up, explained the speed limit laws to you,
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:28 PM

Study: All states except South Dakota clammed up after 9/11

Another study demonstrates how states restricted critical infrastructure information following September 11, 2001. Every state except South Dakota restricted access to information deemed critical to homeland security, according to a congressionally funded
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:54 AM

Former Bush press secretary says he unknowingly lied on behalf of the president

Former press secretary Scott McClellan says he had unknowingly passed along false information at press conferences regarding the leak of a CIA operative as instructed by Karl Rove, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Dick Cheney and the president himself. McClellan
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 4:17 PM

Public records law used by husband to see cheating wife's work e-mails

A judge in Kentucky ruled that a man should be able to see messages exchanged through state government e-mail accounts by his cheating wife and her co-worker lover. His wife admitted to the affair and was supportive of the request so the husband could
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:07 AM

U.S. plans to criminally prosecute Pulitzer-prize winning AP photographer as terrorist operative

The Pentagon announced that it plans to bring criminal charges against Iraq-based Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, alleging he is an operative for terrorists and insurgents. Hussein, who was part of the team that won the 2005 Pulitzer for
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Sunday, November 18, 2007 12:31 PM

New Mexico paper seeks records regarding taxpayer-funded Hawaii trip by 362 Navajos

The Daily Times of Farmington, N.M., submitted 147 freedom of information requests to Navajo and federal government officials asking who benefited from subsidized travel for hundreds of Navajos to a Hawaii conference. U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici also is demanding
posted by DavidCuillier | 4 Comments
Sunday, November 18, 2007 12:19 PM

South Carolina paper gets county credit card statements

Here's a great use of public records laws that any journalist can do. The Aiken Standard of South Carolina obtained through a public records request employee credit card statements from the county government, then posted the statements online to let the
posted by DavidCuillier | 2 Comments
Thursday, November 15, 2007 3:40 PM

Nonprofits say amendment would hurt campaign transparency

Nonprofit groups say they are opposed to an amendment that would require any nonprofit group that files an ethics complaint against a U.S. Senator to also reveal big donors.The nonprofits have spun the debate to focus on amendment that would require senators
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 11:52 AM

Federal judge orders White House to preserve e-mails

A federal judge on Monday ordered the White House to preserve all of its e-mails. The ruling was a result of a lawsuit by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the National Security Archive, which alleged the disappearance of 5
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 11:49 AM

Institute pushes to make birth records open to adoptees

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute issued a report this week arguing that birth records should be open to adopted children. Eight states already allow that, and the institute says all should open up the records. See story.
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, November 08, 2007 11:05 AM

Act now: Senate considering criminalizing publication of basic cow information

Today the Society of Professional Journalists urged journalists and citizens to let their U.S. senators know about the ramifications of a provision in the Senate version of the farm bill that would criminalize dissemination and publication of basic cow
posted by DavidCuillier | 2 Comments
Wednesday, November 07, 2007 6:37 PM

Calif. Open Government Legislative Roundup

See the California First Amendment Coalitions' Roundup of the California Assembly's session.
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, November 07, 2007 6:08 PM

FOI/Free speech down under

More than 500 separate legal provisions in 335 different state and federal acts of Parliament are denying Australians access to a vast amount of information they should be able to see, a report says.The Right to Know Coalition today released an audit
posted by JoelCampbell | 1 Comments
Wednesday, November 07, 2007 6:02 PM

Secrecy creep: Great idea for an FOI story

An AP story in West Virginia is a great example of quantifying "secrecy creep" in your state. Research how many exemptions have been added to your state law since it was enacted.West Virginia’s Legislature has carved out nearly 100 exceptions to the
posted by JoelCampbell | 1 Comments
Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:46 AM

D.C. mayor holds off on plan to purge city e-mails after 6 months

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty withdrew his executive order to purge the majority of city e-mails after six months. Last month, after the mayor proposed deleting e-mails, the D.C. chapter of SPJ sent a letter to Fenty urging him to hold off. D.C. council members,
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, November 06, 2007 2:04 PM

Maryland SPJ pro chapter president speaks out for cameras in courtrooms

Bryan Sears, president of the Maryland SPJ pro chapter, told a special work group that it should recommend overturning the state's ban on cameras in criminal trials. Maryland is one of 16 states that doesn't allow cameras in criminal trials. Sears was
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, November 06, 2007 12:56 PM

SPJ joins others to oppose "secret cow" provision in Farm Bill

The Society of Professional Journalists joined 27 other groups today in opposing a provision in the proposed farm bill (Sec. 10305 of the Livestock Title) that would criminalize the release or publication of cow directory information (breed, numbers,
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, November 05, 2007 12:52 PM

Utah judge's order ignores right of free press

Gene Policinski of the First Amendment Center offers his view on how a Utah judge's order that a reporter produce a story is an assault on the First Amendment.
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Monday, November 05, 2007 11:11 AM

Arkansas Supreme Court says contractor doesn't have to turn over records

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a private construction firm doesn't have to make public details of its $35 million University of Arkansas dormitory project. The court unanimously agreed that the records aren't subject to the state freedom
posted by DavidCuillier | 2 Comments
Monday, November 05, 2007 11:04 AM

South Dakota attorney general proposes access disputes to be handled like small-claims court

If you can't get the public records you want, don't take the law into your own hands. Take 'em to court. The people's court. South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long is drafting a plan to handle records access disputes similar to the way courts review
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, November 05, 2007 10:56 AM

Georgia Supreme Court to hear arguments for opening files from 15-year-old murder case

On Dec. 3 the George Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could make police investigative files open for aging cold cases. The Athens Banner-Herald is fighting for access to the records involving the rape and murder of a 22-year-old
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Sunday, November 04, 2007 8:33 PM

Schwarzenegger is no hero or villain when it comes to FOI

The Associated Press analyzed California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's record on freedom of information and found his dedication to access mixed. When he ran for governor in 2003 he said he was a champion for open government, but access experts
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, November 01, 2007 11:39 AM

Reporters Committee honors NPR, AP chief, Washington Post columnist, SPLC leader

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press presented its First Amendment Awards this week to National Public Radio's Nina Totenberg, Associated Press Chief Executive Tom Curley, Washington Post columnist Colbert King and former Student Press Law
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments