Story Archives By State
AlabamaPrison Officials Violate Open Records Act
Examiner.com September 14, 2009
>> Alabama Supreme Court rules after assaults and murders at Donaldson Correctional Facility.
Mental Health Center Withholds Public Records from the Daily Home
The Daily Home May 6, 2009
>> The records withheld are part of an investigation on the newly elected interim director of Cheaha Mental Health Center.
Alaska
Alaska Governor's Office Ducks Records Release Request
Anchorage Daily News Dec. 10, 2008
>>Executive privilege cited in refusing to release telephone and e-mail messages involving Todd Palin.
UPDATE! Alaska resident brings the fight to the courts
Palin emails priced at $15M
MSNBC, Oct. 17, 2008
Even if news organizations were willing to pay the extraordinarily-high price for the public records, they wouldn't be available until after the election.
Arkansas
Arkansas Supreme Court won't hear request by the Democrat-Gazette in the case of murdered news anchor
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Dec. 20, 2008
>>The Newspaper claims a judge went too far by not releasing the jail logs of a suspect in the recent murder of Little Rock news anchor Anne Pressly.
California
Mom and Daughter Sue Cali. School over Pro-life T-Shirt
Daily News July 8, 2009
>>School administrators asked girl to change shirt because of 'inappropriate subject matter'
Governor Schwarzenegger Wants to Restrict Minors from Violent Video Games
Broadcasting and Cable July 6, 2009
>>First Amendment lawyer claims the gov. is undermining freedom of information
Schwarzenegger dedicated to government transparency
Imperial Valley News June 4, 2009
>>Governor launches transparency Web site among other improvements
Decision on Post-mortem Privacy Rights to be Made in California
VosIzNeias.com May 17, 2009
>>The decision will mean big changes for the online industry
Judge orders reporter not to print name of victim
Victorville Daily Press March 30, 2009
>>The gag order constitutes prior restraint, an act that violates the First Amendment
California county officials release meeting calendars
The San Diego Union-Tribune March 22, 2009
>>Following Gov. Schwarzenegger's lead, four years later, officials submit calendars for public inspection
Judge to rule in CBS disclosure suit
North County Times March 11, 2009
>>Prosecutor seeks un-aired material from an episode of 60 Minutes that dealt with a Marine who led his troops to allegedly slay Iraqi citizens.
Judge Orders Gag Order in Murder Case
Ventura County Star Dec. 11, 208
>>California Judge prevents local paper from printing information regarding the murder of a local 6-year-old boy.
UPDATE! Judge lifts gag order
SF suit demands bills, votes database
San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 4, 2008
>>Open-government advocates ask that the Superior Court force the Legislative Counsel to give up an electronic database which contains records of bills and lawmakers' voting.
Calif. school board approves closed meeting
The Press-Enterprise, Nov. 17, 2008
Despite the murky resignation details and a $300,000 severance package, the Rialto school board voted to uphold the closed meeting status, under which the resignation of its superintendent was decided.
Calif. high school paper admin. shut down to restart next year
San Mateo Daily Journal, Nov. 14, 2008
The Scots Express was shut down last week after a satirical article featuring the writer's "sexiness."
Calif. county CEO may have hid wife's pay raise
ABC30.com, Nov. 18, 2008
In violation of open-meeting laws, Merced County's CEO might have illegally hid the fact that his wife, who works in the Mental Health Dept., was to receive a pay raise.
Calif. paper ordered not to print testimony from lawsuit against it
The Orange County Register was told it may not report the substance of witness testimony in the class-action lawsuit brought against the paper by some 6,000 current and former carriers. [Sept. 23, 2008]
Colorado
School Board violated Colorado open meeting law
Steamboat Pilot & Today March 27, 2009
>>The Board failed to announcement meeting
Colorado judge rules that governor's use of private phone for government business is off-limits to the public.
The Denver Post, Oct. 15, 2008
Question: How many Colorado public officials are standing in line today to buy private cellphones?
Connecticut
Yale Accused of Violating 0pen-Records Law
Yale Daily News, September 26,2009
Yale police union asks Yale for salaries of top non-union department officials.
Bridgeport Diocese Seeks to Cloak Itself in First Amendment
The Boston Globe August 29, 2009
>>Church stalls access for seven years
Q-Pac retracts threats to student press
Yale Daily News, Nov. 10, 2008
After instructing the administration not to do interviews with student reporters and trying to kick out the Society of Professional Journalists chapter, the school reneges on the threats.
Read commentary from the Hartford Courant on Quinnipiac's censorship-inclined president:
President caves on free speech ban
Putnam Connecticut Town Officials to take FOIA Course
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Oct 29, 2008
Per a complaint filed by a town resident, Putnam selectmen and officials will take a FOIA workshop after various public-meeting missteps.
New Law Shuts Down Conn. Town Websites
Govtech.com, Dec. 8, 2008
A new law requiring towns to post minutes of meetings online within 24 hours is forcing some Connecticut towns to scrap their sites because their small staffs can't keep up. No extra funding for IT help is coming from the state, which passed the law on Wednesday.
NYTimes Weighs In on Freedom of Speech at Quinnipiac University
The Yale Daily News, Oct. 30, 2008
In an editorial, The Times questions the recent actions by Quinnipiac University to limit the access of student journalists to administrators, coaches, and athletes.
Delaware
Dover paper demands unsealing of docs in ongoing investigation
Foster's Daily Democrat, Nov. 11, 2008
The case judge held a closed door hearing on the issue, but hasn't yet made a decision on whether docs from a homicide case should be unsealed.
Florida
Court Sides with FSU on NCAA Records Flap
Jacksonville Observer October 1, 2009
Lawyers Fight Over the Bill in Venice, Fla. Sunshine Suit
Herald-Tribune September 16, 2009
Supreme Court rules Electronic Records are Public
Associated Press July 22, 2009
>>Court says open government laws include electronic recordings
Georgia
County Board violated open meeting law
Tribune & Georgian March 25, 2009
>>Board of Assessors took a closed-door vote
Illinois
Mchenry County College Withholds Former President's Contract From Northwest Herald
Northwest Herald May 17, 2009
>>The college argues it would be an unnecessary invasion of privacy.
Illinois Officials Try - Unsuccessfully - to Hide Salary Hikes
Northwest Herald April 10, 2009
>>Illinois Department of Transportation has attempted to block a FOIA request concerning raises given Jan. 1 under the Blagojevich administration.
The controversial term of former Governor Rod Blagojevich means good news for open record reform in Illinois
The Chicago Tribune March 8, 2009
>>"Rod may be the best thing that ever happened to the Freedom of Information Act," said a Springfield lawyer.
Illinois open records law decried as ineffective
The Chicago Tribune March 8, 2009
>>Requests for public records can often take not days, not months, but years.
Ill. court forces governor to give up subpoena in FOIA case Chicago Tribune, Nov. 20, 2008
Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to get around producing subpoenas sent to him by the Better Government Association. An appellate court says the documents (part of a federal government investigation) are subject to FOIA requests.
Illinois Dept. of Healthcare rejects FOIA request for funding info.
Associated Press, Oct. 22, 2008
Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich gave out state-subsidized health care, but won't release info about how much it's costing or how many people are covered by it.
A reporter pleads the fifth: What did music critic Jim DeRogatis have to fear from testifying in the R. Kelly trial? [Chicago Reader, June 12, 2008]
The Fifth Amendment? What possible crime could Jim DeRogatis have been concealing when he repeatedly—15 times in all—answered questions put to him in court last week by invoking his constitutional protection against self-incrimination?
Indiana
County commissioners met behind closed doors
The Indy Star March 26, 2009
>>The officials violated Indiana open meeting law
Louisiana
Judge rules for paper in records case
Times-Picayune March 28, 2009
>>>Police Department files will be released
New Orleans mayor fined over $7,000 for FOIA refusal
The Times-Picayune March 10, 2009
>>Mayor Roy Nagin stalled to release e-mails requested by a local television station.
Maine
Associated Press CEO talks about importance of Sunshine Week
The Boston Globe March 10, 2009
>>Now in it's fifth year, Sunshine Week helps citizens' flex their right to know
Maryland
Amount of severance package sought
The Washington PostMarch 26, 2009
>>Montgomery County councilman calls for details of severance package for outgoing county official
Police Union filed complaint
Prince George's Gazette March 26, 2009
>>Complaint filed with AG claims the county council violated open-meeting law
New Software touted to help process FOIA requests
PR Web March 5, 2009
>>Equivio's software, already used at NASA, is said to cut by 30% the cost and time of handling FOIA requests.
Maryland State Trooper Poses as Activist to Seek Out Terror Suspects
L.A. Times Dec. 7, 2008
>>An undercover trooper joined various non-violence and activism groups and later recorded many of the members as terror suspects. Among those listed? Two Nuns, a lobbyist, and former congressional candidate.
Massachusetts
MBTA defies state order to make Beverly records public
The Beverly Citizen March 25, 2009
>>MBTA also rebuffs Newton reporter
237 Mass. towns still not posting records online
The Boston Globe March 19, 2009
>>Common Cause recognizes 117 for their town websites, but there is still much work to be done
For once, some good news
MetroWest Daily News March 19, 2009
>>Local school superintendants fare well on FOIA test
Massachusetts ranks 38 of 50 states for online accessibility to public records
Metrowest Daily News March 16, 2009
>>Conducted in honor of Sunshine Week, the survey reveals that Mass. is still in the dark.
Mass. Legislature to public: drop dead
Springfield Republican March 15, 2009
>>Pending bills would subject the legislature to open meeting and disclosure laws.
Town officials refuse to release minutes of hearing against retired police officer
The Enterprise March 7, 2009
>>Town cites legal liability as their reasoning for keeping hearings private
Town selectman questions closed-door executive session
The Worcester T&G March 6, 2009
>>"Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should do it," said the Selectman of the executive session between the Board and the School Committee.
Boston College expansion talks take place behind closed doors
The Boston Globe March 4, 2009
>>The task force created to coordinate the BC expansion has violated the Commonwealth's open meeting law and refuses to release records of the proceedings, raising questions of possible conflicts of interest.
Music-sharing case to be streamed online
Wired.com Jan. 14, 2009
>>U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Gertner approved a request to make the trial involving the Recording Industry Association of America and a Boston University student available live on the internet.
Proposed identity theft bill will limit access to public information.
The Patriot Ledger Jan. 14, 2009
>>The bill, filed by Rep. Alicea (D - Charlton), will make census data and street lists unavailable to inquiries by the public or press.
Michigan
Former library board member sues officials
Traverse City Record-Eagle April 6, 2009
>>A Michigan man has filed suit alleging that emails between the mayor and city commissioners were excluded from the response to his FOIA request.
After text messages ruled public record, former Detroit Mayor sues cell phone company
The Detroit Free Press March 10, 2009
>>The $100 million lawsuit claims release of the text messages led to the loss of his job and irreparable harm to himself and his family.
Michigan Judge Rules Against FOIA Request
Education Report Dec. 9, 2008
>>A school spending reform organization, Education Action Group, filed a FOIA for the e-mail records of a teacher's union president that were written from a publicly-funded e-mail account.
Detroit mayor plead the Fifth, 82 times during deposition in newspaper lawsuit [Detroit Free Press, Sept. 17, 2008]
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination during sworn testimony. The suit was filed to find out details about a secret police whistleblower settlement last year.
Judge blocks questioning of Detroit reporters [Detroit Free Press, July 17, 2008]
Attorneys for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and ex-Chief of Staff Christine Beatty are barred from questioning two Detroit Free Press reporters on how they obtained sexually explicit text messages, a judge ruled Thursday
Minnesota
Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Minnesota Exit Polling
Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune Oct. 16, 2008
In response to a law suit filed by major media organizations, a U.S. judge has ruled that Minnesota's ban on pollsters operating within 100 feet of polling places is unconstitutional.
Minn. court blocks law that would keep news org's 100 feet from exit polls
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Oct. 16, 2008
A Minn. judge ordered an injunction to block the state law from being enacted after six national news outlets complained it would inhibit election reporting.
Law Suit Filed Over Minnesota Poll Access
Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, Sept 30, 2008
Six news groups, including The Associated Press, CBS, CNN and three others, have filed a law suit over a Minnesota statue that bars anyone who is not voting from approaching within 100 feet of polling stations. The statue would interfere with attempts of journalists to conduct exit-polling.
Montana
Montana's public records laws are ineffectual
The Clark Fork Chronicle June 10, 2009
Laws are out of date and in need of reform.
Nebraska
University of Nebraska denies student journalist access to top administrators. [Inside Higher Ed, Sept 24, 2008]
After multible FOIA requests by The Daily Nebraskan, the University of Nebraska is now denying access to top officials, instead referring them to the school's public relations office.
Nevada
Nevada State Board of Nursing Provides Incomplete Documents After Sun's Public Record Request
Las Vegas Sun May 8, 2009
Weeks after its public records request, the Sun received partial reports on the performances of nursing programs that the Board oversees.
Nevada Supreme Court to decide if Judge in OJ Simpson trial improperly handled jury selection documents
The Associated Press March 4, 2009
>>The AP and Las Vegas Review-Journal filed suit, citing Judge Glass' withholding and redacting of jury selection questionnaires.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Right-to-Know debate continues
The Citizen of Laconia March 29, 2009
>>Legislators to decide if emails public record
>Previous Coverage
New Jersey
Sexual harassment cases now public record
The Star-Ledger March 17, 2009
>>State appeals court makes the ruling and promises victims of harassment won't be affected.
Police Officer Suspended After Cameraman Arrested
New Jersey Star-Ledger, Oct 27, 2008
A 12-yr veteran of the NJ Special Police was suspended after he arrested and put into a chokehold a cameraman who was filming a demonstration.
New York
Goldman Sachs Hires Law Firm to Silence Critical Blog
The Telegraph April 11, 2009
>>The blog, entitled "Facts about Goldman Sachs" is run by a registered investment advisor in Florida.
FBI release file on Halberstam, but withhold many pages
NY City News Service, Nov. 6, 2008
The New York reporter was watched by the FBI for over two decades. His marriage to a Pole and his reporting in Poland were concerns in the FBI's files.
NYC teachers' union sues over politics-free policy on campuses
New York Times Oct. 11, 2008
The two-decade old rule was little heeded before the teacher union's president emailed union leaders instructions about how they could distribute Sen. Barack Obama campaign material.
Ohio
Ohio high court nudges governor to surrender records
Dayton Daily News April 24, 2009
>>Rep. Seth Morgan wins access to public records on school-funding by a narrow victory.
Ohio lawmaker sues governor for schools plan
Ohio.com April 6, 2009
>>Rep. Seth Morgan has sued Gov. Ted Strickland concerning the release of documents, including emails, reports and notes, pertaining to the creation of a school-funding plan.
Deleted E-mails Still Public Record
Columbus Dispatch Dec. 9. 2008
>>The Ohio Supreme Court rules that deleted e-mails are public if they deal with official business.
Ohio
Norman meetings to be streamed on Web
The Oklahoman October 7. 2009
Pennsylvania
Editorial: Shield Law is Critical to Open Government
The Patriot-News September 16, 2009
Citizen fined for questioning politicians
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 24, 2009
>>Concerned about how politicians were using taxpayer dollars, Gene Stilp asked the Pa. State Ethics Commission to look into it - and they turned around and slapped HIM with a $500 fine!
Pennsylvania Counties Learning to Deal with New Open Records Law
The Intelligencer Dec. 7, 2008
>>Officials find the cost of the new requirements are putting a strain on already tight budgets.
Anonymous Website Posters Required to Reveal Identities
Beta News Oct. 8, 2008
A Pennsylvania website dedicated to county political officials has been ordered by a judge to release the identities of six anonymous posters. This action is the most recent in a long line of defamation complaints involving the City Council and local internet media.
Rhode Island
ACLU sues RI town for withholding arrest record
The Providence Journal, Dec. 5, 2008
>>The American Civil Liberties Union says the North Smithfield police department illegally denied a workers' rights leader the record of the arrest of a man charged with using fraudulent identification.
ProJo asks for jury questionnaires
The Providence Journal, Nov. 26, 2008
>>The paper is asking the high court to share forms filled out by more than 400 prospective jurors to hear the Rhode Island nightclub fire case of 2003, which killed 100 people.
"Brainstorming" or illegal closed meeting?
The Providence Journal, Nov. 25, 2008
>>ProJo columnist Edward Fitzpatrick explains why the answer to government secrecy is not, well, more secrecy. Fitzpatrick expresses outrage at legislator's proposal to do just that.
RI legislator calls for secret meeting of entire house or representatives
Providence Journal, Nov. 21, 2008
>>One legislator thinks the fiscal crisis cannot be solved if the public is allowed access to government deliberations.
South Dakota
South Dakota Governor signs open government law
The Associated Press March 19, 2009
>>The state finally joins the others with similar laws
Texas
Editorial: Citezens Better Served by Open Records
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal September 16, 2009
>>City intends to fight email request.
Supreme Court Denies Release of City Council Emails
WDSU.com May, 2009
>>The ruling came with a warning of ethical repercussions.
Virginia
Radford, Va. refuses to explain why FOIA docs were blacked-out
The Roanoke Times, Nov. 16, 2008
When a reporter from The Roanoke Times asked the city for a copy of the summer months' FOIA requests, he received heavily redacted documents, without legal explanation.
Virginia Board of Elections Rules to Ban Campaign Clothing from Polling Stations
WCAV TV, Charlottesville VA Oct. 14, 2008
The American Civil Liberties Union is arguing that the ban on campaign paraphernalia is a violation of the First Amendment. Maine, Montana, Vermont, and Kansas have passed similiar measures.
"Designated media area" at Arlington National Cemetery defined, but not much changed
Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, Sept. 29, 2008
Under pressure, the Army set rules for the rights of family members of the deceased to opt for a wireless microphone at funeral ceremonies to give journalists still-limited access.
Washington
Open meetings are not always so easy to get to
Mercer Island Reporter June 9, 2009
>>Meetings held in private clubs violates open meetings act
City council meetings in Everett streaming online in fall 2009
Heraldnet.com June 1, 2009
>>Going virtual means easier access to government planning for city residents
Obama deputy pick questioned
Komonews.com March 22, 2009
>>Ron Sims left open government fines when he left for D.C.
WA court: public records can be kept from inmates [Oregonlive.com, July 3, 2008]
Prisoners are entitled to government records, but jailers can keep those records from actually reaching an inmate's hands if the information is deemed illegal contraband, a divided state Supreme Court ruled Thursday
Washington D.C.
Ruling expands review board's access to Seattle police files
Seattle Times October 9, 2009
Obama's AG introduces "a presumption of openness"
USA Today March 19, 2009
>>Holder reverses FOIA guidelines put in place under Bush and Ashcroft
Ombudsman scolds Post newsroom for taking a pass on open government issues
The Washington Post March 15, 2009
>>Many advocates think that Post doesn't do enough
National Security Archives names FBI worst agency for FOIA Performance
George Washington University March 13, 2009
>>The 2009 Rosemary Award was given to the FBI for it's record of dismal response to FOIA requests. 66% of the time, the FBI can't even local the records in question.
Can Pres. Obama add transparency to gov't with Web?
Nieman Watch Dog, Nov. 12, 2008
The Nieman Foundation's new report offers a guide to how the incoming administration could open up government in an effort to reverse the secrecy of the Bush administration.
Groups call for more open presidency, resuscitated FIOA
The Raw Story, Nov. 12, 2008
After eight years of increased government secrecy, more than 60 groups are calling for Pres.-elect Obama to reverse the trend. Bloomberg News wants to know what securities the Federal Reserve is taking on
Bloomberg News, Nov. 7, 2008
The securities are collateral for the $1.5 trillion of bank loans, and are bought on behalf of the American citizens who paid for it.
Hotel bombarded for posting McCain/Palin signs
Washington Post, Oct. 18, 2008
The D.C.-area hotel got fierce feedback objecting to the signs, and local leaders are calling for a boycott, inciting a first-amendment-for-businesses debate.
Judge says gov't must produce waterboarding memos. [The Associated Press, Sept. 4, 2008]
A federal judge has ruled in New York that the government must either produce memos on waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods used by the CIA or explain why they should be kept secret.
White House may keep documents in e-mail flap private, judge rules [The Washington Post, June 17, 2008]
The White House does not have to make public internal documents examining the potential disappearance of e-mails sent during some of the Bush administration's biggest controversies, a U.S. district judge ruled yesterday.
West Virginia
Newspaper gains access to County Commision emails
The Journal, September 25, 2009
Wisconsin
Public Employees Seeks to Remain Anonymous
Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, Nov. 29, 2008
>>Wisconsin papers file suit against state employee union for refusing to release the names of workers.