Alabama
Prison Officials Violate Open Records Act
Examiner.com September 14, 2009
>> Alabama Supreme Court rules after assaults and murders at Donaldson Correctional Facility.
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
Capital City Weekly Dec. 17, 2008
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.
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.
“Inappropriate” California high school paper shut down by administration
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
The Denver Post, Oct. 15, 2008
Connecticut
Yale University Accused of Violating Open-Records Law
Yale Daily News, September 24,2009
>>Yale police union asks university 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
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 Connecticut Town Websites
WFSB.com, Dec. 10, 2008
>>A new law requiring towns to post minutes of meetings online within 24 hours is forcing some towns to scrap sites because small staffs can’t keep up. No IT funding is coming from the state, which passed the law on Wednesday
Delaware
Dover paper demands unsealing of documents in ongoing investigation
Foster’s Daily Democrat, Nov. 11, 2008
>>The case judge held a closed door hearing on the issue, but hasn’t made a decision on whether documents from a homicide case should be unsealed
Florida
WTSP.com (Tampa Bay) June 29,2011
Court Sides with Florida State University on NCAA Records Flap
Jacksonville Observer October 1, 2009
Lawyers Fight Over the Bill in Venice, Fla. Sunshine Suit
Herald-Tribune September 16, 2009
Georgia
Georgia AG gets tough with public officials who violate public access law
Atlanta Journal-Constitution February 15, 2011
County Board violated open meeting law
Tribune & Georgian March 25, 2009
>>Board of Assessors took a closed-door vote
Iowa
Governor Tells Paper to Pay for Records
The Times March 15, 2009
>>The proposed fee of $630 is not for copies of the e-mails; just for the cost of having Gov.’s attorney examine each of 900 e-mails in question.
Illinois
Q&A with Attorney General Lisa Madigan
The Times May 15, 2009
>>During her six years as Attorney General, Madigan has pushed for greater public access to public records.
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 Chicago Tribune March 8, 2009
>>“Rod may be the best thing that ever happened to the Freedom of Information Act,” said a Springfield lawyer
Also:
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
Illinois Dept. of Healthcare rejects FOIA request for funding info.
Associated Press Oct. 22, 2008
>>Gov. Rod Blagojevich doled out state-subsidized health care, but won’t release expense information or whom it covers
Chicago Reader June 12, 2008
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
Maine company wants county real estate records – Court will rule on county denials
Sun Journal August 16, 2010
Maine Agency Demands $36,000 Fee for Possibly Embarrassing Emails
The Portland Press Herald October 5, 2010
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 Post March 26, 2009
>>Montgomery County councilman calls for details of severance package for outgoing county official
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 cost and time of handling FOIA requests by 30 percent
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
>>Mass Development claims the public has no right to know what its legal bills are
Commonwealth Magazine June 11, 2011
April 25, 2011
Boston.com April 4, 2011
>><Globe sues state, in challenge to Patrick Administration’s distaste for transparency
Boston.com March 26, 2022
>>NEFAC Appoints Rose Cavanagh Executive Director
>>Retaliation? Cape Cod fire board bans laptops, but just some, from public meetings
Cape Cod Times February 24, 2011
>>Mass. agency refuses to release public rebate records, claims privacy exemption
CommonWealth Magazine February 8, 2011
>> Gov. Patrick’s second-term motto: Redact Government Records?
CommonWealth Magazine January 13, 2011
Enterprise News November 22, 2010
The Boston Globe November 12, 2010
The Boston Globe November 11, 2010
>>Channel 5 Investigates: Patrick Administration blocks far too many public records requests
The Boston Channel (WCVB TV) October 21, 2010
>>Mass. Ethics Comission, Never Very Transparent, Goes Nearly Dark
Boston Globe August 14, 2010
>>Error Takes Teeth Out of Allegedly Tougher Open Meeting Law in Mass.
Boston Globe July 20, 2010
>>What transparency? Some Mass. Congress Members Hide Earmark Information
Boston Globe July 12,2010
>>Only 117 Municipalities Post Basic Records Online
The Boston Globe March 19, 2009
>>Vast majority across the state fall short.
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 towns fare well on e-mail requests
MetroWest Daily News March 19, 2009
>>Local school superintendents 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
Michigan Legislator, Confused by Media Proliferation, Wants to License Reporters
Fox News May 28, 2010
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
Minnesota court blocks law that would keep news organizations 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
Missouri
Missouri Health Officials Purge Recent Data; Too Costly to Save, They Claim
stltoday.com August 16, 2010
Montana
Montana’s public records laws are ineffectual
The Clark Fork Chronicle June 10, 2009
Nebraska
>>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
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 constitute public record
New Jersey
New Jersey Drastically Cuts Costs of Providing Documents to the Public
New Jersey Star-Ledger September 16, 2010
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
The Wall Street Journal December 29, 2010
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
>>New York reporter watched by FBI for over two decades
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
Oregon
Oregon state pension system fights to keep pensions secret
The Oregonian October 27, 2010
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 slapped him with a $500 fine
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
Adoptees in RI may soon get access to birth records
Providence Journal June 15, 2011
Judge orders state of RI to pay ALCU attorney fees in records dispute
The Boston Globe, Oct. 11, 2010
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 arrest record 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 isn’t more secrecy
RI legislator calls for secret meeting of house of 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 finally signs open government law
The Associated Press March 19, 2009
Texas
The Dallas Morning News December 3, 2010
Editorial: Citizens 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
Vermont
ACLU in Vermont sues after state rebuffs public records request
The Boston Globe October 19, 2010
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 a ban on campaign paraphernalia is a violation of the First Amendment
“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 solidifies rights of family members of the deceased to grant or deny media access to funerals
Washington
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’s 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
Washington D.C.
Transparency pushed aside again: SEC wants to do its policing in secret
USA Today September 16, 2010
D.C. Judge Resorts to Prior Restraint, AND Declares First Amendment Concerns to be Secondary
The National Law Journal July 26, 2010
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 Bush-era FOIA guidelines
Ombudsman scolds Post newsroom for taking a pass on open government issues
The Washington Post March 15, 2009
National Security Archives names FBI worst agency for FOIA Performance
George Washington University March 13, 2009
>>66% of the time, FBI “can’t locate” records in question
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 Obama to reverse the trend
Bloomberg News wants Federal Reserve information
Bloomberg News Nov. 7, 2008
Hotel bombarded for posting McCain/Palin signs
Washington Post, Oct. 18, 2008
>>The D.C.-area hotel suffers fierce objection to the signs, with local leaders calling for a boycott, inciting a First Amendment debate.
White House may keep documents in e-mail flap private, judge rules
The Washington Post, June 17, 2008
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.
