tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377352552009-07-20T23:35:08.293-05:00The official blog of the <a href="http://nfoic.org/">National Freedom of Information Coalition</a> and the <a href="http://nfoic.org/advocate/">FOI ADVOCATE</a>, in which we bring news of freedom of information developments far and wide... NFOIC is a coalition of state groups dedicated to open government, headquartered at the <a href="http://journalism.missouri.edu">Missouri School of Journalism</a>.Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.comBlogger1040125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-38666964719135031352009-07-20T23:20:00.002-05:002009-07-20T23:32:56.659-05:00

The Florida Supreme Court rejected a recommendation to protect judicial audio and video recordings, the AP reported.The state Supreme Court has ordered that electronic recordings of trial proceedings are public records.The court Thursday unanimously rejected a recommendation from a judicial commission that audio and video recordings be protected unless a judge approves their release. The high

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-75974456374659363252009-07-20T22:50:00.002-05:002009-07-20T23:20:08.972-05:00

The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a circuit court decision that provided newspapers access to state personnel records, the State Bar of Wisconsin reported. State agencies had refused to disclose names of state employees to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Lakeland Times based on a collective bargaining agreement with the Wisconsin State Employees Union. The Supreme Court determined that

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-60514404402589976792009-07-20T22:40:00.005-05:002009-07-20T22:50:35.556-05:00

FOI at Work!The State received almost 600 pages of e-mail and phone records from Gov. Mark Sanford and hi staff during the governor's secret June 18-24 trip to Argentina to visit his lover. Staffers downplayed the governor's disappearance, and chief of staff, Scott English, made 15 calls to the governor's cell -- none of which were picked up. Also, several media organizations pleaded with Joel

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-52782101180059314612009-07-20T22:30:00.002-05:002009-07-20T22:37:12.532-05:00

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has taken steps to help protect the state's public records law in regards to NCAA records, WCTV reported. Because the records were released to Florida State University, they are considered public records, according to McCollum. However, both the university and NCAA are being sued by news organizations for withholding the files.Florida's Attorney General

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-75132434690365026282009-07-12T23:08:00.005-05:002009-07-12T23:46:02.742-05:00

From Richard D. Boltuck of Maryland:Most residents of West Bethesda in the neighborhoods near Whitman High School are well aware of the hazardous and chaotic Braeburn Parkway/River Road intersection used as one of the main entrances to the Whitman parking lot. Many of those turning on or off River before and after school are high school students, among the least experienced drivers anywhere.

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-68817397473519320482009-07-08T21:01:00.002-05:002009-07-08T21:04:19.498-05:00

Texters and tweeters in Michigan, beware:Starting in September, Michigan jurors will no longer be allowed to send text messages, "tweet" or engage in other forms of electronic communication during trials.The Michigan Supreme Court established the new rule Tuesday in an attempt to prevent distraction and outside information from influencing trial outcomes, according to the National Law Journal.

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-26399490911265724232009-07-08T20:56:00.003-05:002009-07-08T20:59:58.430-05:00

The Virginia Supreme Court will receive public comments until Sept. 1 on a proposed rule that would seal juror information in all criminal trials, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press reported. The Virginia Coalition for Open Government says this is "potentially unconstitutional."The Virginia Supreme Court has proposed a rule to tighten access to juror information in all criminal

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-41210152324410668332009-07-08T20:48:00.002-05:002009-07-08T20:54:58.075-05:00

The American Society of Access Professionals will hold its 2009 FOIA/Privacy Act training workshop from Sept. 21-23 in Chicago. The program is designed for those "who are newto working with the FOI or Privacy Acts; those who have limited experience; those who deal with the Acts as an adjunct responsibility; or those who would benefit from an in-depth refresher course." Special sessions will be

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-29918561820706742882009-07-08T20:31:00.002-05:002009-07-08T20:48:22.577-05:00

Although the California Public Records Act requires that public records be available during public business hours, Union-Tribune journalists were not allowed to see financial records at the San Diego City Hall, the Union-Tribune reported. The staffers visited City Hall to view checks written by the city after no one responded to their FOIA requests. Marcelle Rossman, the city's financial

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-73594473944339412562009-07-08T20:05:00.002-05:002009-07-08T20:31:08.913-05:00

FOI at Work!Detroit city officials used 900 emergency checks in just two years, most of them for questionable expenses, the Detroit Free Press reported. The newspaper obtained records through FOIA that indicated these checks were used to hire a public relations expert by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick during his scandal, to pay rent for the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center and even to buy fuel for city

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-53217237461728948272009-07-03T15:24:00.003-05:002009-07-03T15:33:22.106-05:00

The University of Missouri says it complied with the Columbus Dispatch's records request and maintains records as it should according to NCAA terms, the Columbia Missourian reported. MU says it didn't "refuse to provide any information to protect privacy" involving the records of complimentary tickets for athletes and it does keep records on athletes' summer employment. The university said it

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-8036657000971309222009-07-03T13:01:00.005-05:002009-07-03T15:23:06.511-05:00

E-mails not provided to The Palm Beach Post in regards to a request for e-mails sent and received by former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom turned up during his criminal investigation, Post on Politics reported. The House had told the newspaper that Sansom didn't send or receive a single e-mail in the 11-day period for which records were requested. However, prosecutors' files included

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-38949808024500015032009-07-03T11:56:00.002-05:002009-07-03T13:01:17.674-05:00

The University of Illinois removed two computers from the chancellor's office so that officials can obtain all e-mail relevant to the online admissions controversy, The News-Gazette reported. The university released 123 pages of e-mail messages in response to FOIA requests from The News-Gazette and the Chicago Tribune. It's unknown whether the newly released documents were intentionally withheld

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-66486675536675360752009-07-03T11:46:00.003-05:002009-07-03T11:55:46.258-05:00

A Louisiana bill passed last week opens up some of the governor's documents previously exempted but still keeps most information under wraps, the AP reported. Sen. Robert Adley of Benton said the legislation doesn't improve access to the governor's records but takes the state "from sunshine to moonshine." The Times-Picayune of New Orleans and The Advocate of Baton Rouge editorialized against the

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-20460131659746899542009-07-03T11:36:00.003-05:002009-07-03T11:45:52.300-05:00

Although the Department of Defense released 12 documents related to detainee abuse, the redaction of key details is still pretty heavy, The Public Record reported. Some of what the Obama administration redacted had been previously released under Bush. One page is fully redacted. What wasn't redacted, however, suggests that Bush player a larger role in prisoner interrogation than he has admitted

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-65546013205063749832009-07-03T11:25:00.003-05:002009-07-03T11:36:04.432-05:00

In addition to the educational efforts of the newly formed Missouri Sunshine Coalition, the state's attorney general, Chris Koster has contacted all 114 counties to discuss the Sunshine Law, Kim Wrinkle of The News-Leader reported. "We have truly needed less apathy and more action towards those in power who have abused the Sunshine Law or simply ignored it," she wrote. "With the help of the

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-88045773911989040282009-07-03T11:09:00.003-05:002009-07-03T11:18:32.535-05:00

The ACLU is challenging the delayed release of the CIA's 2004 inspector-general report, The Washington Independent reported. The 200-page report, which is supposed to be declassified as part of an FOIA lawsuit agreement, will not be released before Aug. 31, according to the Justice Department. The ACLU says that the CIA and Justice Department have missed three deadlines already for the disclosure

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-68747133627674718182009-07-02T17:36:00.003-05:002009-07-02T22:55:16.200-05:00

The North Carolina House Finance Committee heard arguments on a bill that would create an open government unit with the Department of Justice, the AP reported. The department would issue advisory opinions and provide mediation services. However, Paul Meyer with the North Carolina League of Municipalities says the unit could slow down information access because the more than 1,500 state and local

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-27150170079233279772009-07-02T09:05:00.003-05:002009-07-02T09:12:36.780-05:00

The First Amendment Foundation is pleased with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's two vetoes, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press reported. The group had opposed the first bill, which would have kept sealed any "proprietary business information" the Department of Management received from a telecommunications company. The second bill, for which the organization recommended a veto, would

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-61838346277429831102009-07-02T08:19:00.002-05:002009-07-02T09:04:03.383-05:00

Lucy Dalglish outlined the accomplishments of the mainstream media for the past 50 years and the threats to open records laws in an address to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies,the Columbia Journalism Review reported. "I'd give anything to once again have a big bad-ass Knight-Ridder Washington Bureau out there doing what it takes to find out what really happened when we went to war in

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-58599242051843585212009-06-28T23:35:00.003-05:002009-06-28T23:44:37.604-05:00

Jon and Kate Gosselin have shifted their divorce case out of their hometown in Berks County to Montgomery County, which is 50 miles away, the AP reported. It could be because divorce records are open in Berks but sealed in Montgomery. The policy in Montgomery might be open to a legal challenge, however, because the Pennsylvania Constitution declares that "all courts shall be open."Jon and Kate

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-72326713463331415652009-06-28T23:21:00.002-05:002009-06-28T23:33:09.045-05:00

Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed one bill that would have "exempted 'propriety business information' obtained from a telecommunications or broadband company by the Department of Management Services," the AP reported. The other bill he vetoed would have exempted the identification of a donor or prospective donor to a publicly owned building who wished to remain anonymous. He signed into law a bill that

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-62728449622214941662009-06-28T23:15:00.002-05:002009-06-28T23:20:06.042-05:00

FDA investigators were denied access to Nestle complaint logs, pest-control records and other records from 2004-2007, the AP reported. An FDA spokeswoman said companies are allow to decide what they will permit during an inspection. Inspection reports from a Nestlé USA cookie dough factory released yesterday show the company declined several times in the past five years to provide Food and Drug

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-35591607195082682692009-06-26T01:23:00.003-05:002009-06-26T01:30:58.996-05:00

Wired published a Q&A with Vivek Kundra, the U.S. government's first-ever chief information officer, in this month's issue. Kundra spoke about his plans for Data.gov and navigating privacy issues. Wired also has its own Wiki where people can report government data that is not accessible and can suggest how accessibility to government data could be improved.The Obama administration's most radical

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37735255.post-19184378459291280172009-06-26T01:16:00.002-05:002009-06-26T01:23:00.924-05:00

FOI at Work!The recycled rubber used to cushion children's playgrounds could be contaminated with lead and other toxins, USA Today reported. The advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility learned of this potential danger through internal EPA documents obtained via an FOIA request. A 2008 EPA memo said "there are insufficient data to assess the full spectrum of those risks."

Charles N. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987084587838968158noreply@blogger.com0