Posted 6/17/13 by Megan Rhyne
What we gained. What we learned. And how government transparency is an ongoing conversation.
Posted 6/8/13 by Megan Rhyne
What are people doing prior to the July 1 effective date of the new law banning release of concealed handgun permit applications?
Posted 5/31/13 by Megan Rhyne
Posted 5/28/13 by Megan Rhyne
Good piece today in the Daily Press about York County facing a $7 million tax refund bill if the owners of a defunct area refinery win their tax abatement appeal.
The issue came to light because of an email obtained by a York County resident through a FOIA request. The resident forwarded it to the paper, and the story soon followed.
Posted 5/24/13 by Megan Rhyne
In my job, I get to hear from folks all over the state, usually when they've been denied a request for records. This week alone I've heard.....
Posted 5/1/13 by Megan Rhyne
Dear justices of the United States Supreme Court -
Your ruling Monday did not surprise me. You said that it's OK for Virginia's FOIA to reject FOIA requests made by residents from other states. Virginia is for lovers, you said, but not for out-of-state FOIA requesters.
Posted 4/1/13 by Megan Rhyne
A lot of ink has been spilled over the years about whether government can or should be run as a business. Whole political philosophies have developed in praise of or eschewing the notion. Personally, I don't know which side has it right, at least in terms of planning, management, budgeting, etc. But I do know one area where the two don't mix, where government cannot and should not be operated like a business: access to public records and, particularly, public meetings.
Posted 3/22/13 by Megan Rhyne
Yesterday, the governor signed a bill that will conceal all concealed handgun permit applications. Supporters rejoiced. Open government groups did not. In the process, my opposition is deemed "leftist anti-gun lunacy."
It is nothing of the sort. I just don't believe that the government -- specifically the courts -- should be able to administer a government-mandated permitting process in total secrecy.
Posted 10/15/12 by Megan Rhyne
"The Freedom of Information Act is ridiculous."
Yes, someone actually said that. Someone who works for a publicly funded institution. Someone who had the ear of a public body that performs public functions. A public body who, by the way, has the power to remove the president of one of the nation's most prestigious universities without warning and without consensus.
Posted 10/8/12 by Megan Rhyne
Readers of this column know that I frequently encourage government officials and employees to adhere to the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act as well as to the letter of it.
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