FOI Blog

This report is not just in

It’s become predictable.

Some tragedy, some catastrophe, some breakdown, something’s gone terribly wrong.

Everyone’s reeling. Questions are multiplying. Rumors are flying.

So it is understandable that in their zeal to Do Something, many public bodies most closely impacted by the event rush to launch an investigation.

Please. Someone. Tell us what went wrong.

Then, weeks or months later, the announcement is trumped that the review is complete. The investigation is in-hand. We have the report.

And another thing...

Rocking chair quarterbacking the past week

 

Democracy in action

An Arkansas state senate committee hearing warmed my heart. Pig Sooie!

 

Contract pause

The optics of this fee estimate are not good.

 

THERE IS NO GENERAL EXEMPTION THAT ALLOWS FOR THE REDACTION OF NAMES

Please stop making up reasons to redact names form public records so I can stop using all-caps.

Don't just feel smart, be smart

A controversy over meeting recordings in Augusta County could use a bit of clarity

 

Democratic government is open government

In an era marked by political polarization and heightened mistrust in public institutions, it is crucial to identify areas of agreement that outstrip party lines. One such area lies in government transparency.

Another pro-FOIA ruling

A Virginia Supreme Court ruling on what constitutes "public business" continues a string of pro-access cases in the past few years.

Sometimes mistakes really are mistakes

In a brief podcast posted on Substack, Megan tells a story on herself and reminds us that mistakes should be met with grace when possible.

Requests that go right, and the outliers that don't

A deep dive into requests made through MuckRock

 

 

 

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