Transparency News, 7/3/20
Friday
July 3, 2020
July 3, 2020
state & local news stories
The full text of FOIA, with changes effective July 1, is on VCOG's website.
Days of calls from protesters have prompted Norfolk city officials to take a deeper look into releasing use of force police reports at a more frequent rate. Norfolk City Manager Dr. Chip Flier issued a statement on Thursday promising to take steps toward that change. This follows a days-long sit-in dozens of protesters initiated at Norfolk City Hall that's currently on day four. Norfolk city leaders said they are working to come up with a solid plan on publishing more detailed use of force information. The protesters have specifically demanded for not only the release of those reports but the names of the officers involved in the cases.
WVEC
As Virginians have grown accustomed to checking the Virginia Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard daily, epidemiologists continue to remind everyone that the data – while as up-to-date as possible – is more accurately reflecting what was happening in the commonwealth weeks ago. During a webinar hosted by the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit data aggregator, Em Stevens, an epidemiologist with the VDH, said the data is helpful for situational awareness but isn’t meant to inform daily decision making.
The Northern Virginia Daily
Unusual public dissent, and an allegation that Republican politics are driving a push to widen Roanoke County’s school reopening plan, led to the abrupt resignation from the chairman’s role of board member Don Butzer. Butzer said in his resignation letter to the board and Superintendent Ken Nicely that he didn’t feel he could be effective as chair any longer, and “more importantly I feel that [I] have lost the confidence of the majority of the Board.” He will remain on the board as a member. A pivotal factor in his decision was finding out three school board members were invited to a meeting “to organize against” the recommended return-to-school plan, he wrote in the letter, obtained Thursday by The Roanoke Times. Butzer confirmed the authenticity of the letter but declined to comment further. Though Butzer claimed the meeting was held by local Republican leaders, board member Tim Greenway, who attended with David Linden, said the meeting was organized by parents. Mike Wray said he was invited but did not attend.
The Roanoke Times
WVEC
As Virginians have grown accustomed to checking the Virginia Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard daily, epidemiologists continue to remind everyone that the data – while as up-to-date as possible – is more accurately reflecting what was happening in the commonwealth weeks ago. During a webinar hosted by the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit data aggregator, Em Stevens, an epidemiologist with the VDH, said the data is helpful for situational awareness but isn’t meant to inform daily decision making.
The Northern Virginia Daily
Unusual public dissent, and an allegation that Republican politics are driving a push to widen Roanoke County’s school reopening plan, led to the abrupt resignation from the chairman’s role of board member Don Butzer. Butzer said in his resignation letter to the board and Superintendent Ken Nicely that he didn’t feel he could be effective as chair any longer, and “more importantly I feel that [I] have lost the confidence of the majority of the Board.” He will remain on the board as a member. A pivotal factor in his decision was finding out three school board members were invited to a meeting “to organize against” the recommended return-to-school plan, he wrote in the letter, obtained Thursday by The Roanoke Times. Butzer confirmed the authenticity of the letter but declined to comment further. Though Butzer claimed the meeting was held by local Republican leaders, board member Tim Greenway, who attended with David Linden, said the meeting was organized by parents. Mike Wray said he was invited but did not attend.
The Roanoke Times
stories of national interest
The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it would decide whether Congress may see parts of the report prepared by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election. As a practical matter, the move means that the full report will almost certainly not be made available before the 2020 election, if at all. In May, the court blocked release of the report while the appeal moved forward. The court will probably hear arguments in the case in the late fall, after the election, and issue its decision next year. The case arose from a request by the House Judiciary Committee for grand jury materials that the Justice Department had blacked out from the report provided to Congress.
The New York Times
The New York Times
editorials & columns
“I am ... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.”
Since the first COVID-19 case in Virginia was announced, InsideNoVa.com has been posting a daily update on the spread of coronavirus in our region, relying on statistics provided by the Virginia Department of Health. The reaction on social media each day is predictable. While some commenters express alarm at the spread of the virus and pledge to wear masks and continue physical distancing, others accuse us of exaggerating the impact of the virus and say we all need to get on with our lives. Regardless of which side you’re on, the facts are important. And over the nearly four months since the virus began spreading, the state has made more and more of these facts available. But persuading the administration of Gov. Ralph Northam to do so has been like pulling teeth. And that is worrisome because, as Northam reminds us every chance he gets, the pandemic is not over. Governor, as you have told us on so many occasions, this is a public health crisis. Stop refusing to release data that would help the public understand the true nature of the crisis until it’s too late, as in the case of long-term care facilities. Only through complete transparency can the public trust the state’s response.
InsideNoVa
On this Independence Day 244 years later, it’s worth reflecting on the lessons the Founders have for us as we assess the role and the practices of the news media today. The first lesson is that while the nation’s leaders and institutions may chafe under the public criticism that accompanies reporting of their shortcomings, the role of the press in holding those leaders and institutions accountable is indispensable to the workings of a democratic society. Most importantly, the press’ proper role must be recognized by the leaders and institutions being held accountable. As abused as he was by the partisan press, Jefferson nevertheless declared, “I am ... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.”
The Winchester Star
InsideNoVa
On this Independence Day 244 years later, it’s worth reflecting on the lessons the Founders have for us as we assess the role and the practices of the news media today. The first lesson is that while the nation’s leaders and institutions may chafe under the public criticism that accompanies reporting of their shortcomings, the role of the press in holding those leaders and institutions accountable is indispensable to the workings of a democratic society. Most importantly, the press’ proper role must be recognized by the leaders and institutions being held accountable. As abused as he was by the partisan press, Jefferson nevertheless declared, “I am ... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.”
The Winchester Star
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