Transparency News 7/5/16

State and Local Stories

Valerie Anderson was buried as she died — quietly and alone, in the care of Central State Hospital workers. Past the winding entrance to the hospital’s grounds near Petersburg, past the payroll building, accounts payable office and garage, her body was laid to rest June 21 in a locked cemetery bounded by shade trees and semitrailers rumbling along the northern terminus of Interstate 85. A temporary wooden cross marks her grave. It is both peaceful and loud here, where 736 souls are buried. Although a florist’s card at the grave marked “With deepest sympathy from Central State Hospital” bears her name, state officials at the cemetery on Friday still would not confirm the identity of the woman who died in their care on May 26, the day after she arrived from Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth. The first denial — June 8 — launched a Richmond Times-Dispatch investigation that ultimately led to the cemetery on the hospital grounds. Through public records requests and court filings, The Times-Dispatch was able to identify Anderson and piece together parts of her life.
Richmond Times-Dispatch

In a departure from its typical summer routine, the Norfolk School Board will travel to Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday for extensive leadership training. The board initially planned to host the training in Norfolk, paying about $2,000 for consultants, during its annual retreat. At a meeting about two weeks ago, though, plans changed, Chair Rodney Jordan said. Members want to focus on leadership training and the school division's issues separately, he said. The trip's costs are not yet known. This spring, board members implored the public to understand how the training helps, after facing criticism and support for its travel budget. In May, The Pilot reported that the board planned to nearly double its travel and training budget to $122,000 while cutting teachers and other positions. No other local board spends nearly as much. Members said training is important because of leadership turnover and to help improve the academically and financially struggling division.
Virginian-Pilot


National Stories
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The City of Kinloch, Missouri, held a special meeting on the heels of a Fox 2 investigation about uninsured and unregistered police cars.  We were following up on our investigation by attending a public meeting in which city leaders gathered to discuss the issues we raised.  A Kinloch Police Captain allowed citizens to enter the public meeting but told me we could not bring a camera inside. The Captain said, “You won’t be coming in sir.”  He motioned to other citizens behind me, “You two wanna come in?  Come on.” I said, “It’s a public meeting.” The Captain answered, “No recordings.  No video.” Police cuffed me and shackled my leg to a holding bench.
Fox 2 Now

A North Georgia newspaper publisher was indicted on a felony charge and jailed overnight last week – for filing an open-records request. Fannin Focus publisher Mark Thomason, along with his attorney Russell Stookey, were arrested on Friday and charged with attempted identity fraud and identity fraud. Thomason was also accused of making a false statement in his records request. Thomason’s relentless pursuit of public records relating to the local Superior Court has incensed the court’s chief judge, Brenda Weaver, who also chairs the state Judicial Qualifications Commission. Weaver took the matter to the district attorney, who obtained the indictments. Thomason was charged June 24 with making a false statement in an open-records request in which he asked for copies of checks “cashed illegally.” Thomason and Stookey were also charged with identity fraud and attempted identity fraud because they did not get Weaver’s approval before sending subpoenas to banks where Weaver and another judge maintained accounts for office expenses. Weaver suggested that Thomason may have been trying to steal banking information on the checks.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Editorials/Columns

VIRGINIA Gov. Terry McAuliffe did not list transparency as a major theme in his campaign for the top elected office in the state. Of course, as any governor-elect would, he told reporters that he planned to run “an open and transparent administration.” But that’s essentially a perfunctory response to a reporter’s question. In the two and a half years since he took office, his administration has shown much more opacity than clarity. There are several conspicuous examples.
Dick Hammerstrom, Free-Lance Star

When he leaves office in a scant few months, President Barack Obama will have compiled among the worst records on openness and transparency in the nation’s history. Most worrisome is that things are likely to get worse before they get better on the federal level since both major-party candidates for president possess woeful records when it comes to openness and accountability.
Virginian-Pilot

THE PRINCIPLE of holding government to account is at the bedrock of U.S. democracy, and information about government decisions is essential for that accountability. The Freedom of Information Act, although not something every citizen comes in contact with, remains a vital tool for keeping government open and honest. While not perfect — not every request results in disclosure of information or documents — it at least offers a law-based process for citizens to seek information from the powerful. Does a citizen in a place like China or Russia have such a chance to pull aside the curtains of secrecy with a simple letter? No.
Washington Post