Open-Government Blog

Recent Posts from Open-Government Blog

• Bellingham Herald Editorial Blasts Decision on Destroying Public Records

  This Bellingham Herald editorial uses unusually sharp language to criticize a Whatcom County Superior Court ruling upholding an arbitrator's ruling (made before a public records request was made) that the City of Bellingham must destroy…

• Spokesman Review Editorial on Clean Air Agency Settlement and Need for Taping Law

  This editorial from the Spokesman Review describes why a recent $25,000 settlement by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency of an Open Public Meetings Act case shows that the Legislature should pass a bill requiring…

• Board of Accountancy Blasted for Lack of Accountability

  This editorial from The Olympian describes the lack of accountability on the Board of Accountancy, the state agency regulating accountants, and calls for reforms. The Board recently paid $500,000 to settle retaliation and public records…

• Spokane Air Agency Settles Open Meetings Suit

  This story in the Spokesman-Review describes the decision by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency to settle an Open Public Meetings Act lawsuit brought by the Center for Justice.NOTE: Michele Earl-Hubbard of Allied Law Group…

• Olympian Editorial on New Ombudsman Office

  This editorial from The Olympian describes why a new office should be created to give citizens and agencies a quick and inexpensive administrative remedy to obtain public records. Citizens could still go to court if…

• TNT Editorial on DSHS Public Records Payout of $525,001

  This (Tacoma) News Tribune editorial says it all.

• Arizona Supreme Court Ruling on Disclosure of Electronic Records (YEAH!) Analyzed

  This story from the Arizona Republic looks at the recent and magnificent ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court on the disclosure of electronic records.

• Social Networking Sites for Gov't: Public Records and Records Retention Issues

  This Kitsap Sun article discusses the thorny Public Records Act and retention issues when government agencies use social networking sites like Facebook. Here's the deal: Government is different than private people and businesses. Government is…

• R-71 Going to SCOTUS?

  This Seattle P-I story looks at whether the Supreme Court of the United States (called "SCOTUS" by law geeks) will be deciding the R-71 disclosure case.

• Puplic Records Show ... Man Accused of Beating Disabled Boy Was Innocent

  A man was accused of beating a disabled boy at a library in the Tri Cities. The accused man's criminal defense attorney made a public records request for the surveillance tape at the library.The tape…