Feb 2010
Troopers criticized over withholding
February 25, 2010 | Filed in: Pa. State
Police | Open
records | Government
transparency | Court
records
HARRISBURG - A new Pennsylvania State Police
policy requires troopers to withhold names and
other information about victims and witnesses
when they issue citations for certain minor
crimes - drawing criticism from open-government
advocates and raising concern among judges and
defense lawyers. Read
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Opinion: Clean Streams Act makes DEP records public
Q: I want to look at applications filed with
the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Can the DEP deny my request? Read
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Montgomery County requests more time
February 24, 2010 | Filed in: Right to Know
Law | Montgomery
Co. | Open
records | RTK request
stories
Montgomery County has stated it will require
another month to provide the county’s
professional services contracts and related
documents requested earlier this month by The
Times Herald. Read
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Office of Open Records requests higher funding
February 18, 2010 | Filed in: Office of
Open Records
The head of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records
spoke before the House Appropriations Committee
today to requesting more tax funds than proposed
in the Governor’s budget due to the high number
of appeals filed by agencies contesting the
release of information, and the additional
lawyers the Office requires to handle these
cases. Read
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Opinion: Minutes public after next meeting; recordings public when created
Q: I requested copies of a local agency’s
minutes and audio recording from a meeting held
in early December, 2009. I was denied on the
basis that meeting minutes aren’t public until
they have been formally approved, and the audio
recording is exempt as a “personal use” record.
There have been three meetings since early
December. Can the agency deny access to minutes
and the audio recording at this point?
Read
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Dad seeks to block report in son's death
A new legal battle could be brewing over a
Shippensburg University student's death that
already has prompted a court duel over the
state's Right to Know Law. Read
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Court says government must prove need to keep information secret
A state appeals court's first ruling on the new
Right to Know Law upholds the idea that
government agencies must prove they have a good
reason for withholding information, lawyers and
others said yesterday. "It's a strong decision
for open government," said Barry Fox, spokesman
for the state Office of Open Records.
Read
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