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Pennsylvania's new open records law gives you a stronger tool for keeping an eye on how government spends your money. We'll be watching, too.-
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Monthly Archives: May 2011
Some agencies want to withhold addresses, but here’s why they can be essential
Fairly regularly, an agency will deny an open records request that includes addresses (though addresses are generally considered public under the law, with some exceptions), and the agency often cites privacy as a reason not to release addresses. … Continue reading
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New way to check on chemicals being used in fracking
Andrew C. Revkin of the New York Times, on his blog Dot Earth, linked to a new tool that allows you to take a look at the chemicals being used in the fracking – extraction of natural gas — going … Continue reading
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Commonwealth Court to open records office: Take another look at your decision
Mark Scolforo of The Associated Press reports that the Commonwealth Court wants the state’s open records office to hold a hearing about whether release of police drunken-driving training materials could pose a threat to public safety. A lawyer who specializes … Continue reading
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Right-to-know in the news: Pa. Supreme Court takes RTK case; an agency (finally) to produce records
The Associated Press reports that the state Supreme Court will rule on whether a company that does work for a public agency is subject to the open records law. The Times-Tribune of Scranton asked to see bids on a concessions … Continue reading
Posted in Pennsylvania Right to Know
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Will court ruling overwhelm open records office?
State open records office director Terry Mutchler says her office is “starting to split at the seams” and could be overwhelmed if a recent Commonwealth Court decision becomes a pattern. The court ruled last week that the Office of Open Records … Continue reading
Posted in Pennsylvania Right to Know
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A great little note on who uses right-to-know law & why
There are big reasons to use the state’s right-to-know law, and journalists do that regularly and often in a high-profile way — say, by requesting time-response logs (see entry below). But there are tons of other reasons people who aren’t … Continue reading
Posted in Right-to-Know Law
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Pa. lawmaker wants addresses/locations of 911 calls kept out of time-response logs
State Rep. Joe Hackett (R-Delaware County) says 911 time-response logs shouldn’t include a caller’s address or location so they will not be “placed in danger” by making a 911 call. A crime victim or witness’ privacy must be protected, he … Continue reading
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