About this blog
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.-
Recent Posts
- Public to get a better look at political TV ad spending
- Court rules Illinois law that prohibits audio recording of police in public places cannot be enforced
- When a borough is sued over holding secret meetings, what’s its defense? These 3 classic reasons
- Newspapers seek to open details of court settlement involving Marcellus Shale companies
- Bill would offer more transparency in school superintendent buyouts
Recent Comments
- marcellus shale companies on Newspapers seek to open details of court settlement involving Marcellus Shale companies
- Scott Blanchard on Searchable data: Schools, crime and more
- Barry L. Ness on Searchable data: Schools, crime and more
- Scott Blanchard on Are fire companies subject to Pa.’s right to know law?
- Scott Blanchard on Are fire companies subject to Pa.’s right to know law?
Categories
- appeal
- Commonwealth Court
- Court records
- denials
- Federal government
- fees
- fines
- First Amendment
- FOIA
- Freedom of information
- Freedom of Information Act
- funny
- Judicial records
- Lebanon County
- Melissa Nann Burke
- Nichole Dobo
- Online records
- Opinion
- Pennsylvania open records
- Pennsylvania public record
- Pennsylvania Right to Know
- Right-to-Know Law
- Scott Blanchard
- Sean Adkins
- Sunshine Act
- Transparency
- Uncategorized
- Websites
- York City
- York County
Twitter Updates
Error: Twitter did not respond. Please wait a few minutes and refresh this page.
Author Archives: melissa nann burke
Open Records deputy dies while cycling
Barry Fox, deputy director of the state’s Office of Open Records, died Sunday while on vacation with his family in State College, the Patriot-News reports. He was 47. A former Patriot-News reporter, Fox helped to develop the office’s regulations and … Continue reading
Posted in Melissa Nann Burke, Pennsylvania open records
1 Comment
What’s lurking in stadium inspection records?
ESPN found numerous food-safety violations at stadiums and ballparks around the country, based on its review of inspection records from local health departments. At the jump, read the results for Pennsylvania and Maryland’s venues — ranked by those with the … Continue reading
Grant will boost open-records requests
A new grant from the Knight Foundation will support groups seeking greater government transparency. The National Freedom of Information Coalition at the University of Missouri journalism school in Columbia announced the three-year, $2 million grant from the foundation last week. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
New blog by National Security Archive
Unredacted is a “behind-the-scenes” blog just launched by the nonprofit National Security Archive at GWU: “The Archive’s own experience with thousands of Freedom of Information Act and Mandatory Declassification Review requests provides a wealth of data and fundamental lessons that … Continue reading
Documents show abuse in Naval canine unit
Listening to NPR yesterday, I was blown away by the reporting done by young journalists involving a successful FOIA request. The FOIA’d documents led to an investigative story detailing the hazing and abuse of U.S. sailors in a canine unit … Continue reading
Posted in FOIA, Melissa Nann Burke
Leave a comment
Pa. high court: Preserve records
The state Supreme Court has changed its tune on records it initially ordered destroyed. From the AP: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court now says it wants to preserve the records of thousands of juveniles who appeared before an allegedly corrupt judge … Continue reading
Posted in Judicial records, Melissa Nann Burke
Leave a comment
Watch ‘Secrecy’ in action
A free showing of the documentary film “Secrecy” is planned for 7 p.m. July 15 at the Midtown Cinema (215 Reily St. in Harrisburg). The film was directed by Harvard professors Peter Galison and Robb Moss and looks at whether … Continue reading
Posted in Melissa Nann Burke
Leave a comment
Toxic air outside schools
USA Today spent eight months examining the impact of industrial pollution on the air outside schools across the nation. A computer simulation predicts the path of toxic chemicals released by thousands of industrial companies located near schools. Type in the … Continue reading
Posted in Melissa Nann Burke, Online records
Leave a comment
Saddam Hussein’s interviews with FBI
FBI special agents had 20 formal interviews and at least five casual conversations with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (“High Value Detainee #1″) after his capture by U.S. troops in 2003. That’s according to secret FBI reports released via Freedom … Continue reading
Favor Factory: Earmarks in defense bill
The folks at the Seattle Times have compiled a database of who received earmarks and who gave them in the 2008 defense bill. The database was among the investigative projects highlighted at this year’s IRE conference in Baltimore. A quick … Continue reading
Posted in Melissa Nann Burke, Online records
Leave a comment
