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: Scott Blanchard
Public to get a better look at political TV ad spending
TV stations soon will have to post their political ad contracts online, to make it easier for the public to see them. The FCC made that ruling recently. At least one local TV station doesn’t like the ruling; another says … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Court rules Illinois law that prohibits audio recording of police in public places cannot be enforced
From The Associated Press: A federal appeals court in Chicago ruled Tuesday that Illinois’ eavesdropping law “likely violates” the First Amendment and ordered that authorities be banned from enforcing it. The ruling from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
When a borough is sued over holding secret meetings, what’s its defense? These 3 classic reasons
The (Hanover) Evening Sun’s report that the Littlestown Borough Council president is suing the borough to force it to open its committee meetings to the public includes a bunch of classic reasons officials trot out when they keep things private … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Newspapers seek to open details of court settlement involving Marcellus Shale companies
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that it and another newspaper, The Observer-Reporter of Washington, are asking a court to open a sealed settlement between a Washington County family and Marcellus Shale development companies. The family had alleged health problems as a … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Bill would offer more transparency in school superintendent buyouts
Angie Mason reports in her Cram Session blog that a bill approved by the Senate that focuses on school superintendent buyouts says that if a school board agrees to a buyout with a superintendent, it “must publicly disclose the reason … Continue reading
Posted in Transparency
Tagged buyouts, school boards, school districts, schools, superintendents
Leave a comment
We’re getting up to our elbows (or deeper) into data. Anything you want to see?
Over the past few weeks we’ve been beefing up our online offering of raw data in various forms — searchable spreadsheets, lists, interactive maps and more. When you have a few moments, take some time and check out what’s there … Continue reading
Posted in Online records
Leave a comment
Poynter.org: ‘FCC about to require TV stations to put public records online’
Poynter reports that an FCC vote is scheduled for next week. Check out the YDR’s involvement, with ProPublica, in an effort to make those records public.
Posted in Online records
Leave a comment
Who’s buying political ads on TV? Help us, and ProPublica, find out and make the info public
A post on Bill Moyers & Company titled “FCC chair blasts broadcasters as being against transparency and journalism” sounded interesting enough, and then when I checked it out, I said: Hey, we know something about that. The post reports on the … Continue reading
Posted in Online records
Leave a comment
Daily Record/Sunday News’ open records efforts win major statewide award
We were happy to find out earlier this week that the York Daily Record/Sunday News won this year’s John V.R. Bull Freedom of Information Award for its coverage of right-to-know issues. The award is one of a few “specialty awards” … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Why, why, why do agencies insist on doing this?
Bit of a stream-of-consciousness post here, but … I recently talked to a reporter who is filing an appeal of a rejected right-to-know request. The information we requested is public — not only is it presumed public based on the … Continue reading
Posted in denials
Leave a comment
