Published: Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 11:37 p.m. Two substantial events took place in Tallahassee on Friday: completion of the Florida Legislature’s annual 60-day session — scheduled two months early this year to provide time for the Florida Supreme Court to rule on new voting districts…
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•Curious about what’s behind that latest city-council action? Emails received and sent by public officials, such as mayors, city council members and state officials, are generally considered public records. Check with the government agency about how to inspect or get copies of messages. •Want to know whether your friend has a history of speeding tickets before planning…
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OUR OPINION: During Sunshine Week, the public’s right to know is once again in peril BY THE MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL HERALDED@MIAMIHERALD.COM As Florida celebrates Sunshine Week and the importance of open government and freedom of information there are some rays of sunshine pushing through the dark clouds of secrecy. One ray: The Florida Legislature ended…
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By ANDREW WYNER and MICHAEL SMALLBERG Click here to join POGO’s Un-Do Influence Campaign: a movement ot reclaim Washington As part of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to highlight the importance of open government and freedom of information, POGO is releasing a host records obtained by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Read more about POGO’s plans…
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BY MIKE SCHNEIDER ASSOCIATED PRESS ORLANDO, Fla. — Advocates of Florida’s open government laws should focus on the rights of speakers to have their voices heard at public meetings and push to open up the state’s process of making laws to further scrutiny, one of the state’s top defenders of government transparency said Monday. Too often…
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Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger. Sunshine Week, March 11-17, 2012, is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and…
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Sunshine Week was created by journalists. But it’s not just for the press. It’s also for the public. This week, journalists around the country are participating in the national initiative to promote discussion about the importance of open government and freedom of information. But freedom of information is a year-round pledge. American journalists promote open…
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Florida Press Association 336 E. College Ave., Suite 203 Tallahassee, FL 32301 v 850.521.1162 | f 850.577.3600 For immediate release Contact: Dean Ridings March 5, 2012 850.521.1162 deanr@flpress.com Sweeping public notice legislation passes House and Senate HB 937/SB 292 headed to the Governor Tallahassee – In the closing hours of the 2012 legislative session, the Senate passed HB 937, which…
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By Christopher O’Donnell Published: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 10:37 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 8:59 p.m. MANATEE COUNTY – An openly bitter dispute between two Manatee County School Board members and Superintendent Tim McGonegal could quickly have financial implications because it leaves the district handicapped in bargaining sessions with local unions. Facts MANY…
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Negron bill guaranteeing right to speak at public meetings dies in House
Government officials still won’t have a legal obligation to hear from the public at open meetings after Sen. Joe Negron‘s right-to-speak proposal died in the Legislature this year. For the second consecutive year, a push to require officials to allow public comment at most open meetings has come up short. Negron’s bill, SB 206, passed through…
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