Blog update · 3 September 09
Our news community has lost more than a few talented reporters in the last two years, and sadly, so has this blog. Of the original group of seven journalists that started this project, only three remain in Oregon and all are otherwise committed.
Recognizing the great effort that this blog has been, SPJ wants to leave it standing as a searchable database of the last years’ developments in public records and meetings law. We’ll also do our best to keep tabs on significant developments here in the future.
But given our dwindling manpower, we can no longer post records-driven stories with the same frequency as we once did. Check back – or better yet – keep receiving our RSS feed. When there’s news, we will log it here as we move toward treating this space as an evolving archive of legal developments rather than as an ongoing blog.
Lee van der Voo
Weapons permits unlikely to meet public interest test · 20 April 09
Coverage continues of the recent passage of a bill that would exempt concealed weapons permits from disclosure under Oregon records law. This article in the Albany Democrat-Herald notes there are more than 100,000 such permits at issue in the state. But a recent blog post by Willamette Week claims it would be tough to make a case that releasing permit records is in the public interest if the bill passes. The bill would allow the release of permit records if a sheriff agrees. Willamette Week notes “In Multnomah County, Sheriff Bob Skipper said he didn’t see any public interest in releasing the list when he denied WW’s request. Unless Skipper has a change of heart, the public may never get a chance to know whether he administers Multnomah County’s program in compliance with state and federal law.”
Lee van der VooHandgun bill passes house · 16 April 09
A bill that would exempt concealed weapons permits from public disclosure has passed the Oregon House, according to a story by the Register Guard. Public records advocates oppose the bill, which amends the state’s sunshine law.
Lee van der VooUO coach nets $3.2 million · 14 April 09
Here’s a quick story in the Register Guard, reported from a single record request and detailing the earnings of the new women’s basketball coach at the University of Oregon. The story is a great, yet simple, use of a public record that sheds light on the benefits the coach will receive, including a penalty-free firing. According to the story, Paul Westhead could earn as much as $3.2 million if fired.
Lee van der VooRecords show BETC costs · 9 April 09
Nice story by Christian Gaston in the Portland Tribune today outlining the cost of business energy tax credits in Oregon. Gaston uses records of tax credit sales to show how the credits for so-called “green” projects cost Oregon more than it would to just fund energy projects outright. The story illustrates how a handful of private companies – including banks – are benefiting by buying the credits. Projections predict the credits could cost Oregon a whopping $143 million over the next two years.
Lee van der Voo"Resist chipping away at access" · 5 April 09
This column by Tim Gleason provides a helpful overview of the ways the Oregon Legislature may chip away at the state’s Sunshine law this year. The Oregonian ran a follow-up editorial criticizing the state’s rush to close off access to records on concealed handgun licenses. Willamette Week alsorogued the three Oregon legislators pushing for decreased access to public records this year.
Lee van der VooRecords request led to release of jailhouse video in Seattle · 2 March 09
A public records request by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer led to the release of the now infamous video that appears to show a King County Sheriff’s deputy pummeling a teen in custody. The video has received wide attention, including 19,230 views on YouTube as of this posting. In a not entirely unrelated side note, the P-I faces closure by Hearst if a buyer can’t be found.
Wendy CulverwellFirst Amendment champions needed · 26 February 09
Attention OGRE Bloggers: SPJ needs help finding the First Amendment champion of 2008. The Oregon/Southwest Washington chapter presents the annual First Freedom award at its annual banquet, in May. The honoree doesn’t have to be a journalist, just an unapologetic champion of the public’s right to public information and the First Amendment. Send your ideas to: SPJ Oregon/SW Washington, P.O. Box 8974, Portland, OR, 97207, or call 503-708-0223 or email wculverwell at yahoo dot com.
Wendy CulverwellWashington Public Records Act threatened · 22 February 09
Citing a convicted pyromaniac who filed more than 800 public records requests from prison, some politicians in Washington state want to make it tougher for the public to access government records.
Wendy CulverwellOpen up the federal government · 19 February 09
Which federal documents would you most like to get your hands on?
Sunlight Foundation, OpenTheGovernment.org and the Center for Democracy and Technology are conducing a “Show Us the Data survey, aimed at identifying the 10 most-wanted government documents, reports or data sets that should be available on the Web – but aren’t. You can submit your own nominations, or vote for up to three documents submitted by others. March 9 is the deadline to participate.
Leading vote-getters so far are:
Congressional Research Service reports: Taxpayer-funded examinations of public policy that most people don’t know exist, and that can now only be requested through members of Congress.
Bailout funds: According to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, all of the financial institution bailout funds and how they were spent must be made public. But so far we know little about what fund recipients have done with the money.
Department of Justice Patriot Act usage and rationale: The Judicial Branch is not providing statistical reports on Patriot Act usage, and without such reports, the public has no method of knowing when the courts might be allowing law enforcement to overstep investigative boundaries.
Read the rest here.
We learned about this project through the Depth Reporting blog, which is filled with ideas and commentary on in-depth investigative reporting, much of it records based.