Column: Don’t hide officials from people

The following column by Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, appeared in several newspapers around the state. The column was written after Evans spoke at the May meeting of the Iowa Public Information Board. By … Continue Reading


Evans interviewed about FOI Council

Iowa Freedom of Information Council executive director Randy Evans was interviewed by the Des Moines Business Record about his work on behalf of better public access to government meetings and records in Iowa. The interview can be found here: BusinessRecord.article.2018.


Summary available of changes in law

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council, with valuable help from the Iowa Code Editor’s Office, is making available a summary of changes made to Iowa’s “sunshine” laws during the 2017 session of the Legislature. The summary document is available here: Chapter22.2017.Changes … Continue Reading


Prof writes Iowa Constitution book

By Rox Laird For those interested in the history, meaning and evolution of the Iowa Constitution, the Oxford University Press has just the thing: The Iowa State Constitution, a new book by University of Iowa law professor Todd E. Pettys. … Continue Reading


Gazette editor begins FOI presidency

Zack Kucharski, executive editor of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, becomes the 2018 president of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council today. He succeeds Lynn Hicks, the opinion editor of The Des Moines Register. Keith Bliven, news director of KTIV-TV in … Continue Reading


Keeping taxpayers in dark is wrong

The author is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. He can be reached at IowaFOICouncil@gmail.com. By Randy Evans One of the nastiest controversies in local government in Iowa in many years was the impeachment in May of … Continue Reading



Watch the Cullen/Gartner program here

Did you miss the program “The Art (Cullen) of Editorial Writing” on June 16 with Pulitzer Prize-winners Art Cullen and Michael Gartner? Or do you want to relive the informative and entertaining event? Click on this video link here to … Continue Reading



Editorial: Keep 911 calls open to serve public

The following editorial appeared in The Des Moines Register on April 4, 2017. Most of us rarely feel the need to call 911 and summon the police, the fire department or an ambulance crew. But when we do, it’s typically … Continue Reading