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
The Iowa Freedom of Information Council will host a fundraising program on Friday, June 16, that will feature Art Cullen, the editor of the Storm Lake Times, who won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. Art’s selection was the … Continue Reading
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
The 2017 session of the Iowa Legislature has been focused more on government secrecy than any session in many years. Lawmakers have been moving to make Iowa’s casinos subject to less public scrutiny. Lawmakers are moving to cut off public access to … Continue Reading
By Jason Clayworth Des Moines Register Iowa would make the names of public volunteers confidential under a fast-moving bill that critics warn could protect pedophiles and other criminals who are found working for government and public institutions in nonpaying positions, … Continue Reading
Reporters who cover Iowa courts have a new resource that will help them access electronic court records. The new resource is a guide for using the Iowa Court Information System (ICIS), a computer program created when the Iowa Judicial Branch … Continue Reading
By Rox Laird On Brief: Iowa’s Appellate Blog In December the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that the Harrison County Board of Supervisors violated the Iowa open meetings law. Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court declined to review the lower court’s … Continue Reading
By Carol Hunter Des Moines Register executive editor Casino gambling is not just any business. Last year, gamblers plunked $13.7 billion into slot machines in Iowa, and casinos kept $1.3 billion of that. Iowans know that because the Iowa Racing and … Continue Reading
By Kim Norvell Des Moines Register West Des Moines’ city manager circumvented the “intent of the open meetings law” when he called City Council members to gauge where they stand on a controversial Statehouse bill that would dismantle water utility boards, according to … Continue Reading
The most popular guide to Iowa’s public meetings and public records law has been updated for 2017 and is now available for purchase. The Iowa Open Meetings, Open Records Handbook is published by the Iowa Freedom of Information Council and … Continue Reading