IFOIC supports traffic cam ruling

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council has filed a brief with the Iowa Supreme Court in support of an Iowa man’s contention that tickets issued by an Ottumwa police traffic enforcement camera are public records and must be released upon … Continue Reading


Trade-secret ruling awaited in UI case

A Johnson County district judge’s ruling is expected in the coming weeks in the lawsuit brought by Rocky Mountain Holdings, the provider of helicopter ambulances at University of Iowa Hospitals, against the university. The company is seeking a court ruling … Continue Reading


Steele videos, records made public

By Jason Clayworth, Des Moines Register, Sept. 12, 2018 A Burlington police officer who accidentally killed a mother standing in her yard with her toddler told another officer he was going to prison just minutes after the January 2015 shooting, … Continue Reading


It’s not anti-cop to ask questions in this death

The following column was written by the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. It appeared in a half-dozen Iowa newspapers in August. By Randy Evans There was snow and ice on the ground in Burlington on the … Continue Reading


Here’s our Autumn Steele brief

Here is the legal brief the Iowa Freedom of Information Council filed in its quest to unseal documents and evidence filed in the wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of Autumn Steele against the City of Burlington and police officer … Continue Reading


‘Ag-gag’ law needs to be thrown out

Iowa’s “ag-gag” law should be overturned because it represents an improper erosion of free press rights in this state, a lawyer for the Iowa Freedom of Information Council and Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism says in a new legal … Continue Reading


Judge to rule on Steele records

By Andy Hoffman Burlington Hawk Eye DAVENPORT — Attorneys representing an Iowa watch dog group and lawyers for the Autumn Steele family joined forces Wednesday in asking a federal district judge in Davenport to unseal court documents in the wrongful … Continue Reading


‘Trade secrets’ shouldn’t block accountability

The following column was written by Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. The column appeared in several Iowa newspapers.   The Iowa Legislature wrote some wonderful concepts into the state’s government transparency laws. For example: … Continue Reading


IPIB cautions over personal email use by gov’t officials

The Iowa Public Information Board approved an advisory opinion in July that encourages government agencies to make public the email addresses officials use to conduct government business. The action came on a 7-1 vote following several months of back-and-forth discussion … Continue Reading


Column: Why do gun permits get special treatment?

Mark Ridolfi, assistant editor of the North Scott Press in Eldridge, recently received the Golden Quill award from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper editors. The award honored Ridolfi for his editorial column on changes the Iowa Legislature made in … Continue Reading