The following blog post is one of seven that the New England First Amendment Coalition will publish during Sunshine Week, highlighting the need for government transparency and addressing freedom of information concerns throughout the New England states. When posted, these articles can be read here. By Patrick Leahy Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate one […]
By Tom Kearney The Vermont Senate and House Committees on Government Operations discussed last month a proposal to change the state’s open meeting law, allowing more time to post documents online and banning penalties against some public bodies even if they intentionally violate the law. The bill, S.114, is the result of concerns by the […]
Dear Friend of the First Amendment, As the year comes to a close, I’m writing to thank you for your support of the New England First Amendment Coalition. With your help, we have worked hard during the last 12 months to protect First Amendment freedoms and the public’s right to know. Here’s just a sampling […]
By Fran Silverman If you are interested in a product or service from a company based in Utah and want to research how consumers have fared, you’re going to be hobbled in your efforts. I recently found out when a public records request of mine was denied that government officials in Utah will not release complaints or […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition is pleased to announce its incoming class of fellows for the 2014 New England First Amendment Institute. These journalists — representing print, online, radio and television news organizations — will gather in Dedham, Mass., from Nov. 16-18 to learn […]
By Zach Despart The Vermont Public Service Board, a quasi-judicial agency that oversees Vermont utilities, recently approved a protective order that will limit public access to records related to a controversial pipeline project in the state. A Vermont utility company leading the project requested the order. The order (.pdf) allows Vermont Gas Systems to, under specified criteria, request that […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Rosanna Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com The New England First Amendment Coalition will host a free workshop and discussion on public access to government information and activities on March 27 at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. Where’s the Line? When the Public’s Right to Know Collides with Privacy Wishes Free Informational Event […]
By Brent Curtis The legal odyssey that my newspaper and I engaged in for the last three years started not as a question about freedom of information, but as a question of whether or not a police sergeant for the city of Rutland was being criminally investigated for downloading child pornography on his work computer. It […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Rosanna Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com BOSTON, Mass. — The New England First Amendment Coalition will honor on Feb. 7 a mother who has fought for the rights of disabled students in Darien, Conn. and a Vermont newspaper and reporter who have waged a lengthy legal battle to uncover documents that reveal serious […]
By Rosanna Cavanagh As we ring in the New Year without a new farm bill, we put off until next year the resolution of an important right-to-know issue of significant public concern. If you eat, live near a farm, or care about animals, this bill should concern you, and so, it concerns us all. Last month, […]