Category: Open records
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Open Records are an issue in Kansas
I’d like to see to Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) strengthened in some way. Recently I asked three quasi-governmental organizations in Wichita for some records. They declined, stating that they are not subject to the records act. They believe that because their form of organization is non-profit — several different forms of 501c status –…
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Sedgwick County misses opportunity to compel transparency
During today’s meeting of the Sedgwick County Commission, commissioners awarded funds to an organization without requiring accountability and transparency.
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City of Wichita and the Kansas Open Records Act
At a meeting of the Wichita City Council, it becomes clear that either the city doesn’t understand the meaning of the Kansas Open Records Act, or it has no intention of following it.
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Open records in Kansas not always so
Open records and meetings in Kansas are in the news.
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Kansas open records law needs an overhaul
“An open and transparent government is essential to the democratic process. Under Kansas law, citizens have the right to access public records and observe many meetings where decisions are made that affect our state.” That quote is taken from the Kansas Attorney General’s web site. Unfortunately, the second sentence isn’t really true. Kansans may technically…
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Kansas open records, not quite
The Flint Hills Center for Public Policy has produced another important investigative report, this time looking at the difficulty citizens and journalists can encounter when requesting records covered under the Kansas Open Records Act. “What started out as research into property valuations in Kansas has turned into a frustrating protracted battle over differing perspectives on…
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Kansas open records sleuth stymied in Washington
The Kansas Meadowlark tells how on a recent trip to Washington, he wasn’t able to use digital photography to capture records. The post is Don’t take pictures near open records at Legislative Research Center or Office of Public Records on Capitol Hill.
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Sunshine Review completes county effort nationwide
Sunshine Review, a site devoted to government transparency, openness and accountability at the state and local level, has competed an effort to evaluate all United States counties on their transparency.
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President Obama on Government Transparency
The way to make a government responsible is not simply to enlist the services of responsible men and women, or to sign laws that ensure that they never stray. The way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable. And the way to make government accountable is make it transparent so that the American…
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Open Records Resource Site for Kansas
The Kansas Meadowlark has an informational page featuring descriptions of websites about open records and information about government. The link is kansasmeadowlark.com/open-records.
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Records requests are not always easy
It seems that citizens all over the country have trouble with public school districts and records requests. Sometime you have to battle not only the school district, but also third parties such as teachers unions.