It’s a pretty simple question for a public official: “What exactly do you do with your time?” Sometimes, the best way to answer that question is to obtain the official’s calendar, through the state’s open records law. In my work as a reporter, I’ve done this for the state treasurer and his staff, who work […]
Tag: open records
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: HIPAA’s reach is often overextended
HIPAA remains a “prickly” obstacle for journalists. As one health reporter puts it, “Often times, people are unsure about the law and can’t be bothered to check so it’s easier to say ‘no’ and refer to HIPAA.”
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Cops in shootings should be promptly named
Following the Aug. 9 police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, citizens and the public demanded to know the involved officer’s name. The Ferguson Police Department stirred national attention, and some outrage, by waiting six days to reveal it: Officer Darren Wilson. Wisconsin has Ferguson beat. On April 30, 2014, a […]
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Walker, Burke weigh in on openness
According to Walker, it’s up to the political parties to open their caucuses, which they could do without a change in state law. He’s right on that point, and we’re still waiting.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Disciplined workers should be named
Whether the workers are line workers or top management, the same rules should apply. And even minor work rule violations can have a serious impact on morale, especially if there is a pattern of abuse.
Posted inGovernment, Justice & Safety
How the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism investigated prison-abuse allegations
The DOC, citing security reasons, denied the Center’s requests to interview inmates and take photographs in the segregation unit at Waupun, or videotape an inmate at another facility. It redacted from the released records references to inmate injuries and the physical or mental health treatment they received. It categorically denied access to formal complaints filed by inmates against guards, although some released records do convey the inmates’ perspective. And it denied access to video recordings to various incidents, saying this would compromise security.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Don’t shield donor employer info
Grothman’s bill would raise the threshold for when donors to state and local campaigns must disclose their occupations and eliminate the requirement that the donor’s principal place of employment be disclosed.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Pull back veil on budget tweakers
Doesn’t the public have a right to know who came up with these ideas? This would let voters hold their elected officials accountable at the ballot box and look for potential conflicts.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Cops wrong to shield driver data
Police in Wisconsin have begun withholding the names of drivers in police reports in response to a 2012 case involving the village of Palatine, Ill.
Posted inGovernment
State agency lags on records compliance
To assess the DOA’s performance, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism analyzed the nearly 200 records requests the agency received in the first six months of 2012. The analysis found the DOA took an average of 24 days to provide records or denials.
Posted inA Frail System, Government, Health & Welfare
Nursing home inspections
Federal inspections have found serious deficiencies in one-quarter of Wisconsin nursing homes since 2009.
Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch
Records law author Lynn Adelman to receive WisconsinWatch.orgdog Award
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, the chief author of Wisconsin’s Open Records Law and a strong advocate of the Open Meetings Law, has been named the 2013 recipient of the Distinguished WisconsinWatch.orgdog Award.