Gov. Scott Walker, several journalists and a courageous private-sector employee are among those honored by the 2017-18 Openness Awards, or Opees, bestowed annually by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. The state Legislature, meanwhile, is being singled out for negative recognition. The awards, which are being announced today in advance of national Sunshine Week, March […]
Author Archives: Guest Author
Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch
These people support fearless investigative reporting in Wisconsin
Individual and business donations increased 56 percent from $60,045 in 2016 to $93,794 in 2017, putting the Center in good position as it begins its 10th year of operations.
Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch
A Top 10 list that’s all Wisconsin
We took a deep dive into our archives to rank the top 10 stories we’ve ever published — a fitting way, we believe, to celebrate the dawn of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism’s 10th year of operations, which begins this month!
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Officials shouldn’t block social media users
In an age where major public policies are announced and debated through platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the courts are increasingly barring public officials from limiting people’s access to social media. In late July, a Virginia judge ruled that public officials do not have the right to block people who disagree with their views from […]
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Release Wisconsin John Doe II case records now
One of the most important court decisions in Wisconsin political history was argued largely in secret. The arguments were made in briefs that were heavily redacted or entirely shielded from public view. The evidence was hidden. Most of the litigants were anonymous.
Posted inEnvironment, Failure at the Faucet, Health & Welfare
Wisconsin must do more to protect residents from lead in drinking water, DNR and Milwaukee leaders agree
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett acknowledges adding anti-corrosive chemicals, the main strategy to prevent lead in drinking water, is a “Band-Aid” approach.
Posted inCruel and Unusual?, Justice & Safety
Wisconsin hunger strikers to take aim at long-term solitary confinement
About a dozen Wisconsin prisoners plan to launch a hunger strike beginning next week aimed at ending a form of indefinite solitary confinement that officials use to keep order in the institutions, according to an inmate advocacy group.