Katherine Revello
@foiakatherine.bsky.social
Award-winning journalist and writer focused on public records, public access, and #1A issues. FOIA phile. FOI consultant.
Also, professional comms.
New Englander. Lover of the dark and strange.
Also, professional comms.
New Englander. Lover of the dark and strange.
Reposted by Katherine Revello
IT'S TIIIIIIIIIIME!!! December is here, which means the inaugural 2025 #FOIAdvent calendar has arrived. ☃️✨
Every day this month, the calendar will update with a new records request prompt for you to file with an agency of your choosing, for a fun run of holiday FOIA requests. bit.ly/31-days-of-f...
Every day this month, the calendar will update with a new records request prompt for you to file with an agency of your choosing, for a fun run of holiday FOIA requests. bit.ly/31-days-of-f...
The Very Official 2025 FOIA Advent Calendar
bit.ly
December 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
IT'S TIIIIIIIIIIME!!! December is here, which means the inaugural 2025 #FOIAdvent calendar has arrived. ☃️✨
Every day this month, the calendar will update with a new records request prompt for you to file with an agency of your choosing, for a fun run of holiday FOIA requests. bit.ly/31-days-of-f...
Every day this month, the calendar will update with a new records request prompt for you to file with an agency of your choosing, for a fun run of holiday FOIA requests. bit.ly/31-days-of-f...
Important case to watch in Connecticut. OLM is trying to argue legislative privilege stemming from the Speech or Debate Clause exempts it from FOIA. If they win their appeal, most legislative documents will no longer be publicly accessible.
insideinvestigator.org/olm-appeals-...
insideinvestigator.org/olm-appeals-...
OLM appeals legislative privilege FOI case
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
December 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Important case to watch in Connecticut. OLM is trying to argue legislative privilege stemming from the Speech or Debate Clause exempts it from FOIA. If they win their appeal, most legislative documents will no longer be publicly accessible.
insideinvestigator.org/olm-appeals-...
insideinvestigator.org/olm-appeals-...
CT currently doesn't allow for agencies to charge for time spent reviewing documents responsive to requests in most cases. There's a concerted effort to undermine that right now and stories like this just show how important it is that doesn't happen. It's too easy for agencies to manipulate.
November 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM
CT currently doesn't allow for agencies to charge for time spent reviewing documents responsive to requests in most cases. There's a concerted effort to undermine that right now and stories like this just show how important it is that doesn't happen. It's too easy for agencies to manipulate.
Reposted by Katherine Revello
This email. #FOIA. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/20/m...
November 20, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This email. #FOIA. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/20/m...
My case appealing Manchester PD's denial of my FOIA request for ALPR data was voted on by the FOIC last night. Overall, a decision that went in my favor BUT we're unlikely to get records any time soon. 1/
November 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
My case appealing Manchester PD's denial of my FOIA request for ALPR data was voted on by the FOIC last night. Overall, a decision that went in my favor BUT we're unlikely to get records any time soon. 1/
I'm writing a piece about how CT's definition of a trade secret, which includes film and TV production budgets, prevents the public from learning about use of the state's film tax credits. In search of trade secret attorneys/intellectual property experts!
November 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I'm writing a piece about how CT's definition of a trade secret, which includes film and TV production budgets, prevents the public from learning about use of the state's film tax credits. In search of trade secret attorneys/intellectual property experts!
Good FOI news! The preliminary decision in my FOIC case seeking ALPR data from Manchester PD is in and it says it's unlikely ALPR data can be withheld because it would reveal police investigatory techniques related to the investigation of a crime.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Good FOI news! The preliminary decision in my FOIC case seeking ALPR data from Manchester PD is in and it says it's unlikely ALPR data can be withheld because it would reveal police investigatory techniques related to the investigation of a crime.
Filing FOI requests can be scary. From not knowing where to begin to dealing with agencies that don't want to turn over information, there's a lot that can go wrong. Use these handy (Connecticut specific) tips to dodge common pitfalls and avoid your request turning into a horror story.
October 31, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Filing FOI requests can be scary. From not knowing where to begin to dealing with agencies that don't want to turn over information, there's a lot that can go wrong. Use these handy (Connecticut specific) tips to dodge common pitfalls and avoid your request turning into a horror story.
This is the first time legislative privilege under the Speech or Debate clause has been used to argue that all records the legislature produces are exempt from FOIA. Thankfully, the FOIC rejected that argument. But I have no doubt there will be an appeal. insideinvestigator.org/foic-legisla...
FOIC: Legislative privilege does not exempt records under FOIA
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This is the first time legislative privilege under the Speech or Debate clause has been used to argue that all records the legislature produces are exempt from FOIA. Thankfully, the FOIC rejected that argument. But I have no doubt there will be an appeal. insideinvestigator.org/foic-legisla...
Great scoop from one of my colleagues who was *added to an email chain* between town officials a la Signal-gate: insideinvestigator.org/middlebury-e...
Middlebury early votes kept in closet at night, against state policy
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
October 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Great scoop from one of my colleagues who was *added to an email chain* between town officials a la Signal-gate: insideinvestigator.org/middlebury-e...
Real words I just wrote in a FOIA request: "expenses related to the development of Charlie the pizza slice mascot."
Yes, I'm taking a deep dive look into the Connecticut Office of Tourism. Stay tuned for more (and let me know if there are more marketing campaigns I should FOI).
Yes, I'm taking a deep dive look into the Connecticut Office of Tourism. Stay tuned for more (and let me know if there are more marketing campaigns I should FOI).
October 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Real words I just wrote in a FOIA request: "expenses related to the development of Charlie the pizza slice mascot."
Yes, I'm taking a deep dive look into the Connecticut Office of Tourism. Stay tuned for more (and let me know if there are more marketing campaigns I should FOI).
Yes, I'm taking a deep dive look into the Connecticut Office of Tourism. Stay tuned for more (and let me know if there are more marketing campaigns I should FOI).
I ran out of space to talk about it, but CSCU also said at a hearing that they route media requests through their comms department rather than GovQA to facilitate relationships. I have a huge problem with that. FOI doesn't care who you are or why you want info. Media shouldn't get special treatment.
You've probably been told your FOIA request is too vague at some point. Language is subjective, but if agencies are making decisions that affect what's responsive, they should be talking to you. More about how that's an issue in our CSCU FOIC case here:
insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
Transparency Update: An inherent information imbalance
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I ran out of space to talk about it, but CSCU also said at a hearing that they route media requests through their comms department rather than GovQA to facilitate relationships. I have a huge problem with that. FOI doesn't care who you are or why you want info. Media shouldn't get special treatment.
You've probably been told your FOIA request is too vague at some point. Language is subjective, but if agencies are making decisions that affect what's responsive, they should be talking to you. More about how that's an issue in our CSCU FOIC case here:
insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
Transparency Update: An inherent information imbalance
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
You've probably been told your FOIA request is too vague at some point. Language is subjective, but if agencies are making decisions that affect what's responsive, they should be talking to you. More about how that's an issue in our CSCU FOIC case here:
insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
Reposted by Katherine Revello
As Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act celebrates its 50th anniversary, @foiakatherine.bsky.social for @insideinvestigator.bsky.social takes a look at how enforcement of the law has evolved. insideinvestigator.org/sunshine-on-...
Sunshine on a Cloudy Day? The State of FOIA at 50
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
October 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
As Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act celebrates its 50th anniversary, @foiakatherine.bsky.social for @insideinvestigator.bsky.social takes a look at how enforcement of the law has evolved. insideinvestigator.org/sunshine-on-...
Connecticut's FOI law turned 50 earlier this month. I'm a huge proponent of FOIA being a tool for all the public, but local journalists have unquestionably shaped the law. So what does FOI's future look like as local journalism dies?
insideinvestigator.org/sunshine-on-...
insideinvestigator.org/sunshine-on-...
Sunshine on a Cloudy Day? The State of FOIA at 50
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
October 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Connecticut's FOI law turned 50 earlier this month. I'm a huge proponent of FOIA being a tool for all the public, but local journalists have unquestionably shaped the law. So what does FOI's future look like as local journalism dies?
insideinvestigator.org/sunshine-on-...
insideinvestigator.org/sunshine-on-...
I'm incredibly honored to be receiving special recognition from NEFAC.
NEFAC to Honor Connecticut @insideinvestigator.bsky.social's krevellowrites.bsky.social for #OpenGov Reporting nefac.org/news/nefac-t... #journalism
October 3, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I'm incredibly honored to be receiving special recognition from NEFAC.
Today is the 50th birthday of Connecticut's FOIA statute. The law gets some things right, but also has a glaring flaw: a lack of deadline by which agencies have to respond to requests. insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
Transparency Update: FOIA turns 50
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
October 1, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Today is the 50th birthday of Connecticut's FOIA statute. The law gets some things right, but also has a glaring flaw: a lack of deadline by which agencies have to respond to requests. insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
I'm incredibly honored to receive a Pearlman award from CFOG this year. It's such a crucial moment for freedom of information and fighting to preserve public access to it is a fundamental drive in my work as a journalist.
September 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I'm incredibly honored to receive a Pearlman award from CFOG this year. It's such a crucial moment for freedom of information and fighting to preserve public access to it is a fundamental drive in my work as a journalist.
Still looking to talk to media for this piece!
I'm doing a piece about how challenges to FOIA abuses have changed as local news collapses. If you work/have worked in a newsroom in Connecticut and have gone to the FOIC, I'd love to hear from you.
September 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Still looking to talk to media for this piece!
I'm doing a piece about how challenges to FOIA abuses have changed as local news collapses. If you work/have worked in a newsroom in Connecticut and have gone to the FOIC, I'd love to hear from you.
August 26, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I'm doing a piece about how challenges to FOIA abuses have changed as local news collapses. If you work/have worked in a newsroom in Connecticut and have gone to the FOIC, I'd love to hear from you.
3 people died in custody at Garner CI in the space of a month last year. We turned to FOIA to try to get more answers about how that happened. After waiting a year, the investigation reports we got back were 60% redacted. insideinvestigator.org/three-deaths...
Three Deaths in a Black Box
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
August 19, 2025 at 6:54 PM
3 people died in custody at Garner CI in the space of a month last year. We turned to FOIA to try to get more answers about how that happened. After waiting a year, the investigation reports we got back were 60% redacted. insideinvestigator.org/three-deaths...
Just had DESPP point me to the general statutes in response to me asking them to explain why they're claiming the preliminary drafts exemption. So, your periodic reminder: agencies have a duty to prove to you that withholding info under that exemption is in the public interest.
August 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Just had DESPP point me to the general statutes in response to me asking them to explain why they're claiming the preliminary drafts exemption. So, your periodic reminder: agencies have a duty to prove to you that withholding info under that exemption is in the public interest.
FOI people: have you ever been told you can download documents responsive to a request a limited number of times? Just had an agency I can tell me I can only download an incident 3 times and I can't find any reference to whether this is allowed/has been addressed before.
August 8, 2025 at 11:06 AM
FOI people: have you ever been told you can download documents responsive to a request a limited number of times? Just had an agency I can tell me I can only download an incident 3 times and I can't find any reference to whether this is allowed/has been addressed before.
Reposted by Katherine Revello
Federal employees said they worry about the future of FOIA in the U.S., not only for their sake, but for requesters as well. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
The future of FOIA
Federal employees said they worry about the future of FOIA in the U.S., not only for their sake, but for requesters as well.
www.muckrock.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Federal employees said they worry about the future of FOIA in the U.S., not only for their sake, but for requesters as well. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
A few weeks ago I found DMHAS had a whitelist on a designated email for FOIA requests.
While the issue had been fixed, it's a reminder to ensure that you're receiving confirmation receipts from public agencies when you submit FOIA requests.
insideinvestigator.org/dmhas-fixes-...
While the issue had been fixed, it's a reminder to ensure that you're receiving confirmation receipts from public agencies when you submit FOIA requests.
insideinvestigator.org/dmhas-fixes-...
DMHAS fixes FOIA email receipt issue
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
insideinvestigator.org
July 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A few weeks ago I found DMHAS had a whitelist on a designated email for FOIA requests.
While the issue had been fixed, it's a reminder to ensure that you're receiving confirmation receipts from public agencies when you submit FOIA requests.
insideinvestigator.org/dmhas-fixes-...
While the issue had been fixed, it's a reminder to ensure that you're receiving confirmation receipts from public agencies when you submit FOIA requests.
insideinvestigator.org/dmhas-fixes-...