Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
@tnopengovernment.bsky.social
TCOG is a nonprofit focused on preserving and promoting government transparency in Tennessee. We were founded in 2003 and are chiefly concerned with public records, open meetings and open courts. More information at www.tcog.info.
No sunshine here: tcog.info/advisory-boa...
'Advisory board' that would oversee Memphis school board would be exempt from Open Meetings Act - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
An advisory board that could oversee the Memphis Shelby County School Board, including influence over removing school board members, would be given an exemption to the Open Meetings Act under the Sena...
tcog.info
April 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
No sunshine here: tcog.info/advisory-boa...
Reposted by Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
In Tennessee, lawmakers are likely to pass a bill to allow our public universities to keep secret how much they pay student athletes in revenue-sharing agreements. The total amount would be public though (a bright spot). www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2...
Tennessee seeks to make secret revenue sharing payments to college athletes
It's all about winning. Tennessee was one of the first states to push for NIL rights for athletes and this is an extension of that strategy.
www.knoxnews.com
March 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In Tennessee, lawmakers are likely to pass a bill to allow our public universities to keep secret how much they pay student athletes in revenue-sharing agreements. The total amount would be public though (a bright spot). www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2...
A new law limiting access to records in Tennessee's new immigration enforcement division was written so broadly that it could shield whether this new multimillion agency actually gets any results, and what those results are: www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
TN immigration enforcement division to be largely exempt from state public records laws
A newly-created immigration enforcement office will be largely kept secret after being exempt from state public records laws.
www.tennessean.com
March 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
A new law limiting access to records in Tennessee's new immigration enforcement division was written so broadly that it could shield whether this new multimillion agency actually gets any results, and what those results are: www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...
Reposted by Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
Looking for bookstores, communities, civic organizations, podcasts - all ideas welcome! thenewpress.com/books/backro... is out May 6 & is especially timely with its real life examples of people fighting local, state and federal government secrecy that harms communities and benefits big business.
Backroom Deals in Our Backyards | The New Press
Most Americans are likely to encounter the effects of government malfeasance or neglect close to home—from their governors, mayors, town councils, school boards, police, and prosecutors. In fact, deal...
thenewpress.com
February 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Looking for bookstores, communities, civic organizations, podcasts - all ideas welcome! thenewpress.com/books/backro... is out May 6 & is especially timely with its real life examples of people fighting local, state and federal government secrecy that harms communities and benefits big business.
Reposted by Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
I've updated our Tennessee million-dollar club in political spending. The $1 million club provides a 15-year look back at who's spending the most money to influence state politics.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/02/24/c...
tennesseelookout.com/2025/02/24/c...
Cash for Clout database: Tennessee's million-dollar club • Tennessee Lookout
A group of companies, families and corporate associations have spent more than $1 million each since 2009 to lobby the Tennessee Legislature.
tennesseelookout.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I've updated our Tennessee million-dollar club in political spending. The $1 million club provides a 15-year look back at who's spending the most money to influence state politics.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/02/24/c...
tennesseelookout.com/2025/02/24/c...
Reposted by Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
Firing of FOIA officers leaves experts worried about public records access under Trump “The gutting of the institutional knowledge at the National Archives is going to impact every agency across the federal government.” @laurenleharper.bsky.social www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
Firing of FOIA officers leaves experts worried about public records access under Trump - Poynter
‘Anytime that whole FOIA offices are getting fired, it portends terrible things’
www.poynter.org
February 24, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Firing of FOIA officers leaves experts worried about public records access under Trump “The gutting of the institutional knowledge at the National Archives is going to impact every agency across the federal government.” @laurenleharper.bsky.social www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
Reposted by Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
People who sue state and local government entities are still entitled to get public records from those entities by using the Colorado Open Records Act, a majority of the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday.
Colorado Supreme Court affirms a litigant’s right to use CORA to obtain public records, but two justices object - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition
People who sue state and local government entities are still entitled to get public records from those entities by using the Colorado Open Records Act, a majority of the Colorado Supreme Court ruled.
coloradofoic.org
December 9, 2024 at 9:48 PM
People who sue state and local government entities are still entitled to get public records from those entities by using the Colorado Open Records Act, a majority of the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday.
If you want to know about the economy in TN, this is a good video to understand it with explanations from various economists as they give the state its tax revenue projections for the next budget year. youtu.be/sbXhxIV9syA?...
State Funding Board Revenue Estimating Meeting - 11/4/2024
YouTube video by Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
youtu.be
November 23, 2024 at 5:44 PM
If you want to know about the economy in TN, this is a good video to understand it with explanations from various economists as they give the state its tax revenue projections for the next budget year. youtu.be/sbXhxIV9syA?...
The Tennessee Supreme Court agreed to hear a case from @nashvillebanner.bsky.social about sealed court records in a Davidson County Court. Goes to heart of First Amendment access & what standards can be used to justify a seal. @reporterscommittee.bsky.social for amici. tcog.info/tennessee-su...
Tennessee Supreme Court to hear case on sealed court records
The Tennessee Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case in which a lower court judge refused to unseal court records in a test of the First Amendment right of access by the public to court proceeding…
tcog.info
November 22, 2024 at 5:35 PM
The Tennessee Supreme Court agreed to hear a case from @nashvillebanner.bsky.social about sealed court records in a Davidson County Court. Goes to heart of First Amendment access & what standards can be used to justify a seal. @reporterscommittee.bsky.social for amici. tcog.info/tennessee-su...
Reposted by Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
Johnson City police knew as early as July 2020 about the existence of graphic photographs showing Sean Williams sexually abusing children, but failed to investigate, a class action lawsuit filed by his alleged victims claims
JCPD has denied wrong doing.
tennesseelookout.com/2024/11/11/j...
JCPD has denied wrong doing.
tennesseelookout.com/2024/11/11/j...
Johnson City police accused of altering, concealing evidence in new allegations • Tennessee Lookout
New allegations in the civil lawsuit alleging members of the Johnson City Police Department protected a business owner accused of sexual assault.
tennesseelookout.com
November 14, 2024 at 5:15 PM
Johnson City police knew as early as July 2020 about the existence of graphic photographs showing Sean Williams sexually abusing children, but failed to investigate, a class action lawsuit filed by his alleged victims claims
JCPD has denied wrong doing.
tennesseelookout.com/2024/11/11/j...
JCPD has denied wrong doing.
tennesseelookout.com/2024/11/11/j...
Our colleagues over in Colorado have created an open government starter pack for those interested in what's going on with FOI at the state level.
I created an FOI and Open Government starter pack and will add to it when I see more FOI warriors on Bluesky.
November 18, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Our colleagues over in Colorado have created an open government starter pack for those interested in what's going on with FOI at the state level.
Reposted by Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
I created an FOI and Open Government starter pack and will add to it when I see more FOI warriors on Bluesky.
November 18, 2024 at 4:08 PM
I created an FOI and Open Government starter pack and will add to it when I see more FOI warriors on Bluesky.