One of the thorniest ongoing government accountability issues in Iowa deals with the question of public access to law enforcement videos and police investigative documents when officers are involved in fatal shootings. The Iowa Public Information Board has been wrestling … Continue Reading
The 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature has before it more than a dozen bills that deal with free speech and freedom of information issues. The Iowa FOI Council is monitoring these proposed pieces of legislation and will notify our … Continue Reading
The Iowa Freedom of Information Council frequently is called upon to comment on news developments around the state when questions arise about government secrecy. The latest example was in Coralville, where city taxpayers are potentially on the hook for $50 … Continue Reading
The Iowa Freedom of Information Council is supporting a Windsor Heights blogger who has been refused press credentials to cover proceedings in the Iowa House of Representatives. The blogger, Laura Belin, writes about Iowa government and politics on her widely … Continue Reading
This column by the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council was made available to all Iowa newspapers this week. By Randy Evans One of the biggest contrasts in public access to state and local governments in … Continue Reading
The Iowa FOI Council is grateful for the support our many friends have provided us. In each of the past two years, your gifts have become the Council’s largest source of revenue, surpassing the annual dues our members pay and … Continue Reading
Below is a statement from the Iowa Freedom of Information Council on the state ombudsman’s report on December 20 on a complaint against the Iowa Public Information Board. The complaint dealt with the IPIB’s actions in holding two closed meetings … Continue Reading
Click here to read the latest edition of the periodic Iowa Freedom of Information Council newsletter. Newsletter.Summer2018 Send us an email — IowaFOICouncil@gmail.com — if you would like to be added to our mailing list.
The annual meeting of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council will be held on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Des Moines Register community room, located on the ground floor of Capital Square, the downtown Des Moines office building that now … Continue Reading
Each year since 2001, the Iowa Freedom of Information Council has recognized one or more outstanding advocates for the First Amendment. Our Friend of the First Amendment award now bears the name of a legendary Iowa Statehouse reporter, Harrison “Skip” Weber, … Continue Reading