AccessNorthwest



		Feb. 9, 2005 School districts face book challenges in Washington state PULLMAN, WA -- An AccessNorthwest survey of school districts in Washington state shows that record books are challenged for a variety of reasons, and sometimes are then banned. Oct. 27, 2004 Study shows access to court records varies by county in Washington state PULLMAN, WA -- An AccessNorthwest survey of county clerks in Washington state shows that record dissemination practices vary widely. June 15, 2004 Audit finds many Northwest universities reluctant to provide campus crime info PULLMAN, WA -- A Washington State University class finds that it's difficult for students and parents to find accurate campus crime information, including disciplinary records and crime logs. June 1, 2004 AccessNorthwest awarded grant for Discover Access Project PULLMAN, WA -- The National Freedom of Information Coalition has awarded AccessNorthwest $10,000 to complete a series of research and education projects regarding access to government information in the Pacific Northwest. May 27, 2004 Idaho Press Club sues Legislature over closed committee meetings BOISE, IDAHO -- The Idaho Press Club is suing the Legislature over closed committee meetings, arguing the secrecy violates the state Constitution. May 12, 2004 Washington Supreme Court deals blow to public records access OLYMPIA, WASH. -- The Washington Supreme Court in Hangartner v. Seattle makes it easier for government to close public records in the name of attorney-client privilege. Feb. 29, 2004 Kennewick board under fire for e-mail 'virtual meetings' (story in Tri-City Herald) KENNEWICK, WASH. -- Tri-City Herald investigates discussion by the Kennewick Public Facilities District done in secret by e-mail. Feb. 26, 2004 Washington puts sex offender registry online - joining Montana, Idaho, Alaska OLYMPIA, WASH. -- Washington residents are now able to go online and find registered sex offenders who live in their counties. The new registry includes maps and addresses to identify Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. Such sites are currently available for Montana, Idaho and Alaska, but not Oregon (state sites provided with this story). Feb. 2, 2004 Nominations sought for Max Dalton Open Government Award IDAHO -- Nominations are now being accepted for the sixth annual Max Dalton Open Government Award, a $1,000 public service award sponsored by the Idaho Newspaper Foundation. Feb. 1, 2004 High court hears arguments in key public records case SEATTLE -- The Washington Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Feb. 19 at the University of Washington Law School in a key public records case that may go a long way towards toward clarifying how penalties are assessed against public agencies that improperly withhold public records. Feb. 1, 2004 Idahoans forming coalition for open government BOISE – Idahoans are creating an organization called Idahoans for Open Government (IDOG), dedicated to helping citizens and the media access public records and meetings. Jan. 21, 2004 Washington journalism professor speaks out for open government (Seattle Times Column) SEATTLE – In a guest column in The Seattle Times, Floyd J. McKay, a journalism professor at Western Washington University, urges the government to avoid shutting out the public out of fear of terrorism. Click on the headline link to go to The Seattle Times story. Nov. 18, 2003 The Idaho Statesman wins 2003 Ted Natt First Amendment award (Idaho-Statesman story) BOISE -- Columnist Dan Popkey and The Idaho Statesman have received the Ted M. Natt First Amendment Award from the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association for the University Place investigation. Feb. 24, 2003 WSU study shows fear of privacy invasion related to attitudes toward open records PULLMAN – The public’s fear of identity theft, privacy invasion and the proliferation of information on the Internet appears to be related to attitudes toward open government, according to a study conducted by AccessNorthwest at Washington State University.