This page features news stories related to open government issues in Pennsylvania.

Stories from previous months are collected on separate pages.

Use the links below to find stories by topic, state agency, county or municipality, or by month published.

We also provide for summaries of the FINAL DETERMINATIONS being issued by the Office of Open Records on Right to Know request appeals. Click on link above.

Attorneys for the Valley News Dispatch and Highlands School District argued before a state appeals court yesterday over accusations the school board illegally shut out the public from part of a June meeting.

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NEWS ON OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUES

Opinion: Public matters can't hide behind law

April 03, 2010 |

Pennsylvania, with its woefully corrupt state Legislature and untold units of local government that also are no strangers to corruption, needs an effective Sunshine Law more so than most other states. Read More...

Opinion: Clouding up Sunshine Law

March 22, 2010 |

The "good old boys (and girls)" in Harrisburg are covering each other's butts again. We aren't supposed to notice, because a House-passed bill imposes higher fines for violating the open-meetings "Sunshine Act." That's all we are supposed to notice: Higher fines. But the House, which is in bed with school directors and teacher unions, tacked on a provision allowing secretive closed meetings for "safety and security" reasons.
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Opinion: Bill puts open meetings in peril

March 21, 2010 |

The devil is in the details and, if you're the pessimistic type, you can find Lucifer's fingerprints all over a small item in legislation passed by the state House five days ago. Read More...

Opinion: Citizens have duty to monitor government

March 14, 2010 |

Today marks the beginning of Sunshine Week, a celebration of open government — and an exhortation to demand it ceaselessly. Open government is a core principle of our American form of democracy. Government employees — both elected officials and non-elected workers — are directly accountable to the people. In a citizens' government, citizens and the press are the watchdogs, making sure officials remain accountable to the people. Keeping access open to officials and to public documents is essential if citizens are to maintain their freedom.
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Troopers criticized over withholding

February 25, 2010 |

HARRISBURG - A new Pennsylvania State Police policy requires troopers to withhold names and other information about victims and witnesses when they issue citations for certain minor crimes - drawing criticism from open-government advocates and raising concern among judges and defense lawyers. Read More...