GFAF in the News

December

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Clean energy group’s suit alleges Georgia Public Service Commission is violating state records law

Peach Pundit: Balancing the public interest vs. personal safety

The Current: Midway passes $3.1 million budget without public seeing it first

AJC: Should Georgia hide state lawmakers’ addresses to protect their safety?

AJC: Rockdale commission tries to silence residents on BioLab fire

October

Rough Draft Atlanta: Above the Waterline: Giving thanks for anniversaries and a free press

Healthbeat: Georgia facing numerous crises, but Board of Public Health hasn’t met since May

September

Appen Media: Organizations join fray in Appen Media lawsuit against Sandy Springs

August

AJC: Private contractors working for governments are subject to open records requests, rules Ga. Supreme Court

Capitol Beat: Georgia Supreme Court strikes a blow for open records

Chattanooga Times Free Press: State Supreme Court rules Open Records Act applies to private contractors working for governments

Rome News-Tribune: Ga. Supreme Court rules Open Records Act applies to private contractors working for governments

Daily Report: Ga. Supreme Court ruling clarifies how Open Records Act applies to private contractors

The Center Square: Georgia public agencies’ private contractors subject to open records requests

Georgia Recorder: State Supreme Court rules Open Records Act applies to private contractors working for governments

WXIA-TV/11 Alive News: Attorney general probing accusations College Park violated Open Meetings Act

AJC: City Attorney: College Park government in ‘crisis’ and likely to get worse

July

AJC: Impromptu State Election Board meeting met with ire, jeers

Georgia Recorder: Critics charge GOP Georgia election board members violated state laws in rushed meeting

AJC: Clayton agency mum about incentives to bath company for plant expansion

April

AJC: College Park’s underhanded decision: Approving a zoning change without proper public notice seems sneaky

WANF-TV Atlanta News First: Gov. Kemp signs bill increasing restrictions for teens on social media

Savannah Morning News: Kemp signs bill restricting children’s access to social media, ignites concerns over privacy

LOCAL 3-TV: Catoosa County Election Commission prohibited recording devices in meeting, going against state law

AJC: Did College Park violate the law in approving battery storage plant?

March

Daily Report: Change to first-offender law would enable corruption cover-
ups

AJC: Putting a black box around government contracts

Georgia Recorder: School social media ban multiplies censorship

Axios: Cobb schools criticized for cutting off media outlet

Axios: Georgia transparency law exempts General Assembly

Axios: How to use Georgia’s transparency laws

Georgia Recorder: Increasing no-bid government contracts would reduce transparency

February

Georgia Recorder: Georgia lawmakers hold out hope for bill that would restrict publication of mugshots

Atlanta Civic Circle: Does Georgia’s bill banning “deepfakes” go too far?

Georgia Recorder: Georgia Senate panel OKs bill to erase personal information of judges from public records

Georgia Recorder: New chapter in Georgia GOP lawmakers’ quest to restrict access to public school library books

Associated Press: Georgia Senate considers controls on school libraries and criminal charges for librarians

January

Georgia Recorder: Republican state lawmakers push for Georgia law to require proof of adulthood to view adult websites

Newsweek: Donald Trump’s mug shot would be blocked under new bill

WXIA-TV/11 Alive News: New bill could curb the release of mug shots in Georgia

Georgia Recorder: Wild Hog Supper 2024 kicks off season of Georgia legislative events

March

Axios: How to use Georgia’s transparency laws

Georgia Recorder: Increasing no-bid government contracts would reduce transparency

February

Georgia Recorder: Georgia lawmakers hold out hope for bill that would restrict publication of mugshots

Atlanta Civic Circle: Does Georgia’s bill banning “deepfakes” go too far?

Georgia Recorder: Georgia Senate panel OKs bill to erase personal information of judges from public records

Georgia Recorder: New chapter in Georgia GOP lawmakers’ quest to restrict access to public school library books

Associated Press: Georgia Senate considers controls on school libraries and criminal charges for librarians

January

Georgia Recorder: Republican state lawmakers push for Georgia law to require proof of adulthood to view adult websites

Newsweek: Donald Trump’s mug shot would be blocked under new bill

WXIA-TV: New bill could curb the release of mug shots in Georgia

Georgia Recorder: Wild Hog Supper 2024 kicks off season of Georgia legislative events

December

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Judge rules against Appen Media in Sandy Springs police records suit

Rough Draft: Judge rules against Appen Media in suit against Sandy Springs over Open Records Act 

Saporta Report: Georgia’s medical cannabis licensing secrecy prevails as critics predict a legislative fix 

AJC: ‘Radical’ podcast digs deep into convicted civil rights activist’s story

November

AJC: Appeals court delays release of Rome PFAS settlement records

WXIA-TV: Yes, a Georgia school can remove a book without alerting the public

Saporta Report: First Amendment Foundation celebrates Mary Margaret Oliver

October

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Jolt: Weltner winner

AJC: Georgia’s plan to expand Medicaid enrolls fewer than 2,000 so far

Sandy Springs Crier: Opinion: Why we pursue a case that never should have happened

Saporta Report: State rep, library group to receive awards at Georgia First Amendment Foundation banquet

Georgia Public Broadcasting: McIntosh County cancels next board meeting, one month after violating Georgia’s open meetings law

Decaturish: Georgia First Amendment Foundation plans to honor Decatur Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver

September

AJC: Rome will receive $75 million from 3M to settle PFAS pollution case

AJC: Training center petitions posted on Atlanta city website after initial glitch

Georgia Recorder: Georgia AG shrugs off open records violations but demands local DAs enforce all laws equally

AJC: Roswell’s $250K payment to consulting firm scrutinized

Rome News-Tribune: ‘Outrageous’: Open records proponents say Dupont motion to block settlement publication unprecedented

AJC: Chemical firms sue Rome and AJC to block PFAS settlement terms release

July

AJC: Roswell to vote on Canton Street task force

June

AJC: Questions of transparency in Roswell city government

AJC: Anger grows as Georgia panel further cuts diversity from teacher prep rules

May

Georgia Recorder: Investigators say Forsyth book bans may have created ‘hostile environment’ for students

WSB-TV: Judge rules in favor of Milton man who filed ethics complaint against city council member

AJC: Sandy Springs sued over open records, accused of withholding police reports

Daily Report: Ga. Supreme Court urged to unseal medical marijuana judicial records

CNHI News: Group makes another push to courts to unseal medical cannabis records

Saporta Report: Atlanta pays $105K to settle journalist’s arrest lawsuit as protest cases mount

Georgia Recorder: New challenge filed asking court to open up Georgia’s secretive medical cannabis records

Axios: DeKalb BOE member accused of violating policy by divulging superintendent search details

April

Saporta Report: Training center task force to hold first public meeting next week amid transparency concerns

March

FOX 5-TV Atlanta: Lawsuit claims Ga. medical cannabis bids were full of fraud and corruption

AJC: Roswell proposes requiring in-person pickup of open record requests

WABE/AP: Georgia, other states shield addresses of judges, workers after threats

WSB-TV: Milton man out $30K so far after filing ethics complaint against city council member

CNHI News: Crossover Day in Georgia: Bills advance to next chamber

Georgia Recorder: One bill to redact government employees’ information from public records falls short

Georgia Recorder: Plan to shield government officials’ personal info from public records sweeps Ga. Senate

February

AJC: Georgia bills would prevent disclosure of records involving public employees

FOX 5-TV Atlanta: Georgia Senate committee approves bills to redact public employees’ information

Daily Report: Students, educators, attorneys in crossfire of laws impacting free speech in schools, libraries

Daily Report: Georgia conference to include panels on mental health, abortion, courts

CNHI News: Judge denies request to unseal medical cannabis documents, legislative fix proposed

Georgia Recorder: Secrecy in Georgia’s medical cannabis regulation still frustrates efforts to deliver relief to patients

AJC: Duncan, Miller led delegation to Europe before leaving office

January

CNHI News: Ga. cannabis commission requests more funds to cover protest costs

Georgia Recorder: Ga. House, Senate adopt ‘problematic’ rules that reduce public accountability

Moultrie Observer: Judge to decide on unsealing Georgia medical cannabis records

December

Saporta Report: Stanley Awards for Ga.’s worst suppressions of First Amendment and open government

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: State agency admits use of encrypted message app

November

Daily Report: First Amendment Foundation Honors Cox Enterprises, Hanson at Weltner Awards Event

Saporta Report: With a new General Assembly elected, beware of bills assaulting the First Amendment

AJC: DeKalb public records on code enforcement in disarray

Op-ed: Growing mistrust instead of medical cannabis

• AJC
• Georgia Recorder
• Moultrie Observer
• Newnan Times-Herald
• Rome News-Tribune

AJC: Transparency advocates concerned PSC’s directive could violate state law

October

AJC: Cox family honored for contributions to open government, local journalism

September

WFXG-TV (Augusta): Documents show Mayor Davis’ attempts to limit cameras in the courtroom

August

Georgia Recorder: State subpoenas media texts and emails from critic of Georgia electronic voting system

May

Georgia Recorder: University system ends era of free-speech zones on Georgia’s college campuses

April

WSB-TV: IT problems hobble DeKalb County code enforcement

March

AJC: Opinion: Georgians deserve variety of voices in their libraries

Valdosta Daily Times: Lawmakers want to take the ‘local’ out of our libraries

Georgia Recorder: Georgia lawmakers want to take the ‘local’ out of our libraries

State Affairs: Lack of Virtual Access to Public Meetings Denies Millions of Georgians a Voice

February

AJC: Ahmaud Arbery case: defense and prosecuting attorneys reflect on murder trial

Daily Report: Georgia Conference to Include AG Candidate Interviews, Arbery Panel

WMAZ-TV (Macon): When is it legal for Georgia government organizations to go into executive session?

January

Saporta Report: Public safety training center advisory committee responds to debate with ban on members talking to media

Saporta Report: Cityhood efforts, development authorities need more transparency, lawmakers say

Georgia Recorder: New Cobb city proposals gain momentum despite qualms of some leaders

Georgia Recorder: Critics say Georgia bill intended to ease school library book bans a ‘slippery slope’

AJC: Cobb students push to speak to school board without parent permission

AJC: By and for the people? Georgia lawmaking sometimes limits access

 

December

Georgia Recorder: Georgia Secretary of State sues Justice Department over voting records delay

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November

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia election officials required to improve public records compliance

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October

Georgia Recorder: Ga. Supreme Court gets case challenging lawmakers’ arrests at state Capitol

Reason: No heckler’s veto: Georgia Supreme Court won’t rehear case rejecting nuisance verdict

Georgia Public Broadcasting: Atlanta mayoral candidates who tout transparency have disclosure problems of their own

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September

AJC: DeKalb audit raises questions about transparency

WSB-TV: DeKalb County not releasing findings on security of employee information

The Current: Glynn commissioners flout open meetings law to push manager pick

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August

WMAZ-TV: The public needs to know what’s happening in the courts

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July

Georgia Recorder: Ga. lawmakers study ways to balance ‘Big Tech’ bans vs. business rights

Associated Press: Judge to hear arguments in Georgia election law challenge

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June

Saporta Report: Atlanta city clerk to halt removal of candidates’ info from documents after legal questions

Marietta Daily Journal: After violating Sunshine Laws, Cobb school board calls for special meeting

AJC: Cobb County schools budget hearing beset by ‘technical difficulties’

Reason: No heckler’s veto: Court reverses nuisance verdict chiefly based on actions of protesters and arsonists

AJC: Court throws out $1.4 million verdict against Marietta abortion clinic

Daily Report: Court of Appeals tosses ‘nuisance’ verdict against abortion clinic

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May

AJC: As pandemic raged, Georgia public health advisory board failed to meet

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April

WMAZ-TV: Macon District Attorney’s Office promises records on 63 ‘released’ inmates

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March

AJC: Pandemic changes public meetings for good

Gainesville Times: Two cybersecurity bills could mean the public knows less about cyberattacks

Georgia Recorder: Will knowing less about cyberattacks really make Georgians safer?

WSB-TV: Experts say bills will make it easier for government to hide cyberattack details

Flagpole: Open Records Complaint Filed Against CCSD

Athens Banner-Herald: Parent complaint against Clarke County School District filed, requests more COVID-19 data

WSB-TV: 3 Johns Creek officers off the job for allegedly leaking information to metro reporter

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February

WSB-TV: State complaint filed against school system over COVID-19 data request

CNN: Republican legislators around the country seek to strip governors and officials of emergency election powers

Georgia Recorder: Melton to step down after leading Georgia courts through COVID crisis

AJC: Fulton elections board makes ‘invalid’ vote to fire elections director

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January

AJC: Ga. health officials won’t say where UK coronavirus variant has surfaced in state

AJC: Metro area schools weigh burden of reopening policies amid COVID-19

Atlanta Magazine: Yes, it’s legal to record a phone call in Georgia without telling the other person

December

WSB-TV: City of Atlanta refuses to answer whether it was impacted by massive computer attack

Clayton Crescent: Forest Park council, boards vote to upgrade meeting livestreams

• See GFAF’s letter of support for greater public access to Forest Park government meetings.

Reason: Heckler’s veto: $1.5 million nuisance verdict against abortion clinic, chiefly based on actions of protesters and arsonists

WSB-TV: Ga. Board of Education withholds information on spending irregularities a year after report is complete

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November

Reporter Newspapers: As Civic Dinners booms, some question diversity, open meetings issues

Washington Post: Robin Kemp lost her news job in Clayton County — but she kept reporting the news. It paid off on election week.

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October

East Cobb News: Cobb school board returns to in-person meetings

Center Square Georgia: Cost can be high to obtain public records in Georgia

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September

AJC: Public comment cut from live Cobb school board meeting again

AJC: Georgia demands $22,434 for COVID-19 records, says they’ll be ready next spring

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August

Augusta Chronicle: Augusta officials call, cancel CARES Act meeting

WSB-TV: Texts suggest former Johns Creek police chief held out for larger settlement to leave department

AJC: Cobb schools cut public comments from live, virtual meeting

AJC: Georgia keeps key virus information from public

AJC: With few details, DeKalb Schools approves contract to ease crowding

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July

Reporter Newspapers: Buckhead Coalition rethinks its mission

Valdosta Daily Times: County hides behind closed doors

Georgia Health News: Health agency stalling on requests for COVID-19 emails, critics say

Publication of commentary First Amendment rights spark justice and seed change in Georgia

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Georgia Recorder
• Thomasville Times-Enterprise
• Valdosta Daily Times

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June

Augusta Chronicle: Augusta attorney ‘frustrated’ release of husband’s deleted emails seeking city work

Valdosta Daily Times: Disclose health data clearly

Athens Banner-Herald: State COVID data ‘opaque’ as infections rise in Georgia

Georgia Public Broadcasting: Experts say Georgia’s data on COVID-19 seems lacking

Valdosta Daily Times: Law enforcement detains two journalists covering Atlanta protests

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May

Georgia Recorder: Middle Georgia federal court affirms right to record in public spaces

WMAZ: Citizen journalist says he was arrested for filming in city hall lobby

• See the U.S. District Court order and GFAF’s friend-of-the-court brief supporting citizens’ and journalists’ right to film peacefully in public spaces without interference by law enforcement.

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April

Publication of commentary Recalibrating the balance: Increasing transparency around COVID-19 while still respecting privacy

In Georgia:

• AJC
• Valdosta Daily Times

Around the nation:

• Cumberland Times-News
• Daily Item
• Joplin Globe
• Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
• Niagara Gazette
• Press-Republican
• Stillwater News Press
• Weatherford Democrat

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March

Marietta Daily Journal: A pandemic doesn’t mean the end of open government, experts agree

Valdosta Daily Times: Experts address how to comply with open meetings laws amid pandemic

Insider Advantage: Legislature should be covered by Open Records Act

AJC: Municipalities weighing public access, safety at government meetings

Valdosta Daily Times: Transparency town hall set for Monday: How to keep public meetings open in an emergency

Georgia Recorder: Government transparency in the time of coronavirus; virtual meeting tips

AJC: State of emergency: Coronavirus changes how local governments meet

Reporter Newspapers: Sandy Springs Council halts most ‘non-essential’ city decision-making during pandemic

Valdosta Daily Times: It’s always your right to know

Reporter Newspapers: New Sandy Springs police shooting details revealed; AG says city was wrong to withhold reports

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February

Rome News-Tribune: Bills pushed to give Georgians with criminal histories a second chance

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January

Valdosta Daily Times: Bill may broaden sealing records

Valdosta Daily Times: First Amendment advocates warn of media oversight

AJC: Atlanta audit committee’s private meetings an apparent violation of law

Valdosta Daily Times: Zachary: Lawmakers can show First Amendment support

December

AJC: Atlanta mayor orders restriction of access to pot conviction records

The Center Square: Former Atlanta mayor’s staffer to stand trial for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act

Valdosta Daily Times: Zachary First Amendment Foundation president

Atlanta Magazine: Flashback: The Georgia Representative who gave up Congress to oppose segregation

WSB-TV: Trial for former press secretary set to begin soon

November

Reporter Newspapers: First DeKalb airport meeting after fatal crash lacked public notice, may have violated Open Meetings Act

October

Daily Report: First Amendment group honors late Chief Justice Hines

Georgia Recorder: Ga First Amendment group honors late Chief Justice Harris Hines

Union Recorder: Red Book catalogs Georgia open government laws

AJC: Atlanta unveils new policy to improve compliance with open records laws

September

Marietta Daily Journal: Chastain: Comment ban stemmed from increasing partisanship

Daily Report: First Amendment Foundation to honor late Chief Justice Hines

August

Moultrie Observer: Open government, better government

July

AJC: Media group sues Roswell for full access to crime reports

The New York Times: “Drag this out as long as possible”: Former official faces rare criminal charges under open-records law

WSB-TV: Mayor Reed’s former press secretary will not accept plea bargain

June

Valdosta Daily Times: Don’t be caught without your Red Book

May

WSB-TV: Every public agency in the state must follow open records law — except one

The Marietta Daily Journal: Cobb BoE strikes down Howard’s move to include public comment in minutes

April

The Guardian: Georgia lawmakers consider bill that takes aim at state’s journalists

Washington Post: A board to oversee Georgia journalists sounds like Orwellian fiction. The proposal is all too real.

Valdosta Daily Times: Fettered press not a free press

AJC: Georgia House Republicans file bill to create state Journalism Ethics Board

March

Valdosta Daily Times: First Amendment Foundation promotes transparency with newly elected officials

Chattanooga Times Free Press: These Georgia bills could ban secret recordings, severely restrict abortions, allow the state to take over the airport and more. Are they still alive?

WSB-TV: State attorney general’s office criticizes DeKalb school board plan to hold secret meeting about spending

February

 WABE: Former Reed aide accused of open records violations: A talk with 1st Amendment attorney

Daily Report: Kasim Reed’s former spokeswoman charged with open records violations

Augusta Chronicle: Attorney General prosecuting Atlanta employee over open records requests could have Augusta implications

WSB-TV: Mayor Reed’s former press secretary criminally charged with open records violations

The Union-Recorder: Secret recordings can protect public right to know

Chattanooga Times Free Press: Georgia Senator’s proposed secret recordings ban draws questions, public response

AJC: Georgia bill would have barred taping that helped sink Cagle campaign

Forsyth County News: Why the Forsyth County fire department has decided to encrypt its radios, and why that concerns First Amendment expert

Reporter Newspapers: Fear rises as GDOT eyes back yards, houses for toll lanes

January

Savannah Morning News: Editorial – Legislature should open records, meetings

WSB-TV: The First Amendment Foundation says a school system shouldn’t hide info from the public

AJC: Nonprofit hospitals under pressure over transparency, charity