The following are links to some of the news stories and court opinions related to the successes and failures by Kansas citizens and organizations in pursuit of access to public records and meetings.
2023
- I knew Kansas officials would overstep after Marion raid. I didn’t expect it to be in Lawrence – September 20, 2023
- Initial online search spurring a raid on a Kansas paper was legal, a state agency says – August 21, 2023
- Inside Marion newspaper raid affidavits, bad jokes at the expense of the First Amendment – August 21, 2023
- Attorney helps break down affidavits used in Marion County Record newspaper raid – August 20, 2023
- Now-withdrawn affidavit in Marion County Record raid shows police ignored Kansas open records laws – August 20, 2023
- Judge who signed off on Marion Co. Record warrant has DUI history – August 16, 2023
- Marion police chief lies and deflects on newspaper raid. He should be fired, immediately – August 14, 2023
- Raided Kansas paper’s lawyer demands police chief not review info from ‘illegal searches’ – August 14, 2023
- Legal experts talk next steps after Marion County newspaper seizure – August 12, 2023
- Police stage ‘chilling’ raid on Marion County newspaper, seizing computers, records and cellphones – August 11, 2023
- Skeptics claim Junction City’s secretive maneuvering to entice meatpacker won’t pass smell test – July 26, 2023
- 20 hear talk about open meetings, open records – June 22, 2023
- Session to focus on government transparency – June 15, 2023
- Kansas mother continues fight with county for son’s death records – March 29, 2023
- A Lawrence Times reporter was ordered to leave the city campsite for unhoused people. ‘That’s a problem,’ First Amendment attorney says – March 22, 2023
- Media attorney, Lawrence school board president have opposing views on open meetings concern – March 19, 2023
- Emporia State demands ransom for public records. You deserve to know what they’re hiding – March 15, 2023
- Court documents give details of Goodland ResCare investigation – March 7, 2023
- Newton Board of Education appears to have violated KOMA – March 6, 2023
- City refuses to release text cited in recall – March 2, 2023
- Board Members Allege Threats, Legal Violations During School Board Gathering – February 24, 2023
- Johnson County District Attorney under investigation in case of Overland Park teen’s death – February 16, 2023
- Topeka attorney won’t release body camera video after police fired 34 shots in killing man – February 14, 2023
- Swaths of Kansas lack written policies on exculpatory evidence, law enforcement dishonesty – January 26, 2023
- Kansas Supreme Court: KORA requires production of electronic records – January 19, 2023
- Advocate questions why Shawnee County Commission sessions might not be recorded, streamed – January 18, 2023
- University of Missouri will not punish student over racist post, citing First Amendment protections – January 10, 2023
- Kansas Supreme Court orders hospital to hand over electronic records – January 8, 2023
- ‘A new era’ for open records in Kansas: Court says yes, electronic records must be provided electronically – January 7, 2023
- Roe v. Phillips County Hospital, Kansas Supreme Court – January 6, 2023
2022
- Douglas County sheriff is ‘Giglio-impaired,’ district attorney’s office says – December 28, 2022
- TikTok users react to app bans – December 28, 2022
- A battle over subpoenas of Kansas Republican officials is heating up. Here is what’s at stake – December 27, 2022
- Americans for Prosperity urges attorney general to investigate Kansas open record requests – December 25, 2022
- Former KCPD attorney’s letter raises questions for local lawyers – December 14, 2022
- New York Times investigation shows how sports gambling industry exploited Kansas legislators – November 25, 2022
- Kansas subpoenas TV station for video of women accusing Highway Patrol leader of misconduct – November 22, 2022 ($)
- Kansas Open Records exemption allows elected officials to avoid scrutiny – November 21, 2022
- Dear Kris Kobach: Please read this open letter about open government in Kansas – November 20, 2022
- Kechi officer stalking incident prompts concerns about WPD “FLOCK” technology – October 31, 2022
- As lawmakers tour Kansas prison, public will be barred from meeting – October 18, 2022
- ‘He doesn’t know who I am’: Mayor responds after interaction with officer at neighborhood event – October 13, 2022
- Douglas County sheriff, district attorney in standoff over officer personnel files – October 7, 2022
- Topeka police refuse to release body camera footage of June fatal officer-involved shooting – October 3, 2022
- A Kansas deputy tased a 12-year-old autistic boy who was handcuffed, shackled and hogtied – Sept 20, 2022
- Kansas AG’s office enforces open records law while overlooking key piece – Sept 15, 2022
- Attorney General’s Office ignores plain text of Kansas open records law, sets poor example – Sept 14, 2022
- John Albers’ mother proposes changes in wake of report from The Washington Post – Aug 25, 2022
- Inside the investigation of an officer who killed a teen threatening suicide – Aug 23, 2022
- Johnson County sheriff’s stonewalling on election probe keeps Kansans in the dark – Aug 7, 2022
- Democratic governor, GOP kept Kansas Panasonic plant secret – July 27, 2022 ($)
- Kansas appeals court says secretary of state violated open records law by altering computer system – July 22, 2022
- Provision in Panasonic deal may make details on Kansas megaprojects exempt from open records law – July 21, 2022 ($)
- Getting logrolled? Legislator survey exposes weakness in Kansas constitutional limit on bundling – July 10, 2022
- With open government on the line, we’re calling Kansas legislators to account – June 12, 2022
- Simple reforms could make the Kansas Legislature more transparent. Leaders don’t want that – May 17, 2022
- Analysis: How the Kansas Legislature avoids public scrutiny by hiding in darkness – May 8, 2022
- This week (and every other), let the sunshine in to illuminate Kansas government – March 15, 2022
- On Transparency and Trust in Topeka – March 5, 2022 ($)
- When Kansas police use license plate readers, should data collected be public record? – February 14, 2022 ($)
- After lawsuit by student, Haskell forced to not retaliate against First Amendment Rights – February 8, 2022
- Kansas Senate has no good reason for removing journalists from floor action – January 13, 2022
2021
- Kansas judicial branch withholds $1.2 million in payments owed to Texas IT company – August 19, 2021
- Waiting for guidance on COVID relief money, Shawnee County Commission delays capital outlay projects vote – July 19, 2021
- Kansas GOP lawmaker describes peculiar school incident as potential ‘psychotic episode’ – May 26, 2021
- Balancing Act: Harmonizing K.S.A. § 60-2617 with the “Fossey rule” to Preserve the Rights of Both Litigants and the Public in Traditionally Open Court Proceedings, Kansas Law Review – May, 2021
- Overland Park releases 2018 officer-involved shooting report – April 26, 2021
- Kansas agency’s lost $72K: 4 years of probing, few answers – April 25, 2021
- Kansas Senate majority leader had 0.17 blood alcohol level in wrong-way pursuit – April 8, 2021
- Overland Park wrong to hide cop’s severance in teen killing – March 19, 2021 ($)
- Court Orders Overland Park To Hand Over Records In Police Killing Of Teenager – March 18, 2021
- IGI – Remote Meetings and Transparency – March 18, 2021
- Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt falls short on enforcing open records law – March 16, 2021
- Student newspaper editor questioned Haskell Indian Nations University officials. A lawsuit says they retaliated – March 4, 2021 ($)
- Wichita Eagle v. City of Wichita, Memorandum Decision – February 14, 2021
- Eagle wins lawsuit over Wichita police body-cam footage – February 14, 2021 ($)
- OP must release records of John Albers 2018 police shooting – January 26, 2021 ($)
- Kansas attorney general says that KU’s pandemic meetings are ‘akin to staff meetings,’ do not violate open meetings act – January 12, 2021 ($)
2020
- Secrecy in Kansas energy report irks clean energy, consumer stakeholders – July 13, 2020
- Overland Park paid former police officer who fatally shot teen to resign – June 30, 2020
- AG Derek Schmidt: New rules to keep government meetings transparent during COVID-19 ‘social distancing’ limitations now in effect – March 25, 2020
- Attorney General’s office says school district had right to keep review of $50 million iPad/Macbook program closed to press – March 12, 2020 ($)
- Kansas AG says city of Frontenac violated open records law – February 17, 2020
- Kansas isn’t transparent about officer-involved shootings – January 23, 2020 ($)
- John Albers’ death should prompt new law on police reports – January 17, 2020
- Push to Shine More Light on Officer-Involved Deaths Comes to Kansas – January 14, 2020
- Mom of Overland Park teen killed by police pushing for change through new state policy – January 7, 2020
- Kansas bill would loosen the release of information related to police shootings – January 6, 2020
2019
- Settlement with Central Plains Board of Education over KOMA violations reached – December 31, 2019
- Frontenac, Kansas, cleaned out top public servants in secret – December 30, 2019 ($)
- This form downloaded from the internet is a state secret? Let the sunshine in Kansas – December 30, 2019 ($)
- DA: Panel involved in Kansas Supreme Court nominating process did not violate open meetings law – November 7, 2019
- Longwell documents came at significant cost – October 1, 2019
- Wichita Mayor Longwell steers lucrative contract to buddies – September 30, 2019
- City of Frontenac declines to honor records request – September 21, 2019
- Problems arise in new court software – August 29, 2019
- Judge signs warrant for DNA – August 26, 2019 ($)
- IGI: Transparent Government in Kansas – July 18, 2019
- AG rules on complaints about closure – July 18, 2019
- Judge dismisses defamation suit against Kansas City Star – July 2, 2019
- Ejecting media from Kansas Senate unconstitutional – June 6, 2019
- Kansas state Republicans remove press and protestors to silence demands for Medicaid Expansion – May 30, 2019
- Protesters booted from Senate chamber – May 29, 2019 ($)
- IGI: Open and Transparent Government in Kansas – Feb 22, 2019
- Newspaper calls Kansas Senate leader’s lawsuit ‘meritless’ – Feb 15, 2019
- With questions and grief remaining, Overland Park family remembers son killed by police – Feb 13, 2019
- Court orders elections officer to disclose records – January 31, 2019 ($)
- Kansas city pays $2.3 million to family of teen slain by police officer – January 16, 2019
2018
- AG Derek Schmidt: Kansas Supreme Court clarifies scope of open records law – August 27, 2018
- In secret agreement, KU paid $200,000 to student who claimed sexual assault by theater professor – August 27, 2018 ($)
- FHCHC violated KOMA by barring Gazette, public – July 11, 2018
- Following criticism, city decides to post results of community survey on interactions with Lawrence police – July 11, 2018
- Kansas Governor Signs Bill on Law Enforcement Body Cameras – May 11, 2018
- ESU, WSU student newspapers recognized – May 1, 2018 ($)
- Wichita State student government closes door on student fees deliberations – Feb 23, 2018
- House advances bill easing access to body cam footage – Feb 21, 2018 ($)
- City asked to improve body camera footage access – Feb 13, 2018 ($)
- Police Resist Effort To Make Access To Law Enforcement Video Easier – Feb 13, 2018
- All Kansas City-area police departments need body cameras – Feb 13, 2018 ($)
- Colyer taking first steps out of state’s darkness – Feb 9, 2018 ($)
- Colyer signs four executive orders to improve transparency – Feb 8, 2018 ($)
- Topeka police shooting helps spur body camera, law enforcement transparency legislation – Feb 1, 2018 ($)
- Wichita school board’s secret session violated law – January 4, 2018 ($)
2017
- Police should release video – December 1, 2017
- Kansas City Star investigations: Why so secret, Kansas? – November 13, 2017 ($)
- Attorney asks court to order release of 25-year-old records tied to Randy Leach’s disappearance – August 14, 2017 ($)
- Haunted by past, cop quits – August 3, 2017 ($)
- Woman awarded for keeping local government information open to public – April 14, 2017
- Appeals court overturns Journal’s lawsuit against Brownback – April 7, 2017 ($)
- Body cameras promote trust, improve transparency for officers – April 7, 2017
2016
- Badge to Badge: Should background checks be required for officers? – December 13, 2016
- Mike Kautsch: Extolling Sunshine Week amid calls for more open government – March 15, 2016 ($)
- Kansas Senate advances legislation on open records, session length – February 16, 2016 ($)
- AG’s office reorganizes to boost open government enforcement – February 1, 2016
2015
- State legal costs impede KORA – December 22, 2015
- Report of the Judicial Council Open Records Advisory Committee on 2015 SB 306/207 Relating to Public Records and Private Email – December 4, 2015
- State’s tight records laws open to change – November 29, 2015
- Kansas gets F grade in 2015 State Integrity Investigation – November 9, 2015
- Eagle wins suit over Hunter Health emails – November 7, 2015
- Governor to appeal judge’s order – October 3, 2015
- A closed-door choice – September 16, 2015
- Closed meeting preceded county’s job offer to general – September 15, 2015
- Documents shed light on ties between KU, Kochs – September 2, 2015
- Openness has to be a priority – July 4, 2015
- Council reports past KOMA violations – May 27, 2015
- Questions loom over bus services – May 11, 2015
2014
- Commissioners accused of violating KOMA – November 12, 2014
- No opinion from D.A. on records complaint – September 3, 2014
- Family questions shooting death of 18-year-old in Ottawa – August 24, 2014
- Government must learn that people are watching – August 6, 2014
- Council gets dressing down from Law firm – July 30, 2014
- Denison mayor resigns prior to recall vote – July 24, 2014
- Kansas Senate quashes public’s right to know – March 27, 2014
- Capital-Journal spends nearly $1K obtaining records – 2014
pre-2014
- Citizens have the right to know what’s going on with gun range – December 20, 2013
- Newspaper alleges that board violated KOMA – December 4, 2013
- Taxpayers pay fine for KCC violation – November 28, 2013
- Park City violates meeting statute – July 18, 2013
- Town admits open meeting violation – July 13, 2013
- Complaint filed against Mullinville council for alleged KOMA violation – April 17, 2013
- Analysis: KOMA report a stern warning for council – March 2, 2013
- Capote Classic ‘In Cold Blood’ Tainted by Long-Lost Files – February 8, 2013
- Commissioners reach agreement on publication of minutes – February 6, 2013
- Open meetings decision sparks criticism of district attorney – February 6, 2013
- DA find Shawnee council violates KOMA – February 6, 2013
- Who’s Tony Lauer? Data driven resident’s input making impact – September 26, 2012
- District attorney says Mission violated open meetings law – September 17, 2012
- JCCC faces lawsuit in records case – October 8, 2011
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