Texts are Public Records

PubliCola explains why text messages conducting agency business are public records.

Sigh. Is this still in question? Guess so.

Thanks to a reader of this blog for the story.

Kistap Sun Beats Kitsap County in PRA Case

The Court of Appeals ruled today for the Kitsap Sun in a Public Records Act case. The opinion addresses the issue of whether an agency's less than neutral actions in effect deny a request when a third party files an injunction against disclosure.

NOTE: Allied Law Group's Greg Overstreet and David Norman represented the Kitsap Sun in the case.

Tri-City Herald Editorial on Open Meetings

A great editorial on a local government attempting to meet in secret.

(Vancouver) Columbian Editorial on Cameras in Courts

The (Vancouver) Columbian writes this editorial on cameras in federal courts, specifically the U.S. Supreme Court.

Washington courts have cameras in our Supreme Court and things go just fine.

What Can Happen When You Pass Laws in Secret

Apparently, mistakes are made when those most affected by a proposed new law don't get any input on it. The Spokesman-Review describes how this happened with the new soda tax.

(By the way, it's a little thing, but here on the West Coast we call carbonated beverages "pop," not "soda." I know the AP Style Manual says "soda" since that's the term used nationally so it's not the Spokesman's fault, but we're just noting how grating it is to hear "soda.")

Seattle Times Piece on R-71 Case

Ryan Blethen of the Seattle Times writes this on the R-71 case.