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Transparency News

Jan 15

closed noted was "not ideal"; failure rates; fed FOIA litigation; Black Vault

Jan 14

fee study; block scheduling; university BOV transparency (SPOILER: it's not good)

Jan 13

GA convenes -- and the many ways to follow it; votes and interviews

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  • Sunshine Report for December 2020

    Sunshine Report for December 2020: FOIA Council proposals; oral confidentiality agreement; FOIA litigation; low on the S.W.A.M.P. index

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for December 2020
  • Sunshine Report for November 2020

    Sunshine Report for November 2020: FOIA fees here & across the country; FOIA Council; high-level denials; court cases; and more

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for November 2020
  • Sunshine Report for October 2020

    Sunshine Report for October 2020: Protest letters; special session; our conference; schools & COVID; and lots more...

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for October 2020
  • Sunshine Report for September 2020

    Sunshine Report, September 2020: special session; virtual meetings; COVID in higher ed; court cases and lots more open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for September 2020
  • Sunshine Report for August 2020

    Sunshine Report for August 2020: annual report; awards deadline extended; redacted reports; litigation; and "s" versus "ed"

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for August 2020
  • Sunshine Report for July 2020

    Sunshine Report for July 2020: FOIA Court cases; TVa report; nursing home data; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for July 2020
  • Sunshine Report for June 2020

    Sunshine Report for June 2020: FOIA win at Supreme Court; COVID-19 and open government; the limitations of virtual meetings 

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for June 2020
  • Sunshine Report for May 2020

    Sunshine Report for May 2020: FOIA has COVID-19; Court wins (settlements, responses); GA's reconvene session; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for May 2020
  • Sunshine Report for April 2020

    Sunshine Report for April 2020: Coronavirus, what else?

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for April 2020
  • Sunshine Report for March 2020

    Sunshine Report for 2020: General Assembly update; FOIA in the courts; our annual conference; open government news from around the state

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for March 2020
  • Access 2020

     

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    click here for details and registration or click here to donate

     

    • Read more about Access 2020
  • Sunshine Report for February 2020

    Sunshine Report for February 2020

     

    Virginia Coalition for Open Government
    The Sunshine Report: February 2020 

       

    In memorium:
    Emily Abbit Woodrum

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for February 2020
  • Sunshine Report for January 2020

    Sunshine Report for January 2020: Bills to watch this session; GMU ruling; our new intern; a scathing farewell and more

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for January 2020
  • Sunshine Report for December 2019

    Sunshine Report for December 2019: GivingTuesday; board members going rogue; FOIA Council opinions; live-streaming and more

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for December 2019
  • Sunshine Report for November 2019

    Sunshine Report for November 2019: media awards; FOIA statistics; malfeasance charges dropped; economic development & more

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for November 2019
  • Sunshine Report for October 2019

    Sunshine Report for 2019: award winners, FOIA Council updates, uptick in defamation lawsuits.

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for October 2019
  • 2019 FOI Media Awards

    Congratulations to the winners of VCOG's 2019 FOI Media Award winners!

    First Place, Broadcast Television Stations, WDBJ7, Tim Saunders.
    First Place, Daily Newspapers, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Patrick Wilson.
    First Place, Non-Daily Newspapers, Rappahannock News, John McCaslin:
    First Place, Online News Outlets, Virginia Mercury, Mechelle Hankerson 
    Runner-up, Broadcast Television Stations, NBC29, Henry Graff
    Runner-up, Daily Newspapers, The Roanoke Times, Jeff Sturgeon
    Runner-up, Non-Daily Newspapers, The Tidewater News, Stephen Feleski

    • Read more about 2019 FOI Media Awards
  • Sunshine Report for September 2019

    Sunshine Report for September 2019: claim settlements; phishing; the Tourism Council; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for September 2019
  • Sunshine Report for August 2019

    Sunshine Report for August 2019: TVa legislative transparency review; FOIA & phishing; Va. Beach transparency & more

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for August 2019
  • Sunshine Report for July 2019

    Sunshine Report for July 2019: FOIA full-text; coalition building; open government in the news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for July 2019
  • VCOG's annual report, June 2019

    VCOG's annual report, June 2019

    • Read more about VCOG's annual report, June 2019
  • Sunshine Report for June 2019

    Sunshine Report for June 2019: Millions of Messages; FOIA Council studies; open government in the news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for June 2019
  • Sunshine Report for May 2019

    Sunshine Report for May 2019: Transparent GMU; Supreme Court rules; our annual conference and lots of open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for May 2019
  • Sunshine Report for April 2019

    Sunshine Report for April 2019: Amazon and Arlington; an citizen's FOIA impact; new Supreme Court cases; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for April 2019
  • Sunshine Report for March 2019

    Sunshine Report for March 2019: General Assembly recap; Richmond schools' budget; thoughts on lobbying; news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for March 2019
  • 2019 Open Government Conference

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    VCOG's 2019 Open Government Conference
    Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communication at Hampton University
    April 11, 2019

    With panels on:

    • Read more about 2019 Open Government Conference
  • Sunshine Report for February 2019

    VCOG Sunshine Report for February 2019: General Assembly at the halfway point; FOIA & the AG's office; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for February 2019
  • Sunshine Report for January 2019

    Sunshine Report for January 2019: Welcome ruling; legislative preview; annual conference save-the-date; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for January 2019
  • Sunshine Report for December 2018

    Sunshine Report for December 2018: Amazon; court records/rules; on the road; open government news on missed meetings, defamation & contradiction

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for December 2018
  • Sunshine Report for November 2018

    Sunshine Report for November 2018: Bob O'Neil; training; judicial branch records; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for November 2018
  • Sunshine Report for October 2018

    VCOG's monthly newsletter for October 2018: A new look; why you need us after the elections; government websites; closed meeting on vice mayor's title

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for October 2018
  • Sunshine Report for September 2018

    Sunshine Report for September 2018: Not as easy as A-B-C: Albemarle, Bristol & Charlottesville woes; open government updates

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for September 2018
  • Sunshine Report for August 2018

    Sunshine Report, August 2018: open government news; OES/FOIA lawsuits; FOIA Council training; foundations/universities

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for August 2018
  • Sunshine Report for July 2018

    VCOG's monthly newsletter, July 2018: FOIA Council updates; email disclosures; subpoena; apologies

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for July 2018
  • Sunshine Report for June 2018

    Sunshine Report for June 2018: SCOVA FOIA case; records sealed because of second-guessing citizen; open government news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for June 2018
  • Sunshine Report for May 2018

    Sunshine Report for May 2018: police model; TVa report; amicus brief; FOIA Council meetings; news

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for May 2018
  • Sunshine Report for April 2018

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  • Sunshine Report for March 2018

    VCOG Sunshine Report for March 2018

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for March 2018
  • Sunshine Week 2018 events

     

     

     

    Sunshine Week 2018
    March 11 -17
    VCOG's Free events

     

    • Read more about Sunshine Week 2018 events
  • Sunshine Report for February 2018


     

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  • Sunshine Report for January 2018

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  • Sunshine Report for December 2017

     

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  • 2018 Legislative Chart

    THIS IS THE HOME OF VCOG'S ANNUAL BILL CHART FOR THE 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION. BILLS WILL BE ADDED AS THEY ARE FILED.

     
     
     
     
     
    • Read more about 2018 Legislative Chart
  • Sunshine Report for November 2017

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  • 2017 conference panels and speakers

    ACCESS '17
    Richmond Times-Dispatch Building
    300 E. Franklin St., Richmond
    November 16, 2017
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (exact schedule to be determined)

    • Read more about 2017 conference panels and speakers
  • Sunshine Report for October 2017

    The Sunshine Report: Online
    Transparency News from the Virginia Coalition for Open Government
    October 2017

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for October 2017
  • Sunshine Report for September 2017

     

     

     

     

     

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  • 2017 Annual Conference

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  • Sunshine Report for August 2017

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  • Sunshine Report for July 2017

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  • Sunshine Report for June 2017

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  • Sunshine Report for May 2017

     

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  • Sunshine Report for April 2017

     

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  • Sunshine Report for March 2017

     

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  • Sunshine Report for February 2017

     

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  • Sunshine Report for January 2017

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  • Sunshine Report: December 2016

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • 2017 Legislative Chart

    THIS IS THE HOME OF VCOG'S ANNUAL BILL CHART FOR THE 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION. BILLS WILL BE ADDED AS THEY ARE FILED.

     

    Do you want to be part of VCOG's advoacy efforts? Someone who would be willing to call or write or email or even testify?
    Then fill out our Sunshine Caucus form and stay in touch during the session.

    • Read more about 2017 Legislative Chart
  • Sunshine Report: November 2016

     

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  • VCOG's Annual Conference 2016

    • Read more about VCOG's Annual Conference 2016
  • Access 2016: Panels, panelists and sponsors

    ACCESS '16
    James Madison's Montpelier
    December 8, 2016
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (exact schedule to be determined)

    • Read more about Access 2016: Panels, panelists and sponsors
  • Sunshine Report for October 2016

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Sunshine Report for September 2016

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  • Sunshine Report for August 2016

    The Sunshine Report: August 2016

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for August 2016
  • Sunshine Report for July 2016

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Sunshine Report for June 2016

     

     

     

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  • Sunshine Report for May 2016

     

     

     

     

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  • Sunshine Report for April 2016

     

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  • Sunshine Report for March 2016

     

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  • Sunshine Report for February 2016

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Sunshine Report for January 2016

     

     

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  • Sunshine Report for December 2015

     

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  • Sunshine Report for November 2015

     

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  • Sunshine Report for October 2015

     

     

     

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  • Access 2015: Schedule & Panelists

    The conference on Nov. 12 was a big success. Check out the program and our sponsors from the links below.

    Thank you to our sponsors

    • Read more about Access 2015: Schedule & Panelists
  • Sunshine Report for September 2015

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  • Sunshine Report for August 2015

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  • Sunshine Report for June 2015

     

     

     

     

     

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  • VCOG amicus brief in Department of Corrections v Surovell

    VCOG filed an amicus brief in the Virginia Supreme Court case Department of Corrections v. Surovell.

    • Read more about VCOG amicus brief in Department of Corrections v Surovell
  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, May 2015

    • Read more about Sunshine Report Newsletter, May 2015
  • The case for improved transparency

    Transparency Virginia, of which VCOG is a member, released a report that discusses some of the less-than-transparent practices at the General Assembly. The report takes note of the number of times bills were killed without a recorded vote, as well as instances where meetings were scheduled with little to no notice and some bills were never considered. The report's conclusion is that transparency takes collective will and collective action. Every member of the General Assembly can contribute to a more open, more citizen-friendly legislative process.

    • Read more about The case for improved transparency
  • Sunshine Report for April 2015

    The Sunshine Report: Online Transparency news from the Virginia Coalition
    for Open Government   April 2015

     

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for April 2015
  • Sunshine Report Newslette, March 2015

     

    PLEASE NOTE: THE LINK FOR THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BELOW IS FAULTY. THIS IS THE CORRECT LINK: http://www.opengovva.org/2015-legislative-wrap

     

     

    • Read more about Sunshine Report Newslette, March 2015
  • If a vote isn't recorded, does it make a sound?

    Posted 2/16/15 by Megan Rhyne

    The following was written by Zhina Kamali, VCOG's first Chip Woodrum Legislative Internship and was published in The Roanoke Times on Feb. 16, 2015.

     

    By Zhina Kamali

    Each day I am at the General Assembly Building I think I have seen it all. And each day something new comes up that surprises me even more than the last.

    • Read more about If a vote isn't recorded, does it make a sound?
    • Megan Rhyne's blog
  • Sunshine Report for February 2015

     

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  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, January 2015

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  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, December 2014

     

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  • A reception to honor the late Delegate Chip Woodrum

    The Virginia Coalition for Open Government held a reception in honor of the late Delegate Chip Woodrum on November 13 at Center in the Square in Roanoke.

    Woodrum was one of the strongest voices for open government in the General Assembly, when he served in the 1990s and 2000s, and was largely responsible for the major overhaul of FOIA in 1999 and the creation of the FOIA Council. He was the council's first chair, and he served on VCOG's board of directors.

    • Read more about A reception to honor the late Delegate Chip Woodrum
  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, October 2014

          The Sunshine Report: Online Transparency news from the Virginia Coalition
    for Open Government   October 2014

    In this issue

    • Read more about Sunshine Report Newsletter, October 2014
  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, September 2014

    Greetings, Friend of VCOG!

    • Read more about Sunshine Report Newsletter, September 2014
  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, August 2014

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  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, July 2014

    The Sunshine Report: Online Transparency news from the Virginia Coalition
    for Open Government   July 2014

    In this issue

    Records workshop a solid success

    FOIA Council updates

    • Read more about Sunshine Report Newsletter, July 2014
  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, June 2014

     

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  • Sunshine Report for May 2014

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  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, April 2014

      The Sunshine Report: Online Transparency news from the Virginia Coalition
    for Open Government   April 2014

    In this issue

    • Read more about Sunshine Report Newsletter, April 2014
  • Sunshine Report for March 2014

    In this issue

    FOIA to get makeover

    General Assembly FOIA update

    Sunshine Week 2014

    Open government in the news

    Coalition News

    Recently on VCOG Blog

    • Read more about Sunshine Report for March 2014
  • Sunshine Report for February 2014

     

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  • Sunshine Report Newsletter, January 2014

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  • Sunshine Report for January 2014

     

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  • 2014 General Assembly

    A round-up of access-related bills being followed and, in some cases, lobbied on in the 2014 General Assembly session.

    • Read more about 2014 General Assembly
  • Conference Tweets

    Posted 12/10/13 by admin
    • Read more about Conference Tweets
    • admin's blog
  • Sunshine Report for December 2013

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  • Sunshine Report or November 2013

     

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  • Sunshine Report for October 2013

     

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  • Sunshine Report, September 2013

     

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  • Sunshine Report, August 2013

     

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  • NFOIC FOI Summit Keynote Address

    Charlottesville's Waldo Jaquith talks about his project States Decoded at the National FOI Coalition FOI Summit in New Orleans, May 18.

    • Read more about NFOIC FOI Summit Keynote Address
  • Post-McBurney commentary

    VCOG Board of Directors member Mark Caramanica talks to On the Media about the ramifications of the Supreme Court's ruling on state citizenship & the Freedom of Information Act.

    • Read more about Post-McBurney commentary
  • Sunshine Report April 2013


    The April 2013 issue of the Sunshine Report is online, featuring a round-up of Sunshine Week stories, court cases and open government in the news during the month of March.

    • Read more about Sunshine Report April 2013
  • Secrecy is a brick wall

    Op-Ed piece: "Those governing us find the unrestricted flow of information a bitter pill to swallow. When questioned about their actions, they say that it's for our own safety. Does this argument stand? Is openness detrimental to security? I think not.... Secrecy chokes democracy and mitigates our ability to respond to outside threats.

    • Read more about Secrecy is a brick wall
  • Legislative recap 2013

    A quick recap of the bills affecting open government that were passed and defeated. In brief: it wasn't the General Assembly's finest hour.

    • Read more about Legislative recap 2013
  • Round-up of articles on FOIA case at U.S. Supreme Court

    The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Feb. 20 on whether it was OK for Virginia to deny FOIA requests made by people from other states. Check out our round-up of news accounts of the arguments, as well as a link to the transcript.

    • Read more about Round-up of articles on FOIA case at U.S. Supreme Court
  • How Many Clicks to Get to Your Budget?

    A Survey of Virginia’s County and Independent City Websites which assesses and grades the performance of Virginia’s 134 counties and independent cities in providing easy online access to local government’s fundamental operating document: its annual budget.

    • Read more about How Many Clicks to Get to Your Budget?

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Recent Blog Posts

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The trouble with phoning it in
Aug 20
Transparency the most radical police reform of all
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No, Your FOIA Request Cannot Wait Until This Emergency is Over
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Recent Legal Opinions

Webster v. Filler-Corn
Gent v. Adams
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Attorney General opinion 20-043
Attorney General Opinion 20-036
Look up Other Legal Opinions
2013 Virginia Coalition for Open Government