Complying with a ruling from Second Judicial District Court Judge Lisa Chavez Ortega, the Office of the Auditor (OSA) has released 1,800 pages of unlawfully withheld public records. Judge Chavez Ortega ruled earlier this year the records were public, but the Court stayed production of the records pending the conclusion of a resolution of damages. Read More …
As a senior investigative reporter on the Bloomberg News investigations team, Leopold’s document-based reporting has led to countless scoops, federal investigations and contributed to the public’s understanding of how its government works. Leopold is a recipient of the 2022 George Polk award for health reporting. He has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Read More …
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) will award the 2023 William S. Dixon First Amendment Award to six New Mexicans at its luncheon on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, in Albuquerque at the Sandia Golf Event Center. The honor recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of citizens and organizations in New Mexico who Read More …
The New Mexico Broadcasters Association inducted Paula Maes, a New Mexico Foundation for Open Government board member, into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 11, 2023, during the group’s annual convention and award ceremony. The Hall of Fame honor is just one of many honors she has received from organizations and her peers. In 1984, Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is now accepting nominations for the 2023 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award – given to those who believe in government transparency at the state or local level – and who have made significant contributions to sunshine in our state. The honor recognizes the outstanding accomplishments Read More …
On Wednesday, the three Public Regulation Commissioners (PRC) voted unanimously in favor of a plan to hold fewer public meetings and more executive sessions, or talks held behind closed doors. To simply announce that every other meeting will be closed seems not to take into consideration whether all items discussed will fall under the Open Read More …
FOG statement on CYFD’s action to close special council meetings Sunlight is the best disinfectant – words from the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis that still ring true today – except it seems for a special council formed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to address the dysfunctional Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD). Read More …
The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) applauds the decision by New Mexico First Judicial Court Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood ruling the New Mexico Legislative Council Service (LCS) violated the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) by failing to fulfill a request from Ethics Watch for public records regarding the 2021 Junior Appropriations Act. Read More …
by Gregory Williams, FOG Board Member and Former President Public officials and employees love transparency in the abstract. In reality: not so much. Transparency in government is a crowd-pleasing election promise that gets set aside in practice. It happens in part because openness takes effort. It takes a daily commitment by public entities to provide Read More …
The Eddy County Commission put into practice this week an important step to ensure transparency and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) applauds the effort. “The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government supports Eddy County’s efforts to comply with the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) in announcing the allocation of Read More …