NMFOG In the News

May 2021

APRIL 2021

Finding the Light: How to advance democracy through technology April 30, 2021

Deleting records routinely defies public records law April 29, 2021

Head of CYFD says messaging app was not intended to make department less transparent April 29, 2021

House Republicans want CYFD investigation April 28, 2021

NM AG reviewing practices of child welfare workers April 27. 2021

New Mexico child welfare officials using app that encrypts, deletes messages April 27, 2021

Child welfare department’s leadership, staff avoid a paper trail with encrypted messaging April 27, 2021

Agency Underground April 26, 2021

Albuquerque works to clear backlog of increased public records requests April 22, 2021

Legislator spending for projects is disclosed April 19, 2021

NM medical cannabis revocation hearings blocked from the public April 16, 2021

MARCH 2021

Accountability in Pork Spending a Good Start March 26, 2021

Sunshine Week is the right time for capital outlay spending transparency March 17, 2021

Cowboy for Trump leader won’t resign his Otero County post March 17, 2021

Griffen denounces press release March 16, 2021

When it comes to the government, be afraid of the dark March 14, 2021

Griffen discussed press release calling for his resignation, states he will not resign March 14, 2021

Questions linger over redistricting legislation in New Mexico March 13, 2021

New Mexico may discipline, fine workers who release records March 3, 2021

FEBRUARY 2021

Job applicant disclosure bill derailed in the Senate Feb. 12, 2021

Public flying blind in New Mexico’s largely virtual legislative session Feb. 12, 2021

Insurance is covering some public records violation Feb. 12, 2021

Keeping candidates names secret could bring back old days of backroom hiring deals Feb. 7, 2021

JANUARY 2021

Legislative Roundup Jan. 28, 2021

Bill to shield Applicant’s names advances Jan. 27, 2021

High profile Senate Committee Delayed 2 hours due to technical issues Jan. 26, 2021

State budget process needs sunshine Jan. 24, 2021

It Lacks the Personal Touch Jan. 23, 2021

Santa Fe Officials Postpone Public Update on Future of Midtown Campus Jan. 23, 2021

Edgewood town councilor removed from meeting by police chief Jan. 22, 2021

State pays to settle records dispute filed by John Boyd’s brother Jan. 22, 2021

New Mexico Responds to Presidential Inauguration Jan. 21, 2021

New Mexico Senate Sets Rules for a More Virtual Session Jan. 20, 2021

New Mexico’s 55th Legislature Kicks Off at Noon Jan. 19, 2021

Dual roles create quorum conundrum for commissioners Jan. 19, 2021

NM Lawmakers others, push for greater transparency on budget Jan. 16, 2021

NM Governor orders flags to fly at half staff in memory of late senator Jan. 16, 2021

Former NM Legislator known for wise, calm demeanor has died Jan. 15, 2021

Applicant shielding bill doesn’t deserve a day of consideration Jan. 14, 2021

Editorial: City deserves credit for two of its recent transparency decisions Jan. 12, 2021

Local newsman Dana Bowley dies Jan. 7, 2021

Bill seeks to limit disclosure of top applicants’ names Jan. 7, 20201

Pandemic forces NM Legislative Session to go Virtual Jan. 6, 2021

NM Legislative Session going mostly online Jan. 5, 2021

DECEMBER 2020

Virtual New Mexico Legislative Session Could Limit Public Input Dec. 18. 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

AG Backs Plaintiff in UNM Records Case Nov. 13, 2020

OCTOBER 2020

Government transparency is essential Oct. 31, 2020

UNM withholds on-campus dorms coronavirus data, citing privacy concerns, Oct. 12, 2020

NMFOG Survey Indicates Politicos Interested in Transparency, Oct. 9, 2020

Santa Fe Councilor wants closed police reform meetings, Oct. 5, 2020

Townsend to receive Open Government Award, Oct. 2, 2020

Woodward: ‘Trump is the wrong man for the job,’ Oct. 2, 2020

September 2020

Woodward headlines FOG Dixon Awards Event, Sept. 18. 2020

Six will be honored for open-government advocacy, Sept. 4, 2020

Journalist Bob Woodward to be speaker at New Mexico FOG event, Sept. 4, 2020

AUGUST 2020

6 People in New Mexico to Receive First Amendment Freedom Award, Aug. 28, 2020

Court sides with state pension board in retirement fee scuffle, Aug. 22, 2020

Judge dismisses NM Restaurant Association’s data request lawsuit, Aug. 21, 2020

JULY 2020

Retirement board sues New Mexico Pension Board, July 29, 2020

Editorial: Justices Cops can’t hide behind ‘ongoing investigation label’, July 25, 2020

State Supreme Court Eye on Local Government, July 24, 2020

New Mexico Foundation for Open Government Applauds Supreme Court Decision Enforcing State’s Inspection of Public Records Act, July 17, 2020

Nominations open for 2020 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards, July 17, 2020

All but settled, July 17, 2020

Rights group sues Department of Corrections, private prison operators, July 17, 2020

New Mexico Supreme Court Limits Shielding of Police Records, July 17, 2020

JUNE 2020

Questions Linger as Santa Fe Police Department shields records in shooting June 21

OMA in the News June 18

Day 1 of Special Session Underway June 18

Lawmakers ask NM Supreme Court to allow public to attend special session June 13

PERA chairman agrees board violated Open Meetings Act with vote June 4

Foundation accuses PERA of Open Meetings Violation June 3

MAY 2020

Finding solutions together in COvid-19 crisis May 15

Attorney General files IPRA lawsuit seeking full New Mexico State football investigation report May 14

Critical decisions belong in the sunlight May 9

Our Mother Governor May 6

Transparency can’t be a virus victim May 5

Governor needs to open up her pandemic economic council May 3

Dallas-based company expected to move forward in midtown campus process

APRIL 2020

Otero County commissioner, executive assistant named in public records lawsuit April 23

Zoombombing raises questions about OMA April 11

MARCH 2020

SF keeps quite on master developer pick March 30

NCAC Joins Call for Transparency March 20

Yes, we want to know how to make the sausage March 19

AG Issues Guidance March 17

State Budget Process should be open March 15

NM FOG celebrates Sunshine Week March 15

Gov. signs labor bill despite transparency objection March 5

Gov. signs labor bill at center of open records debate March 5

Labor needs to stay public March 4

NM labor bill disputed on public access issue March 2

FEBRUARY 2020

Public records to be kept longer under new rule Feb.27

Commentary: Ejection of Reporter from NM Public Meeting Raises Grave Concerns Feb. 17

Inmate medical care vendor produces some records Feb. 17

Open government group objects to Midtown Secrecy Feb. 12

Editorial: Booting reporter from Senate hearing was the wrong call Feb. 12

City doesn’t want to release midtown campus evaluation committee names Feb. 11

Senators Threaten Press Freedom By Kicking Reporter Out Of Committee Meeting Feb.7

Big State Settlements Must Be Open to Public Feb. 5

JANUARY 2020

Lawmakers debate funding for Ethics Commission Jan. 31

Panel OKs rule change that sheds light on tabling votes Jan. 30

Ex-prison health contractor won’t release records despite court rulings Jan. 25

UNM refuses to release sexual misconduct files Jan. 20

20 petitions filed for criminal records to be expunged Jan 17

Rob Dean Dies Jan. 7

Former NM editor brought stability left legacy Jan. 5

Erasing criminal history Jan. 3

New law allows some felons to ask judge to expunge records Jan. 3

Santa Fe Attorney named new president of FOG Jan. 2

Proposal to seal expungement petitions from public reversed Jan. 1

DECEMBER 2019

Criminal expungement act goes into effect Dec. 31

Ex-New Mexico Prison Contractor to Release Public Records Dec. 20

NM Supreme Court declines to hear Corizon appeal in opens records case Dec. 20

Ex NM prison contractor to release public records Dec. 19

Open government advocates prevail in records case Dec. 19

City witholds police reports from RRO Dec. 16

Editorial: When it comes to hiring for top public jobs, right to know outweighs privacy Dec. 2

Editorial: Why the Secrecy Dec. 1

NOVEMBER 2019

New regent schedule starts with closed session Nov. 25

From shoes to sausage Terrell had it covered Nov. 21

APS seeks legislation to limit candidate disclosure Nov. 20

NM Panel meets in private to discuss methane emissions Nov. 9

OCTOBER 2019

Auditor: Otero County Commissioners, Cowboys for Trump reimbursement may have violated law Oct. 23

Sun settles records lawsuit with DPS again Oct. 11

McCurdy Charter School Board Labels Finances confidential Oct. 3

Protestors pack commission chambers as Aztec considers city attorney contract Oct. 2

SEPTEMBER 2019

Sheriff censors 911 Log Sept. 29

Aztec City Commission allegedly violated the New Mexico Open Meetings Act twice in one day Sept. 23

This week’s FOIA roundup Sept. 20

Court affirms that prison records are public records Sept. 18

Northern NM Police keep homicide records secret Sept. 17

A summer of secrets Sept. 13

AUGUST 2019

FOG’a Dixon Award honors people’s right to know Aug. 18

JULY 2019

UNM faces public records problems, again July 3

Risk Management Needs a Healthy Dose of Sunlight July 3

JUNE 2019

Transparency is crucial for a healthy University June 24

UNM IPRA story: University redacts response records June 24

State won’t disclose why teacher not charged in 2012 June 22

City to install software to boost transparency June 20

Municipal Boards, Commissions Raise Transparency Questions June 20

Criticism targets UNM regents June 19

Inmate’s death was captured on video June 21

NM to start posting legal settlements online June 20

NM to start posting legal settlements online June 16

NMPA hires Sammy Lopez as its new executive director June 16

Autopsy: Inmate died after being held down June 6

MAY 2019

NM GOP blasts 1.7 million in settlements, made, sealed under former Gov. Martinez May 31

1.7 Million in Settlements at End of Martinez Tenure Spark Questions May 24

Walsh reviews county transparency policy May 10

Appeals Court Ruling a Victory for Transparency May 4

APRIL 2019

Court of Appeals rules plaintiff can seek attorneys’ fees in public records case April 18

Public records suit to cost New Mexico town a tenth of its budget April 13

911 service’s $30 records fee violates law, state Attorney General’s Office says April 12

Las Cruces City Council sets closed meeting to discuss senior staff with at-will contracts April 8

Former Chief Deleted Text Messages April 5

Expungement, Electoral College bills signed by governor April 3

Governor signs criminal justice reform bills April 3

Questions raised about legality of ASUNM meeting March 29

Questions raised about legality of ASUNM meeting March 28

UNM hosts provost finalists starting today March 25

Governor uses contingency fund for wine, tinwork, inaugural breakfast March 20

Senate OKs limits on applicant disclosure March 15

You should know where your tax dollars go March 15

Editorial: Protecting public information is protecting the public March 14

Raining on Sunshine Week March 14

Bringing sunshine to human rights settlements nears finish March 13

With days to go, ethics commission legislation stalls March 12

Advancing bills worry transparency advocates March 12

Competing ethics commission bills may fuse March 12

Sunshine Week spotlights our role in good governance March 11

Senate OKs limits on applicant disclosure March 11

Senate OKs limits on applicant disclosure March 10

NMSU to host border reporting panel discussion for Sunshine Week March 8

Applicant-secrecy bill moves forward March 6

Birth pains in creating of New Mexico ethics commission March 1

House bill seeks transparency for ethics probes March 1

FEBRUARY 2019

New Mexico bill making media delete irrelevant info pulled Feb. 1

New Mexico Lawmakers Backs Off Online Censorship Bill Feb. 4

Bill aims to greatly increase public records request costs Feb. 5

Bill involving public records costs expunction Feb. 5

Bill raises public-records issues costs expunction Feb. 6

Bill to increase electronic record fees Feb. 6

Romero pulls fetid garbage bill Feb. 7

Bill aims to greatly increase public records requests costs Feb. 7

Bill calls for creation of ethics commission

Autopsy: Inmate died after being held down Feb. 23

JANUARY 2019

Judge issues decorum rules for Jessica Kelley’s trial Jan.1

NMFOG launches new advertising campaign Jan. 12

Bill targets states open records law Jan.17

Well-intentioned but weakens due process Jan. 19

Public records bill could hike costs limit access Jan. 20

New house gets bill to withhold names Jan. 29

DECEMBER

Lawmaker calls New Mexico’s open data portal an ’embarrassment’ (Dec. 21) State Scoop

New Mexican Press Women members win awards at national level (Dec. 19) Southwest Senior

Editorial: Rio Rancho blows money fighting losing records cases (Dec. 21) Albuquerque Journal

Editorial: State ‘sunshine portal’ more cloudy than bright (Dec. 20) Albuquerque Journal

UNM gets external advice on public records (Dec. 19) Albuquerque Journal

Editorial: Roundhouse harassment (Dec. 18) Albuquerque Journal

Judge: Governor’s office violated open records law (Dec. 15) New Mexico Political Journal

Sunshine Portal keeps New Mexico in the dark (Dec. 11) Albuquerque Journal

Mayor asks AG for clarity on officers’ disciplinary reports (Dec. 10) Santa Fe New Mexican

It’s really simple: Just vote in public (Dec. 8) Albuquerque Journal

State won’t release records on sex harassment (Dec. 7) Albuquerque Journal

Sheriff needs to explain suspension (Dec. 7) Las Cruces Sun News

Council makes split decision on ranked choice voting (Dec. 4) Albuquerque Journal

Dona Ana County Sheriff Placed on Leave (Dec. 2) Las Cruces Sun News

NOVEMBER

Buffalo Thunder Slot Machine Makers Settle with State (Nov. 26) Santa Fe New Mexican

Krebs said he deleted UNM emails (Nov. 23) Albuquerque Journal

UNM Bungled Your Right To See Ex-AD’s Work Emails (Nov. 15) Albuquerque Journal

Silver City Daily Press Publisher to Lead State Newspapers (Nov. 13) Silver City Press

Searchlight New Mexico Hires Susan Boe (Nov. 11) Santa Fe New Mexican

Lawmakers propose limits on police videos to protect mentally ill (Nov. 9) Santa Fe New Mexican

OCTOBER

Open government group offers course on sunshine laws (October 30) – Albuquerque Journal

UNM’s Krebs encouraged staffers to purge emails (October 29) – Albuquerque Journal

Confusion reigns over public access to APD oversight communications (October 29) – Albuquerque Journal

Editorial: Rio Rancho gets schooled on its open records fees (October 28) – Albuquerque Journal

Local republicans look at state tax reform (October 27) – Silver City Daily Press and Independent

FOG class helps you request (or provide) public info like a pro (October 26) – New Mexico In Depth

AG: Rio Rancho overcharged for 911 records (October 21) – Albuquerque Journal

Developments in New Mexico (October 19) – National Center for Science Education

Overflow crowd opposes state’s proposed science standards (October 17) – NM Political Report

Governor Appoints2 to Stream Commission (October 13) – Albuquerque Journal

Land of Enchantment Lives Up to Name (October 10) – Las Cruces Sun-News

Enchanting Moments for a New Mexico Guest (October 8) – KRWG TV/FM

Sandra Fish Wind FOG Dixon Award (October 6) – New Mexico In Depth

NM Foundation For Open Government Hosts 2017 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards (October 4) – Los Alamos Daily Post

IT’s time for New Mexico to get serious about open data (October 2) – NMPolitics.net

Holes in NM Open Records Law block your right to know (October 1) – NMPolitics.net

SEPTEMBER

Legislators Concerned About Spaceport; Crime Is Focus of ABQ Mayor’s Race (September 29) – KUNM

First Amendment Awards Luncheon set for Wed. (September 29) – Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico Supreme Court Strikes Down Judges Gag Order (September 28) – U.S. News and World Report

Supreme Court tosses judge’s gag order (September 27) – Albuquerque Journal
Santolina Developer Funds Attack Ad, PNM to Add More Solar (September 23) – KUNM
Gov. Martinez appoints new judge to state Court of Appeals (September 22) – Santa Fe New Mexican

The governor’s ‘pit bull’ (September 9) – Santa Fe New Mexican

$9 Million Lawsuit Filed Against Education Department For 232 Violations Of IPRA Law (September 8) – Los Alamos Daily Post

AUGUST

Top-rated charter school threatens suit against Rio Rancho district (August 25) – Albuquerque Journal

How much secrecy does Spaceport America need? (August 24) – Las Cruces Sun-News

DA’s Office changes approach to providing records online (August 23) – KRQE News 13

Transparency Problems Plague Spaceport America (August 23) – Las Cruces Sun-News

Grow limits don’t hurt medical cannabis program, health chief testifies (August 15) – Santa Fe New Mexican

Rep. Martinez requests cancer center review (August 4) – Silver City Daily Press

July News

Closed County Commission meetings on road disputes draw criticism (July 11) Santa Fe New Mexican

Dozens gather on Saturday to talk transparency and UNM Athletics (July 9) New Mexico Political Report

Rio Rancho’s fees gouging residents for public records (July 8) Albuquerque Journal

JUNE 2017

Transparency in Crisis in New Mexico (June 28) Santa Fe Reporte

OUR VIEW: City’s records fees must be changed (June 27) Rio Rancho Observer

Group cautions Doña Ana County against possible law violation (June 26) Las Cruces Sun-News

NMFOG: City records policy breaks state’s IPRA law (June 17, 2017) Rio Rancho Observer

Reporter’s lawsuit alleges that Martinez administration withheld law firm billing records for a year (June 2, 2017) Santa Fe Reporter

State faces new open records suit over pay to guv’s favored attorney (June 2, 2017) New Mexico Political Report

Reporter sues over access to public records (June 2, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

MAY 2017

Editorial: Bad governance bogs down good water policies (May 22, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

Open government group calls for another vote on fluoride (May 19, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

State paid $3M to family of Santa Fe woman killed by officer (May 18, 2017) Santa Fe New Mexican

Spaceport America economic impact lacks documentation (May 16, 2017) New Channel

State Police Continues Its Clandestine Ways (May 11, 2017) Rio Grande Sun

City being sued over alleged retaliation (May 10, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

UNM Foundation refuses to release requested documents (May 8, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

State police release names of man, officers in fatal SFPD shooting (May 3, 2017) Santa Fe New Mexican

City attorney refuses to ID victim, officer in shooting (May 2, 2017) Santa Fe New Mexican

Police share little on fatal shooting near El Dorado (May 1, 2017) Santa Fe New Mexican

APRIL 2017

Judge’s orders on privacy in Abruzzo trust trial defended (April 28, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

Legislators criticized for closed-door vote on vetoes (April 17, 2017) Taos News

Free press lawsuit against New Mexico governor nears its end (April 14, 2017) Columbia Journalism Review

APS faces public records suit form mother of student (April 12, 2017) New Mexico Political Report

Legislators draw criticism for closed-door meeting on vetoes (April 14, 2017) Santa Fe New Mexican

Legislators vote to sue Martinez over vetoes (April 13, 2017) Santa Fe New Mexican

Vetoes of Bills to Increase Transparency and Disclosure, and to Consolidate Elections (April 8, 2017) KRWG

Bills Flounder on Both Transparency, Secrecy in New Mexico (April 10, 2017) US News

MARCH 2017

Sunshine Week Was A Little Cloudy (March 22, 2017) Rio Grande Sun

It’s Sunshine Week All Year Long At Los Alamos County’s Records Department (March 17) Los Alamos Daily Post

NMFOG helps let the sunshine in (March 15) Valencia County News-Bulletin

Proposal for state ethics commission advances to full Senate (March 15) – Santa Fe New Mexican

Committee tables diversion bill (March 15) Silver City Daily Press

Editorial: Legislature should keep sun shining on records (March 13) Albuquerque Journal

Shinning a light on government keeps officials accountable (March 12) – Alamogordo Daily News

Senate panel backs bill to keep some spaceport business dealings secret (March 11) Santa Fe New Mexican

My View: Sunshine laws are for everyone (March 10) Santa Fe New Mexican

Senate OKs shielding rape victims’ identities (March 6) Albuquerque Journal

This State’s Government Wants To Restrict Public’s Right To Know (March 6) Daily Caller

New bill designed to protect sexual assault victims passes the Senate (March 6, 2017) KOB TV

Senate OKs bill redacting victim names from police reports (March 6, 2017) Santa Fe New Mexican

Senate OKs shielding rape victims’ identities (March 6, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

Public’s right to know at center of debate (March 6, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

Panel discusses New Mexico Sunshine Law, IPRA (March 3) Daily Lobo

NM high court hears arguments on criminal records (March 2, 2017) Farmington Daily Times

Panel OKs plan to ease review of amendments (March 1, 2017) Albuquerque Journal

FEBRUARY 2017

Effort to make college research secret stalls over fears it goes too far

Bill seeks to shield victims and witnesses in rape cases and similar crimes

State Sen. wants parents to have access to investigations into school police

Doña Ana County loses $90K open records lawsuit

Deleted words in policy bill cause stir

Game and Fish files suit to fight Land Commissioner’s records request

Editorial: Ethics proposals nothing without transparency

Nothing Fog-gy about stand of new director of New Mexico Foundation for Open Government

Senate committee kills bill to keep government job applications secret

Competing ethics proposals raise questions of secrecy and oversight

Secretary of State’s Office to put finance reports by legislators, government online

Setting the standard: Journal’s longtime editor made a difference inside, outside the newsroom

Bill would conceal IDs of applicants for public jobs

Moses named editor of Albuquerque Journal; Walz becomes senior editor

Measure to create new ethics commission clears first hurdle

Editorial: NM Senate leader attacks government accountability

Senator aims to exclude public job applicants from open records law

Proposed bill aims to limite job appliction records request

New NMFOG boss a fan of more transparency

Opinion: City was right to reject new fee on records

The ‘politics’ of wrangling data on the Gila

Commentary: About that bill to keep most gov’t employee applications secret

Department of Health kept key relationships hidden from public (December 2016) Santa Fe Reporter

Santa Clara may have violated Open Meetings Act (December 2016) Silver City Daily Press

Editorial: Public has a right to know Public Defender’s expenses (November 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Public defender won’t disclose cost of homebuilder Malinowski’s defense (November 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Voters Will Choose New Secretary of State, District Attorney Next Tuesday (November 2016) Rio Grande Sun

City should nix plan for new records fee (October 2016) The Las Cruces Sun-News

AG says APS violated open records law. Now they’re still denying a mother the documents (October 2016) New Mexico Political Report

Police interview man concerning fatal hit-and-run (October 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

“Confidential Sources or Methods” – Judge says police can’t always claim confidentiality when blocking records requests without first giving some proof (October 2016) SF Reporter

Dixon Award Winner Makes Painful Points (October 2016) Rio Grande Sun

Open government losing its way in New Mexico (October 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

CAP absorbs Water Commission (October 2016) Silver City Daily Press

Las Cruces City Council unanimously approves Stuart Ed as new city manager (October 2016) KVIA News

Dems: GOP left public in dark on bills (October 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Come Celebrate Openness (September 2016) Rio Grande Sun

City may have broken law twice in search (September 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Councilors: No final decision on Las Cruces City Manager (September 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Does Las Cruces have a new city manager? (September 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Police academy board alters rules affecting public access (September 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

NMSU regents violated Open Meetings Act, sunshine group says (August 2016) NMPolitics.net

Police academy proposals raise transparency, access concerns (August 2016) The Associated Press

Policy academy proposed rules limit public disclosure, input (August 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Martinez: There will ‘for sure’ be a special session (August 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Judge orders Corizon to release settlement documents (August 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Corizon ordered to release settlement records (August 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Over $26K of taxpayer money used for governor’s trips (August 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Santa Fe, N.M., Launches Open Data Spending Portal (August 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Corrections Department withholds Corizon investigation (August 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

State must deal with budget woes in the open (August 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Nonprofit urges lawmakers to hold open budget talks to public (July 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Were Jail Inmates Victims Of Excessive Force? (July 2016) KUNM

Haussamen: NM budget committees should let in the public (July 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

AG: Gila diversion group violated state open meetings law (July 2016) Silver City Daily Press

Possible excessive force sparks investigations at county jail (July 2016) New Mexico In Depth

Annual FOG event to honor commitment to transparency (July 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Lawsuit asks release of inmates’ medical settlements (July 2016) Albuquerque Journal

‘New Mexican,’ two other entities file suit against Corizon (July 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

City’s new website designed to make records requests easier (July 2016) Albuquerque Journal

SF’s finance committee OKs changes in rules for City Council meetings (July 2016) Albuquerque Journal

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG) has selected four New Mexicans to receive NMFOG’s Dixon First Amendment Award (July 2016) Albuquerque Journal

N.M. book publisher sues Department of Education over reading-initiative records requests (July 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Rubel: Tough decisions for NM must be made in public (July 2016) The Las Cruces Sun-News

AG won’t release Griego investigation records (July 2016) the Albuquerque Journal

Prison health care company settles lawsuits for nearly $4.6M (June 2016) The Associated Press

Guv’s office doesn’t keep financial records of contingency fund (June 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

City, Nature Conservancy resolve water dispute (June 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Corizon paid $4.5M to settle inmate lawsuits (June 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Results of food aid inquiry kept secret (June 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

NMSU Regents promise better Open Meetings Act compliance (June 2016) NMPolitics.net

Mystery vote on water dispute raises transparency issues at City Hall (June 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Water dispute swells between Nature Conservancy, city (June 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

How one woman’s Kid quest evolved into a bigger records battle (June 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Courts grapple with guarding of personal information (June 2016) Taos News

Free transparency seminar set for Las Cruces (June 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Ex-governor Richardson pleads no contest in hit-and-run case (May 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Five more New Mexico agencies file responses in public records compliance audit (May 2016) KRWG

School board involved in order to fire coaches (May 2015) Silver City Daily Press

Las Cruces releases some city manager applications, withholds dozens more (May 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Are We Done Intervening? (May 2016) Rio Grande Sun

Public records audit details response of New Mexico offices (May 2016) Albuquerque Journal

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government says it took anywhere from two days to several weeks for many government offices to respond to public records requests and more than a dozen failed to respond at all (May 2016) Associated Press

Sandia Resort bans reporters from state GOP convention (May 2016) Albuquerque Journal

State cites $250 cost for social worker list (May 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Council may walk back rejection of solar farm (May 2016) Farmington Daily Times

Las Cruces city manager search to continue (May 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Former mayor’s old Facebook page should be reopened, says judge, because it may have public info (May 2016) American Bar Association Journal

Judge: Former mayor’s Facebook page considered public record (May 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

NM Supreme Court considering rules for closing courtrooms (May 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Former Alamogordo Mayor, City found in violation of public records act (April 2016) Alamogordo Daily News

Cannabis out of Court: Open records advocates withdraw lawsuit in the wake of the state agreeing to lift secrecy surrounding cannabis producers (April 2016) Santa Fe Reporter

Lawsuit Dismissed As New Mexico Reveals Names Of Marijuana Producers (April 2016) KRWG

DON CHAPMAN: Videotaped meetings enhance county transparency (April 2016) Rio Rancho Observer

State mum on inmate health care oversight (April 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Contract with state allows Corizon to keep its settlements secret (April 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

E-Mails Deleted In UNM Health Sciences Center Shakeup (April 2016) New Mexico In Depth

Regent left no paper trail for UNM Hospital shake-up (April 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

College Foundation Won’t Reveal Donors (April 2016) The Rio Grande Sun

Odds and Ends: NMFOG declares open meetings victory (April 2016) NM Political Report

A selection of Sunshine Week editorials (March 2016) Various media outlets

Appeals Court approves SIC settlements (March 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Victory for open meetings in Court of Appeals decision (March 2016) KRWG

LFC leader blasts closed subcommittee meeting on Medicaid cuts (March 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

After a bumpy start, AG’s office addressing sunshine-law complaints (March 2016) NMPolitics.net

Diversion scope still secret after bid award (March 2016) Silver City Daily Press

UNM Regents approve hospital oversight takeover (March 2016) NM Political Report

Legislative session casts shadow on Sunshine Week (March 2016) Albuquerque Journal

‘New Mexican’ fights Corrections Department to cover Old Main dig (March 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

NMFOG Offers State’s Only Online, Self-Paced Transparency Course (March 2016) The Cibola County Beacon

Ethics Enforcement Gap Remains Unaddressed (March 2016) KUNM

Money woes, political distractions kept ethics on the sidelines this session (Feb. 2016) New Mexico In Depth

State health dept. identifies medical pot producers (Feb. 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Health Dept. to list med-pot growers on website today (Feb. 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Talking budget, ethics legislation on KUNM (Feb. 2016) New Mexico Political Report

New Mexico adopts new rules for medical marijuana producers (Feb. 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Med pot transparency rules come with security concerns (Feb. 2016) New Mexico Political Report

Med Pot Secrecy to End: Health secretary says new cannabis confidentiality rules go into effect next week, grower information to be revealed (Feb. 2016) Santa Fe Reporter

Someone should turn on lights for Curry politics (Feb. 2016) Clovis News Journal

Editorial: Lawmakers must follow their own rules (Feb. 2016) Las Cruces Sun-News

Open-government group questions secret budget talks (Feb. 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

NM AG Promises more FOI enforcement (Jan. 2016) New Mexico In Depth

Commentary: Pulling Back The Curtain On State Government (Jan. 2016) New Mexico In Depth/KUNM

Visualizations, apps and open data: New Mexico can improve on making budget understandable (Jan. 2016) New Mexico In Depth

House targets what critics call Obama’s lack of openness (Jan. 2016) Albuquerque Journal

Our view: Whistleblower suit should be open (Jan. 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

New Mexico official: Illegal to keep names of marijuana producers secret (Jan. 2016) The Durango Herald

Gov. Martinez demanded public record, but she has been reluctant to give them up herself (Jan. 2016) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Fish over limit, Jade Helm make unusual news (Jan. 2016) Portales News-Tribune

Journal publisher emeritus dies at 69 (Dec. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Court asked to void SIC suit settlements (Dec. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Open records complaints take months, years to resolve (Dec. 2015) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Town of Taos to be more specific on executive session items (Dec. 2015) The Taos News

Priest sex abuse victim challenges ‘culture of secrecy’ (Dec. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

County Website Being Rebuilt (Dec. 2015) The Cibola County Beacon

State: Let’s clear the smoke about medical pot licenses (Nov. 2015) The Taos News

Santa Fe County Sheriff Requires Public Records Training (Nov. 2015) Rio Grande Sun

NM scores poorly on government accountability (Nov. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

State OKs plan for growing pot in Taos (Nov. 2015) The Taos News

Judge finds flaw in Gila diversion approval process (Nov. 2015) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Our view: Sheriff should release records (Nov. 2015) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Sheriff refuses to release unredacted report on married city cops (Nov. 2015) The Santa Fe New Mexican

County attorney-client meeting questioned (Oct. 2015) Clovis News Journal

New Mexico open government group marks 25th birthday (Oct. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

NYT investigative journalist: Albuquerque businesses should care about transparency (Oct. 2015) Albuquerque Business First

Clovis schools need to be transparent (Oct. 2015) Clovis News Journal

Faux Transparency: Citizens are on their own when trying to pull back the curtain on the government’s public records (Sept. 2015) Santa Fe Reporter

Cost of Public Records Denials on the Rise (Sept. 2015) ABQ Free Press

AG: Councilors who met with monitor didn’t violate meetings act (Sept. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

State ordered to pay legal fees to union in open records case (Sept. 2015) New Mexico Political Report

Lucky to live in an established democracy (Sept. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

How a watchdog journalist uncovered medical pot applicants (Sept. 2015) New Mexico Political Report

Information Pothole: State gives medical cannabis producers permission to expand operations but still keeps records secret (Aug. 2015) Santa Fe Reporter

Event illuminates ongoing fight against barriers to speech, press freedoms (Aug. 2015) The Santa Fe New Mexican

Artesia among top five small‐city websites (Aug. 2015) Artesia News

Rio Rancho, Santa Fe County tops in transparency audit of websites (Aug. 2015) NMPolitics.net

Open government group: Santa Fe County’s website is most transparent in state (Aug. 2015) Santa Fe New Mexican

FOG report: Las Cruces website in Top 5 for access to public information online (Aug. 2015) Las Cruces Sun-News

Task force tackles Ruidoso special events (Aug. 2015) Ruidoso News

State auditor quits using nonofficial email account (Aug. 2015) Albuquerque Journal

GOP criticizes auditor’s use of Gmail account for government business (Aug. 2015) The New Mexican

Bernalillo County agrees to release juvenile arrest information (July 2015) Albuquerque Journal

For the Record
Secrecy still abounds in the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program (July 2015) Santa Fe Reporter

County, media spar over release of teens’ records (July 2015) Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico medical marijuana producers’ names to be released (July 2015) Washington Times

Watchdog questions legality of closed ISC meeting (July 2015) Silver City Daily Press

Journal editor, 3 others win open-government award (July 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Citizens push for webcasting in Hobbs (June 2015) NMPolitics.net

Public excluded from Senior Olympics board meeting (June 2015) Silver City Sun-News

Bid to limit powers of police oversight board losing steam (June 2015) AP

City keeps tourism bidders secret (June 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Council approves new records retention policy (June 2015) Albuquerque Journal

LCPS school board resolution raises Open Meetings Act questions (June 2015) Las Cruces Sun-News

Journalists not happy with new attempted restrictions by court (June 2015) NM Political Report

SIC votes for transparency on settlement agreements (May 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Pot Applicants Kept Secret: Health Department shields public records (May 2015) SF Reporter

Albuquerque official holds private meetings with councilors (May 2015) AP

City: It’s legal to ban videos at personnel hearings (May 2015) Albuquerque Journal

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Transparency and the 2015 Legislative Session (April 2015) New Mexico In Depth – Editorial by FOG Executive Director Susan Boe

KOB continually barred from taking cameras into public meetings (April 2015) KOB-TV 4

Few financial ties found between private attorney contracts, AG campaigns (April 2015) Santa Fe New Mexican

Panel Discusses Journalism And Officer-Involved Shootings (April 2015) KRWG

PRC examiner tried to squelch testimony (March 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Walt Rubel: Panel Thursday will look at transparency after police shootings (March 2015) Las Cruces Sun-News

Open-government bills a casualty in New Mexico legislative session; watchdogs see progress (March 2015) Associated Press

Lawmakers move to guarantee New Mexicans right to comment at public meetings (March 2015) New Mexico Watchdog

New Mexico Legislature may require public comment periods (March 2015) New Mexico In Depth in Las Cruces Sun-News

New Mexico Supreme Court denies Senate vacancy petition (March 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Don’t put our sunshine laws in the shade (March 2015) Albuquerque Journal – editorial by FOG President Greg Williams

Political battle underway to find replacement for NM senator days before end of session (March 2015) KOBTV 4

Review: NM does a poor job offering access to records (March 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Sunshine Lights the Way for Good Government (March 2015) KRWG – editorial by FOG president Greg Williams

Freedom of information, access issues in all 50 states (March 2015) The Washington Post

Supreme Court Narrows IPRA Damages (March 2015) SF Reporter

Private Email Use a Source of Friction in Many Statehouses (March 2015) The New York Times

Bill would seal internal statements in government probes (March 2015) Albuquerque Journal

2015 Legislature: Transparency in Government (March 2015) New Mexico In Focus

New Mexico House committee advances bill requiring super PACs to report names of donors (March 2015) Farmington Daily Times

Campaign finance disclosure bill OK’d in House committee (March 2015) Albuquerque Journal

Judge: New Mexico governor’s calendars aren’t public record (March 2015) Las Cruces Sun-News