Colonial Beach Mayor tramples reporter’s first amendment rights, Tactics are tantamount to prior restraint
August 20, 2008: Shortly after noon on Aug. 15, Journal reporter Anne Congdon was asked to vacate the premises of the Colonial Beach Town Hall.
While the reporter was researching documents to provide historical background data for several stories for the Journal Press, Mayor Frederick C. (Fred) Rummage invited her into his office. And then he somewhat irreverently invited her to vacate the premises.
The public official that recently won office on a platform focusing on open and transparent government was disturbed that Congdon was reviewing public records. Read the full article here.
Oversight leads to illegal city meeting
August 15, 2008: Fredericksburg officials say they're going to improve communication among city departments after an oversight led them to call for an illegal closed session at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
Shortly before midnight, at the end of Tuesday's meeting, council members approved a closed session "to discuss two prospective businesses where no previous announcement has been made" about those businesses' plans to expand or locate in the city. Read the full article here.
VA. LAW: Judge hears arguments in privacy advocate’s lawsuit
August 14, 2008: A federal judge said Thursday that it won’t be easy deciding whether a new Virginia law barring individuals from posting Social Security numbers on the Internet is unconstitutional.
“This case presents some new questions and some hard questions,” District Judge Robert E. Payne said at the conclusion of a nearly three-hour hearing on privacy advocate B.J. Ostergren’s lawsuit. He said he would issue a ruling soon but was not specific. Read the full article here.
Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority
August 10, 2008: Freedom of information isn't free. The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is paying the price, unexpectedly, spending thousands of dollars to meet requests for open records regarding a controversial construction project. Read the full article here.
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