Attorney General Griffin names new Deputy Attorney General for Opinions and FOIA

Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement announcing the promotion of Senior Assistant Attorney General Noah Watson to Deputy Attorney General for Opinions and FOIA: “Today I named Noah Watson as Deputy Attorney General of the Opinions and FOIA Division. Noah previously served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Special Litigation Section of…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffMarch 21, 20240Comments

Initiated act would strengthen FOIA

Arkansas has long had one of the strongest freedom of information laws in the nation, but keeping it effective has been a struggle for news media and citizens organizations. That’s why Arkansas Citizens for Transparency, a bipartisan coalition, has embarked on a two-pronged initiative for the Nov. 5 general election ballots. The two proposals are…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffMarch 12, 20240Comments

Column Elections Government News

FOIA amendment would reduce ‘tweaking’ of law

During a recent appearance before a local civic club, two candidates for a state House of Representatives seat, one the incumbent and the other a former representative, argued against making Freedom of Information a part of the Arkansas Constitution. They said the people’s right to public records and meetings needs to be “tweaked” on occasion.…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffMarch 11, 20240Comments

Feature Government News

New ballot language submitted for proposed changes to Arkansas Freedom of Information Act

A nonpartisan group of government transparency advocates has revised its proposal for a citizen-initiated act that would alter the state’s Freedom of Information Act. On Thursday, Arkansas Citizens for Transparency again submitted ballot language for the proposed 2024 initiative. Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected a previous iteration of the popular name and ballot title on Monday, saying…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffDecember 28, 20230Comments

Government News

Arkansas AG rejects proposed ballot measure meant to add clarity to Freedom of Information Act

Proposed changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act aren’t sufficient to appear on the 2024 statewide ballot, Attorney General Tim Griffin wrote in a Monday opinion. Griffin rejected the proposed ballot title and popular name for the Arkansas Government Transparency Act a week after rejecting a companion proposal for a constitutional amendment. Both proposals…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffDecember 20, 20230Comments

Feature Government

Citizen-initiated government transparency act proposal submitted to Arkansas Attorney General

The proposed act is a companion to a constitutional amendment draft submitted last week; both would broaden access public meetings and government records Arkansas government transparency advocates proposed a ballot measure on Monday that would define a public meeting and create a special body to help citizens denied access to public records. Arkansas Citizens for…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffDecember 6, 20230Comments

Government News

First ballot language submitted for Arkansas government transparency amendment

A government transparency group took the first formal step Monday to refer a proposed constitutional amendment to the 2024 ballot that would prevent the state Legislature from making government less open without a statewide vote. Arkansas Citizens for Transparency submitted a proposed ballot title and popular name for the “Arkansas Government Transparency Amendment” to Attorney…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffNovember 29, 20230Comments

Government News

Whistleblower’s attorney claims Arkansas governor’s office altered, withheld public records

An anonymous whistleblower claims Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office improperly altered and withheld public records related to ongoing scrutiny of the office’s spending, according to the whistleblower’s attorney. Rogers-based attorney Tom Mars sent a letter Friday to state Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, offering his client’s testimony and documents to aid a requested legislative audit.…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffOctober 2, 20230Comments

Column Government News

Letter to the Editor: Enacting a constitutional amendment to strengthen FOIA

In 1989 I ran against then-Secretary of State, Bill McCuen. During our campaign I and others brought up some issues of his misdeeds, so he had his computer erased by an expert. However, the FBI had the means to resurrect the hard drive and this sent poor Bill off to prison. I feel Governor Huckabee…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffSeptember 25, 20230Comments

Feature Government News

Arkansas officials’ security records shielded from public under altered FOIA law

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law Thursday altering the state’s Freedom of Information Act, one of her stated goals of the special legislative session she called for this week. Senate Bill 10, which passed the Senate on Wednesday and the House on Thursday, shields from public access all records and communications concerning the…

ByMHO Newsroom StaffSeptember 15, 20230Comments