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10 May, 2023

Tennessee Star editor Leahy sues FBI for withholding Covenant shooter manifesto

By |2023-05-10T11:45:36-05:00May 10, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Tennessee Star editor Michael Patrick Leahy and his company, Star News Digital Media, Inc., filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the FBI for withholding the Covenant School shooter's manifesto under the Freedom of Information Act. The FBI denied access to the manifesto, which it received from Nashville police, saying that it and other writings by the shooter were involved in a "pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding" and that release could interfere with a law enforcement proceeding.

4 May, 2023

Police say Covenant School parents may intervene in public records case, judge delays hearing

By |2023-05-04T15:26:53-05:00May 4, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

The Davidson County chancellor overseeing the public records case over the Covenant School shooter's manifesto has moved the initial hearing in the case five weeks to June 8. Police say in their motion that this would allow time for parents of students at The Covenant School to intervene and that some parents have said they oppose release of the shooter's writings.

29 Apr, 2023

Public records lawsuit filed to force release of Covenant School shooter’s manifesto

By |2023-05-08T12:06:44-05:00April 29, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

A Hendersonville resident has filed a lawsuit to force the Nashville Police Department to release the Covenant School shooter's manifesto and other writings, saying that Tennessee law does not allow police to withhold material that is not part of pending or contemplated criminal action.

26 Apr, 2023

Is school shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘manifesto’ an open record under the Tennessee Public Records Act?

By |2023-04-26T16:40:22-05:00April 26, 2023|Categories: crime records|Tags: , , , |2 Comments

School shooter Audrey Hale's manifesto would not fall under the so-called "investigative exemption" to Tennessee's public records law because this exemption is only available when there is an investigation into possible criminal charges. Here, the shooter is dead. Police have said she acted alone. So if there are no other suspects to charge, there is no investigation that could lead to criminal charges against someone.

11 Apr, 2023

House, Senate pass bill requiring clear agendas for local legislative body meetings

By |2023-04-11T11:21:31-05:00April 11, 2023|Categories: adequate public notice, Legislature, meeting agenda, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

The House and Senate have unanimously approved a bill that will improve the timeliness and clarity of the agendas of local legislative bodies. The bill now heads to the governor's desk and will become law once signed. The bill requires that agendas be available to the public 48 hours in advance of the meeting and that they "reasonably describe matters to be deliberated and acted upon during the meeting." Several lawmakers signed onto the bill. Tennessee Coalition for Open Government brought the bill to the legislative sponsors after a series of court opinions saying that no agenda was required by the Open Meetings Act.

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