Knoxville News Sentinel Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

3 Sep, 2014

Knox County judge reverses camera ban in courtroom

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T08:15:28-05:00September 3, 2014|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: camera ban, courtroom access, Knoxville News Sentinel, Rick Hollow, tv camera ban, WBIR|0 Comments

The Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR challenged a camera ban in the courtroom of a newly elected chancellor, and got a reversal. The judge had refused the newspaper's request to photograph his first day on the bench. The newspaper made the request under the Supreme Court Rule 30, which governs media coverage in courtrooms. The rule basically allows a judge an ability to limit or refuse media coverage in certain circumstances "to (i) control the conduct of the proceedings before the court; (ii) maintain decorum and prevent distractions; (iii) guarantee the safety of any party, witness, or juror; and (iv) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause..." There [...]

9 Aug, 2014

Why refusing to release a police incident report is a problem

By Deborah Fisher|2014-08-09T15:20:16-05:00August 9, 2014|Categories: crime records|Tags: incident reports, Knoxville News Sentinel, Oak Ridge police|0 Comments

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported today that Oak Ridge officials have refused to release a police incident report in a case in which two officers fired four gunshots at a suicidal woman. This is the second time in recent weeks that journalist Bob Fowler has reported that the police department has refused to give media a copy of an incident report in a situation involving or possibly involving police. The other was in a case in which a woman said she was sexually assaulted by someone who appeared to be a police officer or security guard. In both instances, the Oak Ridge police released some information through a press release. [...]

14 Jul, 2014

Newspapers delve into alleged Sunshine Law violations in zoning vote

By Deborah Fisher|2014-07-14T16:10:21-05:00July 14, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: economic development records, Greene County, Herbert Moncier, Knoxville News Sentinel, litigation, open meetings violation|0 Comments

The Knoxville News Sentinel in its Sunday edition digs into a lawsuit alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act in Greene County when approval was given to rezone land for a company that planned to make components for industrial explosives. The Greeneville Sun has also covered the lawsuit involving US Nitrogen extensively as well as reported stories on the plant's construction, application for permits and environmental opposition. Its stories can be found at this link. The Knoxnews.com article is reprinted here, with permission. You can read TCOG's column about the state's open government laws regarding economic development here. By Hugh G. Willett Special to the News Sentinel GREENEVILLE — The future [...]

18 Jun, 2014

Knoxville News Sentinel: Oak Ridge police deny access to incident report

By Deborah Fisher|2014-06-18T15:29:07-05:00June 18, 2014|Categories: crime records|Tags: crime records, Knoxville News Sentinel, Oak Ridge police, Office of Open Records Counsel|0 Comments

The Knoxville News Sentinel explores whether police incident reports, also called offense reports, should be subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act and open for public view. The story was sparked when Oak Ridge police denied the News Sentinel's request to view an incident report related to an alleged sexual assault of a woman by someone "who appeared to be a police officer or security guard." Police say the alleged crime is under investigation so the report is protected from disclosure. TCOG is quoted, as well as Office of Open Records Counsel Elisha Hodge. Here's a link to the story.

29 May, 2014

News-Sentinel: Adequate public notice of meeting at issue in Loudon County

By Deborah Fisher|2014-05-29T14:19:07-05:00May 29, 2014|Categories: adequate public notice|Tags: Knoxville News Sentinel, Loudon County, public notice|0 Comments

The Office of Open Records Counsel told Louden County it appears to have violated the Tennessee Open Meetings Act when it held a budget committee meeting earlier this month without giving adequate public notice. A local activist filed the complaint with the office, triggering the review and a letter to the county. Here is a copy of the Knoxville News-Sentinel story, reprinted with permission: By Hugh G. Willett Wednesday, May 28, 2014 LOUDON — A meeting of the Loudon County salary and budget committee earlier this month may have been held in violation of the state open meetings law, according to the state comptroller’s office. During the meeting, which was [...]