donal brown

Fox loses FOIA suit when judge rules regional banks not government agencies

A federal judge rules that Fox had no right to bail-out documents from the Federal Reserve Board since the documents were exempted under a provision protecting trade secrets and confidential information of non-government agencies. -DB Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press July 31, 2009 By Hannah Bergman A federal judge ruled against Fox News Thursday in a key Freedom of Information Act case involving bailout-related documents held by the Federal Reserve Board. Judge Alvin K.

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Chico: Newspaper editor claims memo violates open government act

Chico Enterprise-Record editor David Little argues that in their emotion-charged opposition to Wal-Mart, the public should not allow the city council to violate the Brown Act by arguing against the development outside official meetings. -DB Chico Enterprise-Record Commentary August 2, 2009 By David Little So Jon Luvaas tried before a meeting to sway his fellow planning commissioners to vote his way. What’s the big deal? Well, it is a big deal. Most people get that. Those

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No gag order in Chauncey Bailey murder trial

 In the Chauncey Bailey murder, Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson released 800 pages of grand jury testimony and refused defense pleas to impose a gag order on lawyers. -DB The Oakland Tribune  July 31, 2009  By Thomas Peele OAKLAND — A judge on Thursday afternoon refused to impose a gag order on lawyers and others involved in the Chauncey Bailey murder case and also ordered the release of 800 pages of grand jury testimony. Attorneys representing

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L.A. City Council tries to silence gadflies

The Los Angeles City Council passed a rule saying that members of the public who engage in “inappropriate” behavior will be thrown out of council meetings without warning. -DB LA Weekly  July 30, 2009  By Patrick Range McDonald In a move bound to anger gadflies across Los Angeles, the L.A. City Council has approved tough gagging rules to keep members of an apparently disorderly public from speaking too much of what’s on their minds. The unanimously

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Parents win round in suit over suspension over ‘threat’

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted parents another hearing in their quest to defend their son’s free speech rights after he was suspended for an alleged threat written in crayon in response to a class assignment. -DB First Amendment Center July 29, 2009 By David L. Hudson Jr. A lower federal court jumped the gun in dismissing a lawsuit filed by the parents of an elementary school student suspended for allegedly scribbling a threat

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