The Florida Sunshine Review spotlights the latest news on Florida open government laws and freedom of information (FOI) issues, with special emphasis on public records and open meetings developments. For similar Florida items plus mass media news, see the monthly Brechner Report from the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida.

January 30, 2009

Miami Herald, by Alex Leary: Florida House Speaker Sansom probe now involves Northwest Florida State College Trustees …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Kim Hackett: City of Venice places new limits on officials’ use of e-mails …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune editorial: City of Venice wisely enacts new rules to protect and preserve electronic public records …

January 26, 2009

---

Associated Press, by Brendan Farrington: Commission on Open Government OKs proposals to Gov. Charlie Crist that will be taken up by state lawmakers …
Fort Myers News-Press: Florida attorney general criticizes meeting involving House Speaker Ray Sansom and community college board …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Kim Hackett: Sunshine Law is being revamped to keep pace with technology advances …
Daytona Beach News-Journal, by Jim Saunders: More public access urged about government activities in Florida …
Ocala Star-Banner, by Lloyd Dunkelberger: Policy changes would give public more access to government records …

January 25, 2009

---

Tallahassee Democrat, by Bill Cotterell: Fees for open records spark division among members of the state’s Commission on Open Government …
Naples Daily News, by Liam Dillon: Florida Gulf Coast University bypasses open records law in selecting firm for school’s highest-profile project …
Palm Beach Post, by Joel Engelhardt: Some Palm Beach County commissioners just don’t get that the Sunshine Law means what it says …
Tallahassee Democrat edtiorial: Obama’s public records order echoes moves by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist …
Bradenton Herald, by Sylvia Lim: Court asked to settle dispute involving Manatee County and man seeking up to 6,000 names, addresses and telephone numbers of employees and dependents …

January 18, 2009

---

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Ihosavani Rodriguez: City of Hollywood’s ID procedures for attending public meetings skirts open government laws …
Tallahassee Democrat, by Nic Corbett: Tallahassee man faces criminal charge after posting information online about a Tallahassee Police Department officer …

January 17, 2009

---

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times, by Alex Leary: Florida attorney general looking into public records law issues regarding Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom …
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times, by Alex Leary: “Minutes” surface from March meeting of House Speaker Ray Sansom and Northwest Florida College officials …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Kim Hackett: Florida’s top law enforcement agency investigating potential Sunshine Law violations involving Venice city officials …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Kim Hackett: Sarasota activist says Venice city officials held back on turning over all e-mails she requested …
The Florida Times-Union, by Tia Mitchell: Does a glass door block the Sunshine at Jacksonville City Council? …
Tallahassee Democrat editorial: Florida’s state lawmakers enjoy cloud cover amid Sunshine rules they apply to others …
South Florida Times, by Elgin Jones: Dania Beach city commissioners may have violated Sunshine Law with private discussions …
Cape Coral Daily Breeze, by McKenzie Cassidy: Interpretation of “special services fee” clouds public records law …

January 12, 2009

---

Miami Herald, by Amy Sherman: Dania commissioners’ e-mails may have violated the Sunshine Law …
Florida Times-Union, by David Hunt: Florida’s Sunshine Law under review in 2009 …
Highlands Today, by Jim Konkoly: Man sues Highlands County over public records request …
Northwest Florida Daily News, by Kelli Hernandez: Northwest Florida State College president says meeting wasn’t meant to be kept private regarding state House speaker …

December 22, 2007

---

Fort Myers News-Press editorial: News-Press receives $105,000 in attorneys fees relating to FEMA public records release …
*Fort Pierce Tribune, by Alexi Howk: Fort Pierce Mayor Bob Benton, two others accused of Sunshine Law violations (*free registration required) …
*Fort Pierce Tribune, by Alexi Howk:Sunshine Law allegations against Benton, others likely to be hard to prove, State Attorney’s Office says (*free registration required) …
*Naples Daily News, by Katherine Lewis: Former Collier County Schools Superintendent Ray Baker’s Sunshine Law lawsuit heads to court (*free registration required) …

December 17, 2007

---

Tampa Tribune editorial: Gov. Crist shouldn’t let CSX Railroad derail open government …
St. Petersburg Times, by Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler: University of Florida clash pits free speech against faith …
Tampa Tribune editorial: Suppressing speech on campus hurts University of Florida’s prestige …

December 13, 2007

---

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Andy Reid: Everglades cleanup could dodge public records laws …
Palm Beach Post editorial:Curb SLAPP court harrassment of development critics …
Gainesville Sun, by Jack Stripling: State Attorney General Bill McCollum blasts University of Florida over free speech …
Tallahassee Democrat, by Bill Cotterell: Public records access takes leap into 21st century …
Tampa Bay Newspapers Beach Beacon, by Bob McClure: Former Reddington Beach Town commissioner Sam Maniotes awarded fees after winning a public records-related lawsuit against the city …

December 10, 2007

---

Sarasota Herald-Tribune editorial: State, google will make public records easier to find …
Daytona Beach News-Journal, by Mark Harper: Freedom of speech limited at University of Central Florida …

December 9, 2007

---

Tampa Bay 10, by Mike Deeson: Sunshine violation may have occurred at Devil Rays news conference …
Bradenton Herald, by Nicholas Azzara: Activist from First Amendment Foundation shines light on state Sunshine Law …
Palm Beach Post, by Larry Keller: Taunts prompt conservative columnist Ann Coulter to get address of her Palm Beach home removed from property appraiser’s records …
Palatka Daily News: Palatka city commissioners reverse stand, allow reporters in interviews …
DeLand-Deltona Beacon, by Pat Hatfield:DebaryPOP Web site by bloggers turned elected city officials will continue …
Naples Daily News editorial: State Attorney’s Office decision to file non-criminal charge of violating state’s open records law against Marco Island City Council member sends important message…
Palm Beach Post editorial: Crist opens up Florida with open government moves, including executive order on Open Government Bill of Rights …
Computerworld, by Linda Rosencrance: State of Florida, Google team up to make it easier to access government Web sites …
Lakeland Ledger editorial: Florida, Google deal should help untangle Florida’s Web …