The Murder of Tiger Dowdell: More questions than answers
A KBI case file leaves one prevailing question which may ultimately be lost to history: Why did Lawrence Police Officer William Garrett shoot and kill Rick “Tiger” Dowdell on July 16, 1970?
This week (and every other), let the sunshine in to illuminate Kansas government (Column)
“There could be no better time to observe National Sunshine Week, a time for citizens and elected officials alike to recommit themselves to the ideals of open government.”
Kansas panel balances transparency, costs in open records act update
A Kansas Senate panel is considering how best to proceed with amending the state’s open records act to increase transparency without triggering unintended consequences and placing an undue burden on municipalities.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Here’s the offer that Lawrence’s next police chief accepted
Incoming Lawrence Chief of Police Rich Lockhart will start his job with an annual salary of $156,035, expenses for moving, and a vacation perk on par with city staff employed 6-10 years.
Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3
A private company asked Kansas to hide public information, so the state obliged
Emails between an auditing firm and Kansas show how quickly the state bent to the company’s wishes to keep information out of public view. Experts say this reflects a disturbing national trend.
Crysta Henthorne / KCUR 89.3
Kansas defends its decision to redact whole pages of a $100K drug spending report
A state agency is defending its blacking out of much of a report commissioned with tax dollars. It says it was accommodating a contractor that argued the redactions were needed to protect trade secrets.
Kylie Cameron / KMUW
State, local officials continue to investigate death of Wichita teen at juvenile facility
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Bureau of Investigations continue to investigate the death of a teen who died while in custody earlier this week.
KU Libraries Exhibits
The KBI declined to release its case file on Rick ‘Tiger’ Dowdell’s 1970 killing by Lawrence police; here’s why it matters (Analysis)
The KBI will, at least temporarily, continue to keep in the dark records that could finally shed light on a case of police violence that has been imprinted in the fabric of Lawrence for exactly 51 years.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas judge to decide whether secretary of state can hide public records by altering software
An attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas says the state’s open records law might as well not exist if Secretary of State Scott Schwab is allowed to keep public information hidden by reconfiguring software.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Supreme Court dissent: Open records decision mimics Lucy pulling ball from Charlie Brown
The Kansas Supreme Court dealt with a decision by the Kansas Court of Appeals by focusing on jurisdictional issues without defining boundaries of the Kansas Open Records Act as it pertained to public access to audio records of district court proceedings.
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