Records show that the contractor that struck a gas line in Sun Prairie, causing a massive explosion, was not registered to do business in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
A coalition of government transparency advocates have asked Wisconsin appeals court judges to reject a state lawmaker’s argument that he isn’t required to provide records electronically. Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Vandermeuse’s response to the coalition argued that Lueders’ request for the records “in electronic form, as an email folder or on a flash drive or CD” was “ambiguous” and not specifically for the files in native format.
She also wrote that the claim records should be “substantially as good” as the original isn’t the proper standard, because it’s not found in state statutes. It originates from the Attorney General’s Compliance Guide and an Executive Order by Gov. Scott Walker — sources that “merely offer guidance.”
Attorney General Brad Schimel has hired a consultant to identify ways to speed up evidence testing at Wisconsin crime labs, as criticism mounts over delays, the Associated Press reported. A DOJ report obtained by the AP through an open records request shows turnaround times for the testing of DNA, guns, tool marks and drug compositions have grown dramatically since Schimel took office in January 2015.
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association and other advocates for government transparency praised a unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on Thursday that found the state’s open meetings law applies to committees that take action on behalf of governmental entities.
The Wisconsin Openness Report has returned as an all-new e-newsletter, highlighting top-notch coverage by WNA members of open meetings and freedom of information issues from around the state.
34 Schroeder Ct., Suite 220
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 283-7620