WNA Member Content

Court ruling kneecaps records law

For four decades, courts have held that plaintiffs in open records lawsuits are entitled to costs and legal fees — whether they win the case or "voluntarily" turn over the records after being sued.

But last month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upended the latter path to recovery — a move that open government advocates worry will be a blow to transparency. In the most recent "Your Right to Know" column from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Wisconsin Transparency Project president Tom Kamenick looks to what might be next in the case. 

Party lines weren’t that fun

The world of communication is now in our pocket thanks to the marvels of technology. Our powerful smartphones have so many bells, whistles, gadgets and apps that the actual concept of being a telephone seems like an afterthought.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association