ICOG News - Indiana Coalition for Open Government

Governor Braun appoints Brittney Long as the new Public Access Counselor

In a press release from October 2nd, Governor Mike Braun announced that Brittney Long will be the new Public Access Counselor. “Brittney has the legal credentials and passion for public service that makes her an excellent fit for the job,” said Gov. Braun. “As our next PAC, Brittney will bring...

IndyStar: Media orgs threaten legal action over delays in Indiana’s public access office

Grace Randolph. 2026-08-05. Indianapolis Star. You can read the letter from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press here. Update: Gov. Mike Braun released the following statement after the initial publication of the story: "Gov. Braun has long been an advocate for transparency. That is...

IndyStar: Under Braun’s watchdog, government secrecy grows harder to challenge

Cate Charron & Grace Randolph. 2026-07-24. Indianapolis Star Indiana’s public access counselor is supposed to ensure transparency in government. But under Gov. Mike Braun’s appointee, Jennifer Ruby, it has become far more difficult for Hoosiers to challenge government secrecy, an IndyStar...

Indiana Public Access Counselor, Jennifer Ruby, Publishes First Two Opinions

You can read the first two (and more in the future) 2025 Advisory Opinions from Indiana's new Public Access Counselor, Jennifer Ruby: 25-FC-00B: Alleged Violation of the Access to Public Records Act by the New Carlisle Town Council 25-FC-003: Alleged Violation of the Open Door Law by the Green...

Who you gonna call? 260-ASK-ICOG!

We are excited to launch our public access (ODL, APRA, and civics phone help line), 260-ASK-ICOG. Staffed by ICOG volunteers, we'll do our best to assist you with your questions related to open government in the Hoosier state. Currently being explored as a pilot project, we will re-evaluate the...

News from Indiana

Companies line up to bid on Grand Park: 18, some in central Indiana, want to own or operate sports campus

May 1, 2022

Carloni, Brittany. 2022. Companies line up to bid on grand park: 18, some in Central Indiana, want to own or operate sports campus. Indianapolis Star, Apr 27, 2022. (accessed May 1, 2022). Eighteen companies have informed Westfield they are interested in either...

Court rules that Fairfield Township must hand over documents to J&C, effective immediately

Apr 30, 2022

Padilla, Noe. 2022. Court rules that Fairfield Township must hand over documents to J&C, effective immediately. Journal and Courier, Apr 30, 2022. (accessed April 30, 2022). LAFAYETTE, Ind. — After eight months of the Journal & Courier requesting documents...

‘Profiteering, cold-hearted’ nursing home owners should be investigated, congressman says

Apr 24, 2022

Fraser, Jayme, and Nick Penzenstadler. 2022. Lawmaker urges nursing home probe: Rush calls out 'profiteering, cold-hearted' owners and asks congress to act. Star Press, Apr 09, 2022. (accessed April 24, 2022). "If (REITs) own the real estate, then they should not be...

News from ICOG

Welcome to our website!

Jun 1, 2013

Thanks for stopping by for a visit to ICOG's online home. The website gives you access to information specific to Indiana's public records and meetings laws. But it also connects you to a national network of open government coalitions under the umbrella of the...

Dispatch from New Orleans: A report from the annual FOI Summit

Jun 1, 2013

New ICOG board member Kimberly Brown-Harden attended the recent FOI Summit in New Orleans. The annual gathering, hosted by the National Freedom of Information Coalition, brings together advocates from around the country to discuss the latest developments in open...

ICOG, SPJ host Sunshine Week Program

Mar 11, 2013

The Indiana Coalition for Open Government and the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional journalists hosted a public program to discuss the problems and possibilities of freedom of information laws. The discussion, held March 16 at the Nora branch...

All the News

Bloomberg: Meet the Man (Jason Leopold) Who Sues the Government for Information

Jul 20, 2023

Jason Leopold is an investigative journalist at Bloomberg News who aggressively uses the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to push for greater transparency and hold power to account. His document-based reporting has led to countless scoops, federal investigations and...

Indy Star: AG Todd Rokita’s office requires an NDA. It might threaten free speech

Jul 19, 2023

Magdaleno, Johnny. 2023. AG Todd Rokita's office requires an NDA. It might threaten free speech. The Indianapolis Star, July 19th, 2023. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s employees are signing nondisclosure agreements that could cost them $25,000 if they share...

The Indiana Citizen: OPINIONATED DELAY: Staffing change in public access counselor’s office creates backlog of open record decisions

Jul 15, 2023

Odendahl. Marilyn. 2023. OPINIONATED DELAY: Staffing change in public access counselor’s office creates backlog of open record decisions. The Indiana Citizen, July 10, 2023. In recent years, the Indiana public access counselor had kept a steady pace of posting...