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

Hamilton Co. mayors’ travel, costs in 2021: Fishers spent most with Fadness’ trip to Italy

Apr 24, 2022

Carloni, Brittany. 2022. Hamilton co. mayors' travel, costs in 2021: Fishers spent most with fadness' trip to italy. Indianapolis Star, Mar 27, 2022. (accessed April 24, 2022). The same month Westfield Mayor Andy Cook spent $16 on parking at a west Ohio Street garage...

Journal & Courier files suit in pursuit of Fairfield Township trustee’s records

Apr 24, 2022

Walker, Douglas. 2022. Journal & courier files suit in pursuit of trustee's records. Journal & Courier, Mar 18, 2022. (accessed April 24, 2022). LAFAYETTE — The Journal & Courier on Thursday filed suit against Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles in...

IndyStar: Access counselor-Lawmaker violated Open Door Law during hearing on transgender sports bill

Feb 10, 2022

Herron, Arika. 2022. Access counselor: Open door law violated at transgender bill hearing. Indianapolis Star, Feb 10, 2022. (accessed February 10, 2022). An Indiana lawmaker violated the state's Open Door Law when he told the public they could not record a General...

News from ICOG

Access Boot Camp: Register Now!

Aug 27, 2007

Thursday, November 8, 2007 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Indiana State Bar Association One Indiana Square, 5th Floor Conference Center Downtown Indianapolis (corner of Ohio and Pennsylvania streets) Join us for a premier access event in downtown Indianapolis. Speakers...

All the News

2023 National FOI Summit, Save the Date: October 3rd-5th

Jun 26, 2023

Save the date for the 2023 FOI Summit! The National FOI Summit returns this October, bringing together journalists, attorneys, government transparency advocates and others focused on state open records laws. The Summit, to be held online using the Whova...

WRTV Indianapolis: School board member aims to boost transparency after filing her own complaint

Jun 25, 2023

Kenney, Kara. 2023. School board member aims to boost transparency after filing her own complaint. WRTV. June 16, 2023. A West Lafayette mother and school board member is aiming to improve transparency and the public’s access to information. Click on the image to play...

Better Government Association Statement: Supreme Court FOIA Ruling (Chapman v. Chicago) Limits Transparency; Significantly Broadens Exemptions to FOIA

May 19, 2023

A unanimous Illinois Supreme Court ruling yesterday in a case called Chapman v. Chicago reverses a lower court’s ruling and blocks plaintiff Matt Chapman’s open records request for information from the City of Chicago’s Department of Finance. The court’s ruling...