ICOG News - Indiana Coalition for Open Government

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...

The Indiana Capital Chronicle: Indiana public access office goes quiet amid turnover

Leslie Bonilla Muñiz. 2025-05-30. Indiana Capital Chronicle. Tippecanoe County resident Pamela Frazee just wants to know if her messages went through. Phone calls to Indiana’s Office of the Public Access Counselor (PAC) route directly to a voicemail box and aren’t returned. Emails — including...

Indiana Debate Commission: Governor candidates to participate in televised debate on October 24, 2024

Archived Debate The Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian candidates for Indiana governor have agreed to meet Oct. 24 in a televised debate organized by the Indiana Debate Commission. The debate among Mike Braun (R), Jennifer McCormick (D), and Donald Rainwater (L) will be broadcast live at 7-8...

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Recording Public Meetings is a Right

Oct 15, 2017

Here is another highlight from Indiana Public Access Counselor's opinion archive from April 20th, 2017 (17-INF-05) regarding the recording of public meetings: It is my understanding in the Huntertown Town Hall there exists a sign that says, “No Audio or Video...

County restricts use of records; Ordinance won’t affect information used by landlords

Apr 17, 2004

An ordinance that restricts the use of public records for commercial solicitation purposes has been approved by the St. Joseph County Council. The measure passed easily, but not until after assuring landlords' access to county records to identify prospective tenants...

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Dakota Free Press: Noem Attacks Fellow Republican for Sponsoring Open Records Legislation

Jan 30, 2021

Cory, Allen Heidelberger. 2021. Noem attacks fellow republican for sponsoring open records legislation. Dakota Free Press [BLOG] (Jan 29), (accessed January 30, 2021). But knowing they will lose any policy debate over the Governor’s activities, Team Noem turns...

Orlando Sentinel: DeSantis tried to hide info on virus Taxpayers ended up footing the legal bills for lawsuit involving access to public record

Jan 30, 2021

DeSantis tried to hide info on virus taxpayers ended up footing the legal bills for lawsuit involving access to public record. 2021. Orlando Sentinel, Jan 20, 2021. (accessed January 30, 2021). Last month, the state of Florida had to fork over $7,500 of your money to...

Fox59: 40+ Hoosier organizations push lawmakers for more transparency

Jan 4, 2021

Politics. by: Kayla Sullivan. Posted: Dec 10, 2020 / 07:00 PM EST / Updated: Dec 11, 2020 INDIANAPOLIS– More than 40 organizations are pushing lawmakers to make it easier to participate in the legislative process from home.The group argues COVID-19 will stop many...