New England First Amendment Coalition

Push to audit Massachusetts Legislature suffers legal setback In the latest chapter of a long running battle between Democratic leaders in Massachusetts, a justice on the commonwealth’s top court has denied the state auditor’s request for outside council in her…

Push to Audit Massachusetts Legislature Suffers Legal Setback | WAMC www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

Noncitizen academics allege Trump immigration policy suppressing protected speech A group of noncitizen academics is challenging the Trump administration over immigration policies that allegedly violate their First Amendment rights.   The lawsuit, filed …

Noncitizen Academics Allege Trump Immigration Policy Suppressing Protected Speech | The Hill thehill.com/homenews/edu...

Breaking the Massachusetts Public Records Law shouldn’t be de facto legal The state already has an office that’s supposed to hold officials accountable—it should be empowered to actually carry out this mission.

Breaking the Massachusetts Public Records Law Shouldn’t Be De Facto Legal | The Mass Dump massdump.ghost.io/breaking-the...

Auditor pushes for public records ballot question State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is backing a ballot question that expands public records law to include the governor and the legislature, taking another approach to examine the legislature’s fin…

Auditor Pushes for Public Records Ballot Question | WWLP www.wwlp.com/news/state-p...

Dem lawmaker's illegal alien SOTU guest part of records dispute involving police reports: report Rep. Seth Moulton's State of the Union guest reportedly referenced in sealed police reports that Massachusetts authorities have declined to release.

Dem Lawmaker's Illegal Alien SOTU Guest Part of Records Dispute Involving Police Reports | Fox News www.foxnews.com/politics/dem...

Judge weighs New York Times bid to block policy limiting journalists' access to Pentagon The New York Times is urging a federal judge to block a Pentagon policy that has limited access to the building for journalists from many mainstream news outlets. U.S. District

Judge Weighs New York Times Bid to Block Policy Limiting Journalists' Access to Pentagon | Associated Press www.rutlandherald.com/news/busines...

Trump Administration Seeks to Revive Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms | Reuters www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

State Auditor DiZoglio highlights transparency battles, audit mandates in 22News interview Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio discussed her office’s work, ongoing transparency disputes with legislative leaders, and recent findings of waste and fraud, as well as the need for…

State Auditor DiZoglio Highlights Transparency Battles, Audit Mandates | WWLP www.wwlp.com/news/infocus...

Records measure exposes more tension between lawmakers, auditor - Athol Daily News BOSTON — Sen. Cindy Friedman banged the gavel multiple times, but it didn’t stop simmering tensions between lawmakers and Auditor Diana DiZoglio from flaring last Tuesday.  Lawmakers and DiZoglio…

Records Measure Exposes More Tension Between Lawmakers, Auditor | State House News Service atholdailynews.com/2026/03/09/r...

In this month's First Amendment and Sunshine News:

- Protest, Criticism and Recording
- Government Transparency
- Trump and the Media
- Law Enforcement Accountability
- And More...

Read our March newsletter: conta.cc/4lvs1Ox

State Capitol Shakedown an Absurd Abuse of Power The arrogance of power is on grand display throughout state agencies in Connecticut. Leading the charge to deny citizens access to public records with phony retainer demands is state Attorney […]

State Capitol Shakedown an Absurd Abuse of Power | CT Examiner ctexaminer.com/2026/03/03/s...

Bill Seeks To Prohibit Public, Charter Schools from Displaying Certain Flags The House Education Policy and Administration Committee voted 10-8 to recommend passing House Bill 1132 with an amendment during its Monday meeting, which seeks to prohibit the display of certain…

Bill Seeks to Prohibit Public, Charter Schools from Displaying Certain Flags | InDepthNH indepthnh.org/2026/03/02/b...

Lawmakers and DiZoglio clash again – this time over public records reform Auditor Diana DiZoglio showed up ready to fight, and some lawmakers indulged her, at a hearing about a ballot question that would subject the Legislature and governor’s office to the public records…

Lawmakers and DiZoglio Clash Again – This Time Over Public Records Reform | CommonWealth Beacon commonwealthbeacon.org/ballot-quest...

DiZoglio spars with state lawmakers over public records reform Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio and a group of state lawmakers broke into verbal brawls Tuesday during a hearing on a potential ballot question to expand the state's public records law to cover…

DiZoglio Spars with State Lawmakers Over Public Records Reform | WBUR www.wbur.org/news/2026/03...

‘They don’t even pretend to comply’: Mass. agencies, cities, and towns openly flout open record law - The Boston Globe When requests are fought or ignored by agencies, enforcement of Massachusetts' public records law often falls to those who requested the documents.

‘They Don’t Even Pretend to Comply’: Mass. Agencies, Cities, and Towns Openly Flout Open Record Law | The Boston Globe www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/04/m...

EXCLUSIVE: Judiciary’s Secret Meetings to Discipline Judges For years, the Rhode Island Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline has failed to notify the public of meetings, a GoLocal investigation has found.

Judiciary’s Secret Meetings to Discipline Judges | GoLocalProv www.golocalprov.com/news/exclusi...

Effort to limit who can make public information requests in NH moves forward A Senate panel narrowly endorsed legislation to restrict requests for public records to residents and property owners in New Hampshire or members of the news media.

Effort to Limit Who Can Make Public Information Requests in NH Moves Forward | Union Leader www.unionleader.com/news/politic...

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has given up enforcing the state public records law. #FOIA @bostonglobe.com www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/04/m...

Churches file suit against Kristi Noem, DHS over ICE raids - Newton Beacon Several Protestant denominations have sued the Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Immigration & Customs Enforcement and related agencies over federal immigration raids…

Churches File Suit Against Kristi Noem, DHS Over ICE Raids | The Newton Beacon www.newtonbeacon.org/churches-fil...

Trump has embraced a disturbing strategy to silence free speech | David Bralow The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Media Matters over critical coverage. It’s just one example of the administration’s approach

Trump Has Embraced a Disturbing Strategy to Silence Free Speech | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Judge says he will order Greenpeace to pay an expected $345 million in oil pipeline protest case A North Dakota judge will order several Greenpeace entities to pay an expected $345 million to a pipeline company in connection with protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline nearly a decade…

Judge Says He Will Order Greenpeace to Pay an Expected $345 Million in Oil Pipeline Protest Case | Associated Press apnews.com/article/gree...

Editorial: Do better When you’re a public official, you really ought not to complain about serving your constituents. In recent weeks, there have been a handful of incidents that had us — once

Do Better | Times Argus www.timesargus.com/opinion/edit...

In this month's Community newsletter:

- Open Meeting Law Updates
- Register: Copyediting 101
- View: Health Care Reporting 101 & 102
- Attend: Sunshine Week Right-to Know-Workshop
- Celebrate Student Press Freedom Day

Read more and subscribe: conta.cc/4tU0gTm

Costly district records request raises questions on Glocester governance GLOCESTER – Concerned about the spending between school districts, resident Laurie Gaddis Barrett submitted an Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request to the Foster-Glocester Regional School…

Costly District Records Request Raises Questions on Glocester Governance | The Valley Breeze www.valleybreeze.com/news/costly-...

Corporate requests for public records are weighing down already burdened town officials in Vermont - VTDigger State legislators are considering a slate of changes to the Public Records Act designed to give officials some room to breathe. But they’ve drawn sharp opposition.

Corporate Requests for Public Records are Weighing Down Already Burdened Town Officials in Vermont | VT Digger vtdigger.org/2026/02/26/c...

🎉 Today is #StudentPressFreedom Day, a celebration of the critical role student journalists play in our communities. Learn how NEFAC is supporting these students and defending their First Amendment rights: nefac.org/news/celebra... #journalism

A refresher on your rights and why they’re worth fighting for This hour we look at what rights we have, and how we can protect them.

A Refresher on Your Rights and Why They’re Worth Fighting For | Connecticut Public www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...

Promptness among transparency issues before Oversight Committee Read More at Inside Investigator >>

Promptness Among Transparency Issues Before Oversight Committee | Inside Investigator insideinvestigator.org/promptness-a...

📣 Registration Now Open! Join us for one of the many 30 Minute Skills now scheduled for this spring and summer. Learn from journalist Hannah Reale at @gbhnews.bsky.social. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #data #journalism

Lawmakers starting ballot question hearings with stipend, public records proposals The specially-created legislative committee charged with reviewing all 11 initiative petitions that could be before voters on the November ballot will start its work with hearings on matters directly…

Lawmakers Starting Ballot Question Hearings with Stipend, Public Records Proposals | State House News Service www.statehousenews.com/news/legisla...