FOIA Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

DOJ Moves To Block Full Memo On Trump Obstruction Decision From Release

By NPR News May 25, 2021

Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks last month

The Justice Department released a portion of an internal memo cited by former leaders as part of their decision concluding that former President Donald Trump did not obstruct justice, but in a court filing late Monday said it would seek to block the full document from release.Read More

Journalists File Lawsuit To Force Feds To Release Medicare Advantage Audits

By NPR News September 27, 2019

Medicare Advantage health plans, mostly run by private insurance companies, have enrolled more than 22 million seniors and people with disabilities — more than 1 in 3 people who are on some sort of Medicare plan. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

A lawsuit filed by Kaiser Health News under the Freedom of Information Act could spur the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to release audits that document up to $650 million in overcharges.Read More

Where Did Idaho Get Its Execution Drugs? A State Supreme Court Case May Reveal Hidden Records

By NWPB News September 23, 2019

File photo of Idaho Supreme Court chamber. CREDIT: JAMES DAWSON/BSPR

The Idaho Supreme Court is expected to decide next year whether prison officials must reveal the past source of their execution drugs. A University of Idaho professor's public records request is at the center of the case.Read More

Interior Department’s Push To Limit Public Records Requests Draws Criticism

By NPR News February 18, 2019

Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke left the Trump administration amid unresolved ethics investigations. His department has been inundated by Freedom of Information requests and is now proposing a new rule which critics charge could limit transparency. CREDIT: Cliff Owen/AP

A new rule proposed by Interior in December appears designed to make it harder for public interest groups like Western Values Project to get public records. The rule would give the agency greater discretion over how it handles public records requests. Read More

Governor Vetoes Public Records Bill As Washington Lawmakers Acknowledge ‘We Made A Mistake’

By Austin Jenkins March 1, 2018

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed a bill Thursday, March 1, 2018 that would have exempted the Legislature from the state's voter-approved Public Disclosure Act.

In the face of intense pressure from the public and media, and following hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed a bill Thursday night that exempts the Legislature from the state’s voter-approved Public Disclosure Act. Read More

Jay Inslee Faces Immense Pressure To Veto Public Records Bill

By Austin Jenkins February 28, 2018

Front desk staff at Gov. Jay Inslee's office in Olympia tally calls urging the governor to veto SB 6617 exempting the Washington Legislature from the state's voter-approved Public Records Act. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS

Will he or won’t he? That’s the question as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee faces immense pressure to veto a bill that exempts the Legislature from the state’s Public Records Act. Inslee has until midnight Thursday to decide.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Fast-Track Bill To Exempt Themselves From Public Records Law

By Austin Jenkins February 22, 2018

Washington State Capitol CREDIT: BRIANHE / WIKIMEDIA

Washington lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill to exempt themselves from the state’s voter-approved Public Records Act. The move comes after the Legislature lost a public records lawsuit filed by several news outlets, including public radio.Read More