| Watchdog Group Creates Web Site To Monitor Gov't:
Platte Institute For Economic Research Develops Web Site
November 19, 2008: An organization devoted to maintaining transparency in government has developed a new Web site where citizens can track how their money is being spent in the Unicameral.
The Platte Institute for Economic Research takes its mission, in part, from a motto engraved on the state capitol building: "The salvation of the state is watchfulness in the citizen." Read the full article here.
Daily Nebraskan resolves issues over open records requests with university
September 30, 2008: A recent dispute that had the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's administration giving the silent treatment to the Daily Nebraskan, the school's newspaper, may have been resolved.
Talks and e-mails between UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Daily Nebraskan Editor in Chief Brian Hernandez appear to have smoothed relations between the university and paper. The two have been at odds over numerous requests for public records made by the newspaper to the university. Read the full article here.
Freedom From the Press?
September 23, 2008: The relationship between a university and its student newspaper is typically one of give and take. Some of this professional courtesy, however, has fallen to the wayside at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
In response to numerous sweeping Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by The Daily Nebraskan, the university is now denying student reporters direct access to top administrators for interviews. All information and comment previously sought from these individuals must now be gathered from the institution’s public relations office. Read the full article here.
Nebraska State Spending site launched
Nebraska State Treasurer Shane Osborn launched phase two of a Nebraska Spending website that opens the state's checkbooks to its citizens. The site covers state contracts, state expenditures, and utilizes an interactive county map of local property taxes and state aid information.
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