VCOG All Access News, 4/22/26: more testimony; reinstated; set meeting schedule; resignations accepted #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/21/26: recalls, forensic audits and credit cards; First Amendment hits the curfew #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/20/26: dinners, not meetings?; Amazon falls short; #FOIA case & fiscal responsibility
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/17/26: payments continue; VCOG bill wants to cut down on "gotcha" motions; NC, VA, Senate & video #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/16/26: fee disparity; no clapping?; audit finally released; "Why don't you just remove all of us?" #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/15/26: no appeal; personal attacks; "huge disconnec"; no ownership
#FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/14/26: VCOG awards; a registry, but watered-down; cease and desist speaking on public matters? #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/13/26: whistleblower case settled; text messages on Flock and on attempt to fire; gold! #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/10/26: administrators, supervisors, mischief; disparity shows need for reform #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

Interim administrator, Warren County supervisor spar over legal costs A dispute between a Warren County supervisor and the interim county administrator over spending on legal services came to a head Tuesday.

No newsletter today. But here's a story where an interim administrator and a county supervisor spar over the cost of supervisors' use of legal services. The manager asks the chair for a closed session and she agrees. Does that seem weird, or is it just me?
www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/inte...

Help a sister out?
opengovva.org/individual-d...

VCOG All Access News, 4/8/26: police file settlement; embezzlement/audit; loss of confidence; data center NDAs #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

Data Centers and the Abuse of Secrecy Too often local officials sign nondisclosure agreements that keep the public in the dark about tech companies’ plans. Policymakers need to rein them in.

"If an economic development deal is as beneficial for the local community as proponents generally claim it will be, public officials and business leaders should be not just willing to discuss it publicly but eager to do so."
🎯
www.governing.com/infrastructu...

VCOG All Access News, 4/7/26: records destroyed in #FOIA case?: history lessons; another investigative report
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 4/6/26: Tangier's finances; paying the legal bills; course syllibi; Presidential Records Act #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

a black and white cartoon cat is sitting on a red pillow . ALT: a black and white cartoon cat is sitting on a red pillow .

There is no newsletter today. And that is all I have to say.

VCOG All Access News, 4/2/26: Flock queries; #FOIA'ing her colleagues; why the overrun?; two different clerk trajectories; SC athletes
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG's newsletter recapping all that went on in March -- Sunshine Week, audits, court cases, ethics complaints, high fees (of course).
And our conference. Don't forget our conference.
Or our 2026 award winners. 🏆
meganrhynevcog.substack.com?utm_campaign...

VCOG All Access News, 4/1/26: audits & their public release; public notice & Digital Gateway; true cost of government services #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

Hey, Virginia reporters!
According to 2.2-5517(K), law enforcement agencies using Flock (or similar) systems have to prepare and publicly post a report on the system's use and demographic breakdowns.
The deadline to prepare the report is APRIL 1.
law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title...

VCOG All Access News, 3/31/26: canceling p-cards; you should've let me un-quit; ethical violation for budget comments? #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

Richmond officials charge $5.7K FOIA fee for financial info city is required to publish The city said it would cost at least $5.7K for a copy of its payment register that's supposed to be available online.

I mean, it's SPENDING DATA! What's more public record-y than that? IDK that bad PR matters much anymore, so, from a pure efficiency standpoint, post the info, and you don't have to spend time filling FOIA requests for it.
www.richmonder.org/richmond-off...

VCOG All Access News, 3/30/26: $5K+ for spending data; the AG and the M'ville mayor; we won't tell you about the questionnaires #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

Jacksonville North Pulaski School District parent given $35,000 price tag for FOIA request A Jacksonville North Pulaski School District parent is raising concerns over how the district has handled her FOIA requests.Kristian St. Clair says the district

And this one, from Arkansas, points out that they don't allow for labor charges at all!
katv.com/news/local/j...

FOIA lawsuit: Is the city abiding state law? CLEMSON — Questions over whether the city of Clemson’s Freedom of Information Act policy aligns with state law have emerged during a dispute over a proposed settlement in the ongoing

Two stories from other states this week highlight (as if we needed more proof) that Virginia's limitless labor rate is not the way of all states. This story mentions how South Carolina doesn't allow for an attorney's review time.
upstatetoday.com/news/foia-la...

VCOG All Access News, 3/27/26: publicly airing the reasons; fees in other states; Flock for traffic tickets #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 3/26/26: Thursday Thanks; Rappahannock audit; actual cost ≠ labor; plain language #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 3/25/26: searches; the emails behind the cancellation; waiving the privilege
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 3/24/26: severance; clerk of the board; LPR opacity #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

VCOG All Access News, 3/23/26: FOIA audits on opposite sides of the state; a FOILIE "award"; AI, e-discovery and #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...