SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) - The circus is in town this week and by all indications the big tent events are more of the same - "We are from the government and we are here to help!" At some point we are going to finally say enough is...
SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) - House Bill 3796 was an amendment to the Freedom Of Information Act, which makes a whole new category of FOIA requestors. This bill does not affect us or other non-profit, news media, etc, organizations but it does effect the average citizen that...
ARCOLA, IL. (ECWd) - On May 29, 2014, the Court filed a letter ruling on Arcola Township's Motion to Dismiss. The Judge removed the cause from advisement, examined all pleadings, files and records, and reviewed argument of counsel. He Denied Arcola Township's Motion to Dismiss and gave them...
PARIS, IL. (ECWd) - Wow, it looks like some people knew this was coming. We wrote a short piece on this subject about Edgar County Board Member Mike Heltsley basically trying to give as much taxpayer money to Burgin and Hopper as he could, just to...
FORD CO. - IROQUOIS CO. - (ECWd) - In yet another amazing example of "stupid", we have to once again break things down and show just how ignorant some nominated officials and appointed administrators really are. Larry Hasbargen garnered enough votes during the primary to put his...
DUPAGE CO. (ECWd) - A little known provision of the Open Meetings Act was called into the open by a citizen who was attending the DuPage County Board meeting. Section 7.3(b) of the Open Meetings Act states that for those public bodies participating in the Illinois...
PARIS, IL. (ECWd) - During the study session held by the Edgar County Board on May 27, 2014, the board talked about several items - the first being public comment. During public comment I suggested that if there were future instances of an open meeting not starting...
ORLAND PARK, IL. (ECWd) - #2. Approving restrictions to Public Comment that are unreasonable and not allowed under the OMA. Dennis G. Walsh was the attorney present on February 12th, 2014 when the OPPL-BoT voted during the illegal meeting to pass new restrictions on public comment that...
ORLAND PARK, IL. (ECWd) - #4. Insisting that items that were void ab initio are not actually void ab initio. For those not familiar with this phrase, "void ab initio" simply means "void from the beginning" or "treated as invalid from the outset" or more simply "did/does...
DANVILLE, IL. (ECWd) - In a letter written about a week before the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously overturned an Appellate Court ruling that stated State's Attorney offices were not subject to FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act), Mr. Bill Donahue responded to a request for records by...
