After settling a PRA lawsuit against Western Washington University last year, three alumni have used the funds to establish a permanent endowment for student investigative journalism at the university. (Photo from their 2019 announcement of the suit.)

The Spring 2025 newsletter offers WashCOG’s take on the recently-completed legislative session, our successful Sunshine Breakfast and ongoing battle against “legislative privilege.”

The Washington state Public Records Act collided with a parental claim of privacy on May 2, 2025 during an hour-long online hearing in Douglas County Superior Court.

At issue is whether public records routinely available for a vehicle crash should be provided to the media or if a third party could block disclosure because a minor was involved.

Melissa Luck, news director of KXLY 4 News in Spokane, has been named a Key Award winner for her consistent advocacy for open government as a broadcast journalist in Washington. She has been with the station for 22 years, and is known for her passion about journalism and, particularly, local news.

WashCOG is urging transparency advocates this week to call members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee to ask that they pass SB 5400, “Supporting Local News Journalism.” Local news nourishes our democracy, keeping citizens and residents informed about ongoing issues — and this bill gives them a needed financial hand.

WashCOG will honor Sen. Mike Chapman with the Ballard-Thompson Award for pledging not to withhold information from the public through a bogus dodge to the Public Records Act that legislators are calling “legislative privilege.”

Attorney General Nick Brown pledged support for government transparency and constituent access in his keynote address at WashCOG’s annual Sunshine Breakfast. The event also honored advocates of the public’s right to know.

The death of former House Speaker Frank Chopp on Saturday, March 22, came as sad and unexpected news.

Chopp, the longest-serving speaker of the House and a longtime supporter of open government, had been honored March 14 with the Ballard-Thompson Award.

Colette Weeks has succeeded Juli Bunting as executive director for the Washington Coalition for Open Government. Bunting will continue as a part-time coalition adviser until she retires at the end of the year.

It’s the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week, a weeklong recognition of the importance of open government and access to public records.

WashCOG will honor open-government advocates, journalists and legislators at its annual Sunshine Breakfast on March 14 in Bellevue, Washington. State Attorney General Nick Brown will be the keynote speaker, and tickets are still available.

WashCOG is pleased that the governor has paused state agencies’ practice of auto-deleting text messages, but what happens next will show how serious the state is about accountability and transparency.

Washington’s newest governor has always said he supports transparency in government, but has hung up a bit of a curtain so far; he has not met regularly with the Olympia media covering the state legislature, The Seattle Times reports. WashCOG weighs in.

The Winter 2025 newsletter shares WashCOG’s activities tracking legislation and legislators, promoting the PRA to student journalists and planning our annual Sunshine Breakfast.

Newly-elected Attorney General Nick Brown is keynote speaker for WashCOG’s 2025 Sunshine Breakfast and Awards Program March 14. Brown said he shares WashCOG’s commitment to open and transparent government and will provide transparency advocates a blueprint for his plans.

A half-dozen priorities focused on accountability, transparency and access head the wish list for the Washington Coalition for Open Government as the Washington state legislature begins its 2025 session.

We’re posting weekly reports on pending bills, votes and other action in the legislature in our Olympia Watch.

The University of Washington’s Board of Regents is not being transparent about its process of searching for and choosing a new president. Outside observers – that would be most of us – are unable to judge for ourselves the final vetting process and the alternative finalists. That’s troubling for a public university.

WashCOG was on hand as lawmakers, staff, media and residents came to Olympia as the Washington State Legislature begins its 2025 session. We’ll shine a light on the next 105 days of legislative activity — and welcome your help.

WashCOG is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Toby Nixon Award, which recognizes an individual or organization whose long-term commitment to the cause of open government is demonstrated through exemplary words or deeds.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 James Andersen Award, which recognizes an individual or organization that has made extraordinary effort to advance the priorities of the Washington Coalition for Open Government.