New England First Amendment Coalition

Harassment Restraining Order Based Largely on Speech Critical of Zoo Veterinarian | The Volokh Conspiracy reason.com/volokh/2026/...

Portland is refusing to release police reports about a now-former city official who was accused of assault. Advocates say that keeping these records secret raises questions about whether the city is giving special protections to its employees. www.pressherald.com/2026/10/22/p... #opengov

In this month's Community newsletter: 👉 Discussing Federal Regulations with FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez 👉 Coalition Helps Spotlight Importance of Community Support for Local Newsrooms 👉 Additional Discussions and Presentations Read more and subscribe: conta.cc/4e35ENQ

A U.S. Senate hopeful and one-time presidential candidate is seeking better coverage of his campaign by suing a local newspaper. NEFAC's Justin Silverman spoke to @anjalihuynh.bsky.social at @bostonglobe.com about the lawsuit and its First Amendment implications. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/10/22/m...

Londonderry Won’t Release Mulholland Misconduct Probe Findings Until November | Union Leader www.unionleader.com/news/local-n...

Question 1 Battle May Not End at Ballot Box | Greenfield Recorder recorder.com/2026/10/21/m...

Burrillville Turf Field Opponent Seeks $555,000 from Town After Anti-SLAPP Lawsuit Win | ecoRI ecori.org/burrillville...

How does Massachusetts compare to its neighbors when it comes to state government transparency? To find out, Liz Neisloss at @gbhnews.bsky.social decided to ask the governor’s offices of all six New England states for the same records. Here's what should found: www.wgbh.org/news/politic...

Mass. Ballot Question 1 Explained: Voters to Decide Major Public Records Change | Boston 25 www.boston25news.com/news/local/b...

This week on Behind the Story, @nefac.bsky.social Executive Director Justin Silverman joins @EliSherman.bsky.social and @TimWhiteRI.bsky.social to talk about his organization’s public records work and legal fund. New episodes premiere Thursdays at 10 a.m. on the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app.

In this month's First Amendment and Sunshine News: 👉 White House Press Ban 👉 Immigration and Surveillance 👉 The Public's Right to Know 👉 Education and the First Amendment 👉 Secrecy in Local Government 👉 And More... Read: conta.cc/4s2Wvuc #opengov #journalism

ACLU Argues Public Was Excluded From RI Flock Camera Review | WPRI www.wpri.com/news/politic...

Federal Judge Issues Longer-Term Decision Blocking Trump’s White House Media Ban | NBC News www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

Judge Says Trump Press Ban Likely Violates First Amendment | CNN www.cnn.com/2026/10/13/p...

Judge Hears Town’s Ask to Limit Homeowners’ APRA Requests on Cragan | EG News eastgreenwichnews.com/judge-hears-...

Wider Public Records Access May Hinge on Post-Election Maneuvers | Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly masslawyersweekly.com/2026/10/13/m...

Aquarium Survives Lobstermen’s Defamation Claim | Courthouse News Service courthousenews.com/aquarium-sur...

Appeals Court Dismisses Maine Lobstermen Defamation Case Against California Aquarium | Maine Public www.wbur.org/news/2026/10...

Maine Residents Sue Federal Agencies Over Alleged ICE Retaliation and Surveillance | News Center Maine www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...

Londonderry Open Meeting Allegation, to Reconvene Dam Committee | The Vermont Journal vermontjournal.com/featured-art...

Statement About Maine Lobster Industry as a Whole Can't Be Actionable Group Defamation | The Volokh Conspiracy reason.com/volokh/2026/...

Appeals Court Dismisses Maine Lobster Defamation Lawsuit | Portland Press Herald www.pressherald.com/2026/10/09/a...

Ballot Question 1: Should the Legislature and Gov. Be Subject to the Public Records Law? | MassLive www.masslive.com/politics/202...

PETA Public Records Lawsuits Seek Identities of UMass Animal Research Panel Members | Greenfield Recorder recorder.com/2026/10/08/p...

Judge Extends Temporary Block on Trump’s Media Ban | The Hill thehill.com/regulation/c...

In this month's Commentary and Coverage newsletter: 👉 ‘A Disgraceful Move’: Mass. Journalists Criticize White House for Banning Press Outlets 👉 UConn Fails in Free-Speech Climate for Second Consecutive Year Read more and subscribe: conta.cc/4ekfHxS

Nonprofit Law Firm Institute for Justice Weighs in on 'Roosters of Ogunquit' Debate | WMTW www.wmtw.com/article/roos...

NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman recently spoke with Joshua Levin at SPJ New England about competing proposals to increase transparency in Massachusetts. Read: www.spjne.org/2026/10/ball...

Rooster Fines in Ogunquit Violate Free-Speech Rights, Legal Firm Warns | Portsmouth Herald www.fosters.com/story/news/l...

NH State Police Agree to Release ICE Partnership Records Amid ACLU Lawsuit | Union Leader www.unionleader.com/news/local-n...

PETA Sues UMass Campuses Over Animal Research Records | WSHM www.westernmassnews.com/2026/10/07/p...

Wider Public Records Access May Hinge on Post-Election Maneuvers | State House News Service www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_n...

ABC and Trump's FCC Battle in Federal Court Over Issues of Free Speech and Jurisdiction | Associated Press www.rutlandherald.com/news/busines...

Previously dubbed an “embarrassment” and a “black hole” for government transparency, the Massachusetts public records law could be revamped next month as voters weigh whether the Legislature and the governor’s office should be subject to the statute. www.boston.com/news/politic...

Supreme Court Declines to Take Up School Ban on ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Shirts | The Hill thehill.com/regulation/c...

Battle Over Transparency on Beacon Hill Will Be on the Ballot in November | WHDH whdh.com/news/battle-...

Federal Court Says US Agents Can Search Phones at Vermont’s Border with Canada Without Suspicion | Valley News vnews.com/2026/10/03/b...

License Plate Camera Locations Have Been Kept Secret By Some CT Police, Until Now | CT Insider www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...

ICE Has Been Dumping Protester Photos Into a Palantir Database | WIRED www.wired.com/story/ice-ha...

Houlton Asks Court to Dismiss Public Records Case Over Surveillance Cameras | Bangor Daily News www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/02/a...

Dem Legislative Leaders Call for Public Disclosure of Investigation Into Sitting Supreme Court Justices | InDepthNH indepthnh.org/2026/10/01/d...

NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan recently spoke with The State We're In host Melanie Plenda about the White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, its impact locally, and why this isn’t an issue concerning just journalists. youtu.be/8eMFYev4CeY?... #FirstAmendment

Markley, Lowell Battle Over Records Requests | Lowell Sun www.lowellsun.com/2026/10/01/m...

📣 Registration Now Open - How to think through your personal and professional goals for a newsletter. - How to choose a newsletter platform that’s right for those goals. - Benefits and limitations of the email format for reporting. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Join us today to learn about state court rules in New Hampshire. Attorney Richard C. Gagliuso will explain topics including: • State court rules on press access. • When cameras can be used in the courtroom. • Media registration requirements. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A Maine Superior Court judge ordered the City of Bath to release police records related to a 2024 domestic-violence murder-suicide, marking the first courtroom victory for the @nefac.bsky.social’s legal fund, which supported the newsrooms that brought the lawsuit.

Want to start a solo newsletter but don't know where to start? I'm outlining what you need to ask and some key decisions in #30MinuteSkills with @nefac.bsky.social in December us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Question 1: Mass. Initiative Would Put Governor and Lawmakers Under State Public Records Law | WBUR www.wbur.org/news/2026/09...

Miss our class on Vermont state court rules and policies? Catch up now with Lia Ernst at the ACLU of Vermont: youtu.be/uvEOsAPCT1c #opengov #journalism

In our September Advocacy newsletter: 👉 In First Win for NEFAC Legal Fund, Court Orders Release of Police Records in Domestic Violence Double-Murder Case 👉 NEFAC Joins Regional Newsrooms to Condemn White House Restrictions on Press Read more and subscribe: conta.cc/4ykZVLa