New England First Amendment Coalition

In partnership with the Granite State News Collaborative and Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications, NEFAC is seeking its next cohort of Civic Documenters.

🟥 APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 6 🟥

Learn more and apply: nefac.org/civdoc/

Transparency Update: Enhancing public access Read More at Inside Investigator >>

Transparency Update: Enhancing Public Access | Inside Investigator insideinvestigator.org/transparency...

R.I. advocates backing separate bill to make crash data public - The Boston Globe The Department of Transportation refuses to release traffic accident data, but the Providence Streets Coalition says 42 other states make such information public.

R.I. Advocates Backing Separate Bill to Make Crash Data Public | The Boston Globe www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/27/m...

Maine ICE observer reports agent intimidation at their home One woman said since she began documenting ICE's actions, she's been tailed by federal agents and sandwiched between two ICE vehicles.

Maine ICE Observer Reports Agent Intimidation at Their Home | Maine Public www.bangordailynews.com/2026/01/24/s...

In this month's Advocacy newsletter:

- NEFAC Joins National Effort to Oppose Pentagon Media Policy, Argues Against Unbridled Discretion

- 2025 Year in Review: Democracy is Local

Read more and subscribe: conta.cc/4sTY7GN

#journalism #opengov #FirstAmendment

Judge warns Trump administration from changing plaintiffs immigration status in First Amendment case BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled on Thursday that the academics, who are party to a lawsuit alleging U.S. policy singles out noncitizens for detention or deportation over their pro-Palestinian a…

Judge Warns Trump Administration From Changing Plaintiffs Immigration Status in First Amendment Case | Associated Press www.wpri.com/news/politic...

New Hampshire lawmakers weigh limits on politically motivated doxing (The Center Square) — Citing a growing lack of civility in U.S. politics, New Hampshire lawmakers are considering proposals seeking to limit online harassment and intimidation based on a persons'

New Hampshire Lawmakers Weigh Limits on Politically Motivated Doxing | The Center Square www.thecentersquare.com/new_hampshir...

Bill Would Require AI Political Ads to Include a Disclaimer | News Center Maine www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...

No public data exists on the academic performance of EFA students. A bill would change that. - Concord Monitor After a House Republican leader argued in leaked messages with colleagues last week that “segregated schools” would improve test scores for members of her community, the Bedford lawmaker publicly...

No Public Data Exists on the Academic Performance of EFA Students. A Bill Would Change That | Concord Monitor www.concordmonitor.com/2026/01/23/n...

In this month's Community newsletter:

- NEFAC Provides Open Government Training to South Portland School Board Members
- Open Meeting Law Updates: Registration Now Open for New Classes
- View: Health Care Reporting 101

Read more and subscribe: conta.cc/4sHNZRi

Register now for our upcoming update on the Massachusetts open meeting law with attorney Samuel Thomas at Morgan Lewis us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #opengov #journalism

Registration now open! Join us next month for an update on Rhode Island's open meeting law with @johnmarion.bsky.social at @commoncauseri.bsky.social: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #opengov #journalism

YouTube video by New England First Amendment Coalition Health Care Reporting 101

Miss our Health Care Reporting 101 class with journalist @felicejfreyer.bsky.social? Catch up here: youtu.be/xT0TYzsm1B4?... #journalism

US judge bars government from reviewing seized Washington Post materials The Washington Post has demanded the immediate return of materials seized from reporter Hannah Natanson.

US Judge Bars Government From Reviewing Seized Washington Post Materials | Al Jazeera www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/...

Saints, statues, and church-state separation Rights and Responsibilities is a recurring series by Richard Garnett on legal education, the role of the courts in our constitutional structure, and the law of religious freedom and free expression.…

Saints, Statues, and Church-State Separation | SCOTUSblog www.scotusblog.com/2026/01/sain...

Registration now open! Join us next month for an update on Connecticut's open meeting law with attorney Alexa Millinger at Hinckley Allen. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #opengov #journalism

DiZoglio seeks to sue Massport and knocks state government's culture of 'withholding' info The auditor says Massport blocked her access to some personnel records during an audit of settlement agreements with state employees.

DiZoglio Seeks to Sue Massport and Knocks State Government's Culture of 'Withholding' Info | GBH News www.wgbh.org/news/politic...

Registration Now Open! Join us next week to learn how Maine's open meeting law has changed during the last four years and what developments — for better or worse — may be on the horizon. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... @themainemonitor.org

NEFAC Joins National Effort to Oppose Pentagon Media Access Policy nefac.org/news/nefac-j... #journalism

New Hampshire Republican seeks to criminalize doxing, firing for political views • New Hampshire Bulletin A pair of bills introduced by Rep. Terry Roy, a Deerfield Republican and the chairman of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, would explicitly prohibit people from “doxing”…

New Hampshire Republican Seeks to Criminalize Doxing, Firing for Political Views | New Hampshire Bulletin newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/01/20/n...

The First Amendment, Decoded | Simmons University The Simmons Center for Information Literacy recently presented “Information is Power: The First Amendment, Public Records, and the Press,” a mini-conference designed to address how we can all exercise...

The @simmonsuniversity.bsky.social Center for Information Literacy recently presented “Information is Power: The First Amendment, Public Records, and the Press,” a mini-conference. Here are some quotes from NEFAC executive director and presenter Justin Silverman. www.simmons.edu/news/first-a...

Audit Standoff Escalates: DiZoglio Accuses AG of Cover-Up, Claims Legislature Destroying Records BY ELLA ADAMS Auditor Diana DiZoglio's new claim that the stalling of her legislative audit is giving lawmakers time to destroy documents and records is "baseless," according to House Speaker Ron…

Audit Standoff Escalates: DiZoglio Accuses AG of Cover-Up, Claims Legislature Destroying Records | State House News Service fallriverreporter.com/audit-stando...

Maine Mulls Requiring Disclaimers for Political Communications Using Altered Videos and Images | Maine Wire www.themainewire.com/2026/01/main...

Judge Proposes Restricting Deportation of Student Activists In a case over the First Amendment rights of noncitizen scholars, a federal judge proposed extending protections to members of two academic groups behind a lawsuit.

Calling Trump ‘Authoritarian,’ Judge Seeks to Restrict Student Deportations | The New York Times www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

US Judge to Shield Scholars Who Challenged Deporting of Pro-Palestinian Campus Activists | Reuters www.reuters.com/world/us-jud...

Judge to Protect Noncitizen Academics Involved in Case From ‘Authoritarian’ Trump | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

‘Unconstitutional conspiracy’: Judge slams Trump administration over targeted deportations A Reagan appointee pointedly rebuked decisions by Trump, Rubio and Noem.

‘Unconstitutional Conspiracy’: Judge Slams Trump Administration Over Targeted Deportations | Politico www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

First Amendment lawyer says FBI's search of journalist's home is 'radical escalation' NPR's Michel Martin asks First Amendment lawyer Theodore Boutrous about the FBI executing a search warrant at the home of a Washington Post reporter.

First Amendment Lawyer Says FBI's Search of Journalist's Home is 'Radical Escalation' | NPR www.ctpublic.org/2026-01-15/f...

FOIC faults CHRO for deletion of cell phone messages Read More at Inside Investigator >>

FOIC Faults CHRO for Deletion of Cell Phone Messages | Inside Investigator insideinvestigator.org/foic-faults-...

Clean slate legislation would seal records, expand workforce opportunities across Mass. - Boston Business Journal A criminal record can cut job offer chances nearly in half, and Massachusetts business owners say pending Clean Slate legislation could help more than 523,000 residents while strengthening the…

Clean Slate Legislation Would Seal Records, Expand Workforce Opportunities Across Mass. | Boston Business Journal www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/...