Reporters Committee News http://www.rcfp.org/index.html News and developments concerning the First Amendment and Freedom of Information rights of journalists and the public, presented by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Reporters Committee News http://www.rcfp.org/index.html http://www.rcfp.org/_art/rcfpnews.gif Mo. hikes up fees for records, prompting lawsuit http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6747 The state of Missouri is dramatically raising the cost of obtaining driver's license and vehicle title records, and the information clearinghouse companies who will be most directly affected have . . . AP, CNN and others fight S.D. exit-polling law http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6746 A coalition of national news organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court in Sioux Falls on Monday over a South Dakota law that prevents exit polling within 100 feet of a voting place. The . . . Education department seeks to make FERPA more restrictive http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6745 FERPA -- the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act -- has long made things difficult for student journalists, and any journalists covering educational issues. Too often schools use the pretext . . . Secrecy continues in R. Kelly trial http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6744 In a continuing effort to shroud the R. Kelly trial in secrecy, a judge and courtroom personnel last week kept the media from entering court at the start of the jury selection process, when the . . . Appeals court questions Locy contempt finding http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6743 A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. questioned whether it ought to uphold the potentially crippling fines assessed against former USA Today reporter Toni Locy for her . . . CORRECTED: Locy appeal to be heard tomorrow. http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6742 (Correction: Hearing starts at 11am in Courtroom 20) On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., will hear Toni Locy’s appeal of a contempt finding that could impose crippling fines . . . Locy appeal to be heard tomorrow. http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6741 On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., will hear Toni Locy’s appeal of a contempt finding that could impose crippling fines on the former USA Today reporter. The appellate hearing . . . Court of appeals to hear Locy arguments tomorrow http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6740 On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., will hear Toni Locy’s appeal of a contempt finding that could impose crippling fines on the former USA Today reporter. Former Army . . . Navy releases McCain's military records http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6739 Following a Freedom of Information Act request by the Associated Press, the Navy on Wednesday released GOP presidential hopeful John McCain's military records. For his part, the Arizona senator . . . Defender of whistle-blowers accused of retaliation http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6738 It's always a bad sign when the U.S. Special Counsel, whose job it is to protect whistleblowers, is under investigation for destroying evidence related to charges he retaliated against his own . . . ACLU launches pre-emptive strike in Denver http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6737 If history is any precedent, there will be many restrictions placed on protesters and the journalists who try to cover them during the Democratic National Convention in Denver at the end of the . . . Wikipedia case may test Section 230 again http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6736 Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides protection from liability for Internet service providers for content posted by third parties, is more necessary than ever these days. It . . . Mo. governor's office is overcharging for e-mails, lawsuit claims http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6735 A special investigative team set up by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon is suing to force Gov. Matt Blunt and the state's custodian of records to release state government e-mails . . . Ill. high court denies request to unseal R. Kelly documents http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6734 The Illinois Supreme Court on Monday denied without comment a motion to unseal documents in the child pornography case against R&B singer R. Kelly. The Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune . . . Judge sues columnist over allegation of conflict http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=6733 Libel suits brought by judges are always a serious concern for journalists because of the deferential treatment judges are often given in the legal system, as two recent cases have taught us. A . . .