BREAKING: FAC represents journalist Holly McDede in a lawsuit against LAUSD for unlawfully withholding records on teacher misconduct—including allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Public records are public for a reason. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

In a North State library, FAC's Thad Greenson and @davidloy.bsky.social unpacked CA public meetings laws to a full room of Shasta County residents eager to know their rights. Thanks to our partners @shastascout.bsky.social @amcommmedia.bsky.social! firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/in...

Journalists should not face arrest for carrying industry-standard safety gear while covering protests. We stand with the @pmwglocal39521.bsky.social & @aclu-norcal.bsky.social in fighting this Modesto ordinance. www.fresnobee.com/news/califor...

📋 45 story ideas, press rights and public records crash courses, and much more was packed into FAC's Inland Empire Watchdog Workshop on May 8. Journalists came together to learn, connect, and sharpen their tools for holding power accountable. 🔍 firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/jo...

400 days on average for public records? The decision in @voiceofsandiego.org v. San Diego Unified School District is unfortunate, says FAC's David Snyder to @ariquelmy.bsky.social @courthousenews.bsky.social. "The public has to wait far too long.” www.courthousenews.com/san-diego-sc...

A city's values and priorities are expressed in its budget. So why did the city refuse to disclose councilmembers' budget memos? “Wanting to keep these memos secret suggests that they’re not saying the same thing in the memo that they were saying in public," says FAC's David Snyder.

💪 California student journalists will always have an ally in FAC! 💪 www.marinij.com/2026/05/08/e...

Inland Empire, FAC is headed to you tomorrow to: ✅️ brainstorm investigative story ideas ✅️ tackle your public access questions ✅️ deepen your knowledge of press rights. Featuring: KVCR & @investigate_la, with support from @RivCoRecord!

🎙️ Inland Empire journalists! We are on our way for a day of training. We can't wait to brainstorm investigative story ideas, tackle your public access questions and deepen your knowledge of press rights. It's not too late to sign up. Email: education [@]firstamendmentcoalition.org

VICTORY! A judge has ruled the City of Fresno broke the law when it held its budget committee meetings in secret. FAC brought this lawsuit with @aclu-norcal.bsky.social. fresnoland.org/2026/05/05/j...

A CA school district ordered student journalists to take down two stories -- a violation of the state's student journalists' press rights law. @edsource.org talked to @splc.org and FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social about school admins squelching students' press freedom. edsource.org/2026/high-sc...

TODAY! We're excited to be in Redding today to give a Know Your Rights program on public meetings protections. We're proud to partner with @shastascout.bsky.social and @amcommmedia.bsky.social to offer this educational community event.

What is the San Diego Police hiding? SDPD refuses to release bodycam footage of their role in ICE operations. We’re representing @daylightsdnews.bsky.social to get the truth. The public deserves to know what police in their community are doing. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/sa...

If you missed Friday's @amcommmedia.bsky.social briefing on uncovering ICE's local partnerships with law enforcement, see the recording and find out what are authorities trying to hide. Featuring FAC's @davidloy.bskly.social and Thad Greenson! americancommunitymedia.org/media-briefi...

The City of San Diego is still withholding bodycam footage from the Marcus Evans incident in our public records lawsuit. But why? Officers have been cleared of wrongdoing. @davidloy.bsky.social tells @sandiegouniontribune.com: this "only confirms the city has no legal basis to withhold" the footage.

What are authorities trying to hide? 🕵️‍♂️ Join FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social and Thad Greenson for a deep dive with @amcommmedia.bsky.social on uncovering ICE's local partnerships. Get records, read the data, and know what to look for. Don't miss this briefing americancommunitymedia.org/media-briefi...

FAC's Paloma Esquivel (center) joined Dr. Mai Nguyen Do (left) of the Harbor Institute for Immigrant & Economic Justice and Willie Lubka of @buenvecino.bsky.social to talk about obtaining and using data to advance accountability at the annual Immigrant Day of Action in Sacramento last week.

Had a blast representing @harborinstituteoc.bsky.social at the @caimmigrant.bsky.social Immigrant Day of Action Conference earlier this week speaking alongside @eri-usc.bsky.social, @buenvecino.bsky.social, @facoalition.bsky.social about accessing and communicating data to advance immigrant justice!

The story behind the lawsuit: @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social writes about why he's suing Imperial County for its communications with federal immigration enforcement www.joeyscott.xyz/foia-friday-...

FAC is representing @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social in a lawsuit against Imperial County for withholding public records about the county's cooperation with ICE and other federal immigration enforcement agencies. More⬇️ firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

Motion granted! Public Justice scored a win on behalf of FAC, @thesouthlander.bsky.social, @lapublicpress.bsky.social & Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice to unseal documents in a case against the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. Learn more here ⬇️ firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/mo...

No matter your politics, we can all agree that timely transparency is essential for government accountability. But the state assembly is considering a bill that will make public records request responses even slower. Here's why we oppose AB 1821 ⬇️ firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/la...

How are #immigration issues impacting individuals and families, and what is the role of media? FAC's Paloma Esquivel (center) joined a panel discussion discussing these issues at @calulacfoundation.bsky.social annual convention. We were so honored to attend!

Delayed access to public records is denial of access. AB 1821 would permit unacceptable delays. The public has a right to timely records—no delays, no excuses. People don’t want more delays in CPRA. We urge NO on AB 1821. firstamendmentcoalition.org/2026/04/09/f...

This @sandiegouniontribune.com editorial calls out AB 1821, noting: "it’s only the latest attempt [...] to undercut clearly written laws to make it harder for journalists and the general public to ferret out government incompetence, waste and corruption." www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/04/10/r...

What’s one thing happening in your community right now that more people should know about? Today FAC staff will share what they're reading in their local news. Respond by telling us what you're reading! Today is #LocalNewsDay. Start Local. Stay Connected.

Attention Reporters! Our new Reporter’s Field Guide: Data Sources in California will point you to publicly available data on criminal justice, education, government finances, health, the environment and more. firstamendmentcoalition.org/handbook/rep...

FAC Legal DIrector @DavidLoy.bsky.social talked with Jade Hindmon of @kpbssandiego.bsky.social about the recent court ruling against the Trump administration's defunding of PBS and NPR, asserting it violated the First Amendment. Listen to the full interview: www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb...

A California lawmaker has an introduced a bill that would impose high fees on records requestors and make the process move more slowly. Lawmakers should reject AB 1821. See FAC's David Snyder's @calmatters op-ed: calmatters.org/commentary/2...

Are San Diego County’s "secret" subcommittees violating state law? 🧐 FAC's @davidloy.bsky.social warns these "ad-hoc" groups tackle long-term issues that should be discussed publicly: “It does look to me that this presents significant Brown Act problems.” www.kpbs.org/news/politic...

How can we have election integrity without transparency? A judge has sealed the warrants allowing Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco to seize 600,000 ballots. Show us the warrant! The legal basis for such an unprecedented move should be open to public scrutiny. 🔍️ calmatters.org/politics/202...

Want to see what your government is doing? Be prepared to pay up. 💸 A California bill would let public agencies charge for staff time on public records requests—a major blow to government accountability and transparency. Sunshine shouldn't be for sale. ☀️ calmatters.org/politics/202...

Public business should be done in public. No more secret subcommittees. San Diegans deserve a transparent government they can hold accountable. Check out the latest from @voiceofsandiego.org: voiceofsandiego.org/2026/03/20/i...

Thanks for joining us @lby3.bsky.social and hope many of you will join us! bsky.app/profile/lby3...

When life gives you lemons, you make Lemon Pound Cake, then prevail in court. Great explainer by @thefireorg.bsky.social on the #Afroman verdict last week that was a big win for the First Amendment. www.youtube.com/shorts/im4mk...

FAC Legal Director @davidloy.bsky.social warns Fresno’s proposal to use facial recognition at public meetings could violate California’s Brown Act and chill public participation. You have the right to attend public meetings anonymously. gvwire.com/2026/03/17/f...

FAC recently joined 900+ students at the Associated Collegiate Press national media conference in SF to talk press rights, public records, and the vital importance of diverse perspectives in journalism. Read more about the next generation of reporters: firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/yo...

Happy #SunshineWeek! ☀️ From classroom visits to legal battles for transparency, FAC is celebrating the public’s right to know. At a time when government transparency is under strain, let’s protect our access to the truth. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/ce...

No one really knows how much it's cost to oust former San Mateo Sheriff Christina Corpus, but it's troubling the government doesn't want the public to know, ignoring public records act requests from @mercnews for the info. www.mercurynews.com/2026/03/15/s...

We’re kicking off #SunshineWeek in classrooms and community events. Yesterday, FAC Advocacy Director @ginnylaroe.bsky.social was on campus at SF State University (pictured) and our Executive Director David Snyder talked to a class at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social.

Under California law, county health officers can inspect private immigration detention centers, and those inspection reports may be obtained through public records requests.

Immigration court hearings are generally open to the public, and if space is limited, federal rules say priority must be given to the press.

An appeals court has ruled an elementary school violated the First Amendment in a case involving the speech rights of 1st graders. Great piece on students' speech rights by @brieannafrank.bsky.social @USATODAY.com www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

FAC joined a broad coalition of 41 organizations calling for the release of Nashville journalist Estefany Rodriguez, who was detained by ICE last week without a warrant. See the full letter ⬇️ firstamendmentcoalition.org/2026/03/10/p...

ICE continues to retaliate against non-US journalists who cover their operations by detaining them for deportation. Last year, it was Mario Guevara, who was removed to El Salvador. Now, Estefany Rodriguez could be deported to Colombia. Both fled their countries and sought safety in the US.

Previously secret video footage showing Ventura County sheriff's deputies at the Glass House Farms immigration raid last summer became public thanks to a lawsuit filed by FAC, attorneys Gregory Pleasants and Shaffy Moeel for @buenvecino.bsky.social. firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...

🎉 More kudos to the @mississippitoday.org team! The FAC-award winning collaboration with @nytimes.com Local Investigations Fellowship and @RevealNews.org has won another award, this time the Peter F. Collier Award for Ethics in Journalism. mississippitoday.org/2026/03/04/m...

“Ashley broke the story of the lead contamination crisis, and then she and Callie just kept digging until they’d exposed all that went wrong at the district," says Esther Kaplan of @oaklandside.org about Ashley McBride and Callie Rhoades winning a FAC award oaklandside.org/2026/03/03/o...

TONIGHT at 7:30 PM! There's still time to RSVP ⬇️

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 FAC Free Speech & Open Government Awards! See more about the winning stories: firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/th...