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New England First Amendment Coalition

@nefac.bsky.social
894 followers 0 following 1.7K posts

NEFAC is the region’s leading defender of First Amendment freedoms and government transparency — the foundation of a healthy democracy. How you can support our work: nefac.org/support

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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Miss our Climate Reporting 102 class with Mara Hoplamazian at The Washington Sun? Catch up now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n9L... #opengov #journalism #data
youtube.com
Climate Reporting 102
YouTube video by New England First Amendment Coalition
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman recently spoke with Hope Melk at the UConn Daily Campus about free speech on campuses across the country and how students can best protect their rights. dailycampus.com/2026/09/21/u...
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
3 Decades After Sparking a Debate About Censorship, ‘Daddy’s Roommate’ Returns to Rutland | WCAX vtdigger.org/2026/09/27/3...
vtdigger.org
3 decades after sparking a debate about censorship, ‘Daddy’s Roommate’ returns to Rutland - VTDigger
The Rutland Free Library is launching a Freedom to Read Book Club with a pick that spurred local conflict and national coverage in the 1990s — and holds newfound relevance amid fights over the First…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Judge Rules Against Former Lexington Minute Men President, Citing ‘Prior Restraint,’ and Orders Minute Men Leaders to Disclose Documents | Boston Herald www.bostonherald.com/2026/09/26/j...
bostonherald.com
Judge rules against former Lexington Minute Men president, citing ‘prior restraint,’ and orders Minute Men leaders to disclose documents
A battle begun in Lexington continues in a Middlesex County Superior Court.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
CNN Left Off Air Force One for Trump’s Upcoming Trip, White House Signals in New Media Restriction | The Associated Press www.wcax.com/2026/09/26/c...
wcax.com
CNN left off Air Force One for Trump’s upcoming trip, White House signals in new media restriction
The news organization was replaced by Real America’s Voice News, a conservative outlet.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
In this month's Community newsletter: 👉 Recap: Reporters, Journalism Students Attend NEFAC's 16th Annual Negri Institute 👉 Recap: Judge William G. Young Receives Hamblett Award, Headlines Ceremony 👉 Register: Data in Campaign Reporting 102 More: conta.cc/4y7dyNZ
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
FOIC: J’Allen Jones Video Exempt From FOIA | Inside Investigator insideinvestigator.org/foic-jallen-...
insideinvestigator.org
FOIC: J'Allen Jones video exempt from FOIA
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
How to Make Officials Care About Public Records Reform? Wait Till Their Requests are Denied | Rhode Island Current rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/09/23/h...
rhodeislandcurrent.com
How to make officials care about public records reform? Wait till their requests are denied. • Rhode Island Current
After its public records requests to two quasi-public state agencies were partially denied, North Kingstown has appealed to the Rhode Island Attorney General's office. But advocates familiar with the…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Mid Vermont Christian School Argues Vermont’s Education Policy is Unconstitutional | NBC5 www.mynbc5.com/article/reli...
mynbc5.com
Religious school argues Vermont’s education policy is unconstitutional
Lawyers were in a New York federal appeals court Tuesday to argue a lawsuit over Vermont’s transformational education policy.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Journalists for CNN, MS NOW and Politico Return to the White House Upon Judge's Orders | NHPR www.nhpr.org/politics/202...
nhpr.org
Journalists for CNN, MS NOW and Politico return to the White House upon judge's orders
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Thursday to temporarily restore access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico, after they were banned from covering White House events by President Trump.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
In First Win for NEFAC Legal Fund, Maine Court Orders Release of Police Records in Domestic Violence Double-Murder Case nefac.org/news/maine-c...
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
NEFAC is condemning the Trump administration’s decision to bar three news outlets access to the White House and the property. We recently spoke to Marilyn Schairer at GBH News about the ban. www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
No Closed Trial for Billion-Dollar Maine Lottery Winner Suing Over Alleged Violation of Non-Disclosure Agreement | The Volokh Conspiracy reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
No Closed Trial for Billion-Dollar Maine Lottery Winner Suing Over Alleged Violation of Non-Disclosure Agreement
I have more details on this morning's First Circuit decision (written by Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson) in Doe v. Smith…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Inside the White House Media Ban | Politico www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
politico.com
Inside the White House media ban
Many senior staff were surprised by the directive, which happened while chief of staff Susie Wiles was out of town.
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Reposted by New England First Amendment Coalition
Edward Fitzpatrick @fitzprov.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
For his landmark ruling on the free speech rights of noncitizens, Judge William G. Young is recognized with a First Amendment award from @nefac.bsky.social www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/21/m...
bostonglobe.com
For his landmark ruling on the free speech rights of noncitizens, Judge Young is recognized with a First Amendment award - The Boston Globe
“The very essence of your profession is exactly the same as that of every United States judicial officer,” Judge William G. Young told journalists. “And it is this: to reach out for the truth.”
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
White House Faces Mounting Legal Backlash After Barring Journalists From CNN, MS NOW and Politico | NBC News www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
nbcnews.com
White House faces mounting legal backlash after barring journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico
The outlets’ workspaces sat empty as press groups and First Amendment experts condemned the ban and called for journalists’ access to be restored.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Federal Court Bars Augusta School Board From Restricting Public Comments | News Center Maine www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...
newscentermaine.com
Federal court bars Augusta school board from restricting public comments
A federal court has barred the Augusta School Department from enforcing portions of a former public comment policy that was challenged as unconstitutional.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Judge Confirms ‘Corn Pop’ Free Speech Settlement with Augusta School Department | Kennebec Journal www.centralmaine.com/2026/09/18/j...
centralmaine.com
Judge confirms ‘Corn Pop’ free speech settlement with Augusta School Department
Nicholas Blanchard and the Augusta School Department reached an agreement in August following two months of settlement talks.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Researchers Say NIH Grant Screening Process Violates First Amendment | USA Today www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
usatoday.com
Researchers say NIH grant screening process violates First Amendment
The lawsuit referenced an alleged list of 235 terms that "serve as proxies for the disfavored viewpoints" to screen existing grants or applications.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Massachusetts Question 1: Voters Weigh Ending Secrecy in State Government | WWLP www.wwlp.com/news/state-p...
wwlp.com
Massachusetts Question 1: Voters weigh ending secrecy in state government
Ballot Question one on the Massachusetts election ballot would make records held by the state legislature and the governor’s office subject to the state’s public records law.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
How Transparent is New Hampshire? | Concord Monitor www.concordmonitor.com/2026/09/18/h...
concordmonitor.com
How transparent is New Hampshire? - Concord Monitor
New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know law promises “the greatest possible public access” to government records. Access to these documents is one of the best ways for citizens to verify and ensure their…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Maine Judge Orders Bath Police to Release Records in 2024 Double Homicide | Portland Press Herald www.pressherald.com/2026/09/17/m...
pressherald.com
Maine judge orders Bath police to release records in 2024 double homicide
The decision came after The Times Record and WMTW sued alleging the police department improperly withheld the public records.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
📣 Registration Now Open: Learn about New Hampshire state court rules from attorney Rick Gagliuso at Bernstein Shur: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #opengov #journalism
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
📣 Registration Now Open! Join us next month for our second of two data in campaign reporting classes with Kelly Garrity at The Boston Globe: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #opengov #data #journalism
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
A Closer Look at Macklemore’s Ouster and the First Amendment | GBH www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
wgbh.org
GBH Daily: A closer look at Macklemore’s ouster and the First Amendment
Does the rapper’s ouster constitute a violation of the First Amendment?
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
📣 Registration Now Open! Join us next week to discuss data in campaign reporting with Kelly Garrity at The Boston Globe: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #journalism #data #opengov
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
📣 Registration Now Open! Join us in November to learn about metadata with Davis Erin Anderson at @freedom.press: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #opengov #journalism
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Reposted by New England First Amendment Coalition
Edward Fitzpatrick @fitzprov.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
U.S. District Judge William G. Young delivered a powerful speech in receiving the Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award from @nefac.bsky.social. He issued landmark ruling that theTrump admin violated free speech rights of noncitizens by targeting them for deportation for pro-Palestinian advocacy.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Judge Orders Bath Police to Release Minimally Redacted Records to WMTW, The Times Record | WMTW www.wmtw.com/article/bath...
wmtw.com
Bath police ordered to release minimally redacted records to WMTW, The Times Record
A Maine Superior Court judge has ordered the Bath Police Department to release public records with significantly fewer redactions to WMTW and The Times Record after both news organizations filed a…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Maine’s $1B Lottery Winner Asks to Drop Privacy Lawsuit Against Ex | Portland Press Herald www.pressherald.com/2026/09/16/m...
pressherald.com
Maine’s $1B lottery winner asks to drop privacy lawsuit against ex
The motion was filed less than 24 hours before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the man would have to reveal his identity should the case proceed to trial.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Data Centers Under Fire for Forcing Local Officials to Sign NDAs | Bloomberg Government news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
news.bgov.com
Data Centers Under Fire for Forcing Local Officials to Sign NDAs
State leaders are cracking down on data center developers’ use of secrecy as a bargaining chip when bringing their projects to town by preventing them from entering into nondisclosure agreements with…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Rhode Island’s Payroll Transparency Portal Hasn’t Been Updated in Nearly a Year | States Newsroom www.newsfromthestates.com/article/rhod...
newsfromthestates.com
Rhode Island’s payroll transparency portal hasn’t been updated in nearly a year
Members of the press, government watchdogs and the merely curious all use Rhode Island’s payroll transparency portal for easy lookup of any state employee’s salary, overtime and other essential wage…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
State to Belfast: Public Employee Pay ‘Is Not Confidential’ | The Belfast Maine Conversation www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/17/m...
bangordailynews.com
State to Belfast: public employee pay ‘is not confidential’
Bad faith can expose a jurisdiction to attorney fees, while willful FOAA violations can bring statutory fines.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
In this month's First Amendment and Sunshine News: 👉 Police Accountability 👉 Immigration Records 👉 Free Speech and Local Government 👉 Religion and the First Amendment 👉 Freedom of Expression on Campus 👉 And More... Read our September newsletter: conta.cc/4rlDpPN #opengov #journalism
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Judge Blocks DHS From Capping Foreign Student, Journalist Visas | USA Today www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
usatoday.com
Judge blocks DHS from capping foreign student, journalist visas
The judge called the Department of Homeland Security's reasoning for the change "exceptionally weak" and said it could have a "catastrophic" effect.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
CT Court Upholds State Law: No Religious Exemptions to Vaccines | CT Mirror www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
usatoday.com
Judge blocks DHS from capping foreign student, journalist visas
The judge called the Department of Homeland Security's reasoning for the change "exceptionally weak" and said it could have a "catastrophic" effect.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
New Study in RI Finds Some of the Police and Flock Claims of Transparency Are False | GoLocalProv www.golocalprov.com/news/aclu-of...
golocalprov.com
New Study in RI Finds Some of the Police and Flock Claims of…
GoLocalProv.com is the “go to” local Web experience that breaks the biggest local stories – sports, news, business, weather, news, politics, arts,…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
CSCU’s FOIA Handbook is More Than a Year Delayed | Inside Investigator insideinvestigator.org/transparency...
insideinvestigator.org
Transparency Update: CSCU's FOIA handbook is more than a year delayed
Read More at Inside Investigator >>
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Lawsuit Challenges Intimidation of DHS Observers Across the Country | NHPR www.nhpr.org/2026-09-10/l...
nhpr.org
Lawsuit challenges intimidation of DHS observers across the country
The sweeping lawsuit brought by Common Cause argues federal agencies are illegally surveilling and intimidating people who try to peacefully observe federal immigration enforcement activity.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Conn. Regulator GC Admonished to Abide By Records Law | Law 360 www.law360.com/pulse/connec...
law360.com
Conn. Regulator GC Admonished To Abide By Records Law - Law360 Pulse
The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission admonished the general counsel for the state's utility regulator on Wednesday, warning attorney Scott Muska to properly handle public records…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Federal Judge Blocks Vt. Attorney General Clark with Injunction Over 'Planet Hank' Videos | Vermont Business vermontbiz.com/news/2026/se...
vermontbiz.com
Federal Judge blocks Vt. Attorney General Clark with injunction over 'Planet Hank' videos | Vermont Business Magazine
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
CT Judge Dismisses Republican Candidate’s Defamation Suit | CT News Junkie ctnewsjunkie.com/2026/09/09/c...
ctnewsjunkie.com
CT Judge Dismisses Republican Candidate’s Defamation Suit | CT News Junkie
Jonathan De Barros, who served 19 years in prison after killing a man and was later pardoned, claimed in the lawsuit filed in Waterbury court in June that supporters of a political rival defamed him…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
ACLU Sues Hartford Immigration Court Over Public Access to Case Records in CT | CT Insider www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
ctinsider.com
Client Challenge
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In this month's Commentary and Coverage newsletter: 👉 Ipswich Bylaw Regulating Election Signs Raises First Amendment Concerns 👉 NEFAC Legal Fund Helps Rhode Island Resident Obtain Police Records About Mother's Death Read more and subscribe: conta.cc/4ytyVcc
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Meet Our Negri Institute Student Fellows; Students From Rhode Island, Massachusetts Schools to Attend Annual Investigative Journalism Program nefac.org/news/meet-ou...
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Federal Judge Allows Pentagon to Fire Three Stars and Stripes Journalists | CNN www.cnn.com/2026/09/04/b...
cnn.com
https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/04/business/stars-stripes-firings-pentagon-first-amendment
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Judge Refuses to Block Pentagon From Firing Stars and Stripes Staffers Over CBS Interview | Associated Press www.nhregister.com/entertainmen...
nhregister.com
Client Challenge
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Court Says Massachusetts Has to Say Where License Plate Readers Are, What They’re Recording | Gizmodo gizmodo.com/court-says-m...
gizmodo.com
Court Says Massachusetts Has to Say Where License Plate Readers Are, What They’re Recording
It’s a win for groups demanding transparency on how agencies are surveilling people.
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Marshfield Select Board Demands Immediate Handover of Public Records Portal Following Town Clerk Dispute | South Shore News www.southshore.news/p/marshfield...
southshore.news
Marshfield Select Board Demands Immediate Handover of Public Records Portal Following Town Clerk Dispute
MARSHFIELD — August 31, 2026 — Facing an escalating backlog of public records requests and a complete operational breakdown between departments, the Marshfield Select Board voted unanimously to…
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New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Officials in Worcester (Mass.), a week after telling the Telegram & Gazette they would not release investigations into police officers conducted by its DEI office, now say they will do so. www.telegram.com/story/news/l... #opengov #journalism
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