I have my reservations about Hug a News Person Day, which is coming up on April 4. For one thing, they’re probably thinking of the kind of newspeople you see on TV. “C’mon, admit it. You’ve watched your cute newsman day in and day out. You’ve always told yourself if …

Dennis Myers at the Reno News-Review has followed up on the Associated Press request for legislator records by asking 62 Nevada lawmakers what they thought of the Assembly bill whisked through both houses on the last day of the session. Eight replied. And while a few said it was worth …

The Reno Gazette-Journal has a fascinating interview today with the Reno attorney, David Houston, who represented Hulk Hogan in his remarkable $140 million verdict against Gawker. I have not been into the details of the case enough to offer an informed opinion on what the verdict might mean for freedom …

Ralston Live will feature the type of interviews, commentary and analysis that have made Jon Ralston a household name in Nevada for many years. Longtime executive producer Dana Gentry also joins Ralston Live. Production of Ralston’s nightly broadcasts will be shared by Vegas PBS and KNPB Reno. The two stations …

Is government too open? Have our records and meeting laws actually gone too far in pushing transparency, such that they interfere with the decision-making process of democracy to the detriment of our society? My answer, of course, is no. But I was intrigued by the question offered as a recent …

By Kevin Slimp There is a rule of thumb which almost always proves to be true at newspaper conventions: attendance drops drastically on Saturday morning. There are plenty of theories on the subject from “too much fun on Friday night” to “heading home to be with the kids.” Whatever the …

Now that I’ve vented my frustrations with the Legislature’s refusal to release records, I have some suggestions for how to fix it. In fact, the Legislature can make itself far more accountable on both records and meetings without sacrificing its authority to make its own rules and live by only …

Here’s my quote in the Associated Press story about the Legislature’s response to a request for some records: “I’m appalled by the breadth of the arrogance in this response.” I told reporter Michelle Rindels quite a bit more, too (which I’ll get to later), but I think this pretty well …

The following column is being published in Nevada newspapers this week. By Barry Smith In an age when government leaks, classified e-mails and court orders to unlock phones seem to make the news daily, it’s worth remembering why we insist on open and transparent government. Sunshine Week is the annual …