Destructive grass fires. The death penalty trial of a 9/11 conspirator. A woman who overcame abuse and numerous foster homes and shelters and now hopes to rescue her siblings from similar conditions.
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Each of these stories was printed in the pages of The Oklahoman the past seven days. None of them could have been published without laws providing for open records and meetings.
From March 12-17, reporters from The Oklahoman wrote more than 100 stories that depended at least in part on laws that require government to conduct its business with openness. That's nearly three of every four stories.
Sunshine Week, which ends today, is a national effort to educate the public and encourage discussion about the importance of open government laws. Organizers said they are overjoyed with the response. Locally, the attention has made a difference.
Stories about possible violations of the state's Open Records Act caused some officials to think twice about their policies.
After a story in Sunday's editions questioned copying fees at various municipalities, Oklahoma City officials said they would review their policies. The city charges $35 for copies of video and audio tapes and charges search fees for some police reports in apparent conflict with the law.
"We're going to take a look at that," City Manager Jim Couch said. "Anytime somebody thinks our fees are out of line, we have a responsibility to look at that."
Couch said the approach of Oklahoma City officials always is to be as open as possible.
"Government needs to be very transparent and open to all," Couch said. "We've got to be able to justify any action that we do. You can't hide that under the cover of closed records."
Oklahoma State University officials said they would seek more open records training for employees after a story in Friday's editions questioned whether the school was responding to open records requests promptly and reasonably as state law requires.
A small Sunshine Week logo informed readers of stories that could not have been published if not for laws providing for open records and meetings.
Some of the stories that carried that logo included:
Coverage of the death penalty trial of convicted 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui. A judge nearly took the death penalty off the table upon finding out a prosecutor improperly coached some witnesses.
The damage grass fires caused in southeast Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Hundreds of residents were told to evacuate their homes as 45 mph winds drove grass fires toward their neighborhoods.
The three-part story of Karesha Richardson, 24, who overcame years of abuse from her mother and bounced around foster homes and shelters. Richardson is fighting to become foster mother to some of her seven siblings.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson said Sunshine Week has accomplished its goal of bringing attention to the issue of open government.
"I think it's been very helpful," Edmondson said. "The more we can do to put light on this situation the better. All of us would much rather have government complying with the law than prosecution of those who didn't."
