-Isms: Views on life in rural America

Typically, at the end of the legal notices that run in the paper, I add the phrase, "The public has the right to know."

You do.

The premise is etched into our statehouse's north wall, "The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen."

Now, more than ever, you should educate yourselves on the ins and outs of freedom of information laws. Now, more than ever, there's a need for citizens to become involved.

This is Sunshine Week, a time to highlight the necessity of open government. In Nebraska, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-172 to 84-712.09, coupled with the Open Meetings Act, §84-1407 to §84-14...