News Releases
Monday, March 12, 2012 News from the City of Lawrence
(Sent: 2012-03-12 07:01:18)NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Monday, March 12, 2012 News from the City of Lawrence
1) Lawrence wins ‘Sunny Award'for government transparency
2) Volunteers needed to assist with flower planting
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Contact: Megan Gilliland, communications manager, (785) 832-3406
(Lawrence, Kan.) The Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, recently released the winners of the third annual Sunny Awards. Lawrence received an A+ and was one of only four cities, three counties and two school districts in Kansas to be honored. The Sunny Award honors the most transparent government websites in the nation, went to 214 government entities with Florida receiving the most Sunny Awards.
“The Sunny Awards recognizes governments that are doing an exemplary job at proactively disclosing information to taxpayers,” said Michael Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review. “We at Sunshine Review are proud to acknowledge those who are doing it right and setting a transparency standard that all governments can, and should, meet.”
The winners in Kansas were:
“The Sunny Awards recognizes governments that are doing an exemplary job at proactively disclosing information to taxpayers,” said Michael Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review. “We at Sunshine Review are proud to acknowledge those who are doing it right and setting a transparency standard that all governments can, and should, meet.”
The winners in Kansas were:
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Lawrence, KS
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A+
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Overland Park, KS
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A+
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Wichita Public School District, KS
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A+
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Johnson County, KS
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A-
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Sedgwick County, KS
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A-
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Derby USD #260
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A-
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Kansas City, KS
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A-
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Topeka, KS
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A-
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Wyandotte County, KS
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A-
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The Sunshine Review used a “10 Point Transparency Checklist” to analyze 50 state websites and more than 6,000 local government websites.
Editors looked at content available on government websites against what should be provided. They sought information on items such as budgets, meetings, lobbying, financial audits, contracts, academic performance, public records and taxes. The winners of the Sunny Award all received an “A” grade during the extensive grading process.
Since beginning the Sunny Awards in 2010, Sunshine Review has given 365 Sunny Awards to local and state governments.
“The winners of the Sunny Award know that information empowers every citizen to hold government officials accountable. Sunshine Review applauds the winners of the Sunny Award and encourages every government to allocate the resources to improving their website transparency,” said Barnhart.
Sunshine Review is a nonprofit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency. Sunshine Review collaborates with individuals and organizations throughout America in the cause of an informed citizenry and a transparent government. Since its inception in 2008, Sunshine Review has analyzed the websites of all 50 states and more than 6,000 state and local entities.
To see all of the winners click here. For more information, visit www.sunshinereview.org.
Since beginning the Sunny Awards in 2010, Sunshine Review has given 365 Sunny Awards to local and state governments.
“The winners of the Sunny Award know that information empowers every citizen to hold government officials accountable. Sunshine Review applauds the winners of the Sunny Award and encourages every government to allocate the resources to improving their website transparency,” said Barnhart.
Sunshine Review is a nonprofit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency. Sunshine Review collaborates with individuals and organizations throughout America in the cause of an informed citizenry and a transparent government. Since its inception in 2008, Sunshine Review has analyzed the websites of all 50 states and more than 6,000 state and local entities.
To see all of the winners click here. For more information, visit www.sunshinereview.org.
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Prepared by: Shane Warta, (785) 832-3458
(Lawrence, Kan.) - Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department has an opportunity for the public to assist with planting flowers 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 24, in Downtown Lawrence
Volunteers will assist in planting spring pansies along Massachusetts Street in the mid-block and corner planters. The department is looking for 10 to 12 additional people to assist with the planting. We request that volunteers be 14 years-old or older.
To volunteer, individuals may contact the Parks and Recreation administrative office (785) 832-3450 or sign up online at http://www.lawrenceks.org/lprd/flowerplanting.
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