Judge orders Tacoma City Council to record executive meetings

The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) won what may be the first court ruling of its kind in Washington state, when a judge ordered the Tacoma City Council to video and audio record its executive sessions. The newspaper's lawsuit comes on the heels of reporting by the News Tribune's Lewis Kamb on the city council's appointment process, during which council members likely violated Washington's Open Public Meetings Act by taking a private vote on applicants seeking appointment to the council. The newspaper's ruling could have broader implications to help assure open government laws are being upheld, legal experts say.