Opinion Make Sure Meetings Stay Open In Montana Each year at this time, newspapers across the nation recognize Sunshine Week as a reminder of the importance of transparency in government. The role of journalists include making sure government agencies follow open meeting laws including public notices. In Montana, we’re fortunate that the Freedom of Information hotline, 406-4428670,

The recent challenges that newspaper publisher Darla Downs encountered when trying to have a county attorney removed from office has brought awareness to the inadequacies of the process. Downs successfully won the challenge when district judge Katherine Bidegaray ruled in February that Frank Piocos wasn’t an eligible candidate because he wasn’t a resident of Roosevelt County at the time