Correction: CCN Won Records Suit

The publication Central Speaks reported that in 2010, the Central City News “unsuccessfully sued to obtain the records of Central’s city service contractor, CH2MHill.” However, that is incorrect. In 2010, the Central City News sued CH2MHill for access to records in its possession. The newspaper won in the First Circuit Court of Appeal and in the Louisiana Supreme Court. The newspaper received the public records it sought, and CH2MHill paid all four years of attorney fees of the newspaper and court costs.
Central Speaks also said the Central City News did not use the information it received. That too is untrue. The primary report was in the Nov. 7, 2013 Central City News, which can be read at centralcitynews.net.
For its reporting on these matters, the Central City News won the Freedom of Information Award, the highest award given by the Louisiana Press Association, in 2011 and again in 2014.