The state's student-loan agency violated the state Right-to-Know Law in withholding information about its spending on retreats for board members and other financial data, a state court ruled yesterday.

In a 5-2 ruling, a Commonwealth Court panel ordered the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority to disclose a variety of records and pay a portion of the legal fees incurred by media organizations whose reporters sought the documents -- The Associated Press, The Patriot-News of Harrisburg and Pittsburgh television station WTAE.

The news organizations are seeking records of credit-card spending and records pertaining to travel by PHEAA employees and board members, training, and board meetings held at posh resorts in several states.