Transparency

Sunshine Week Column: Taking a stand against public information blackouts

2024-03-11T10:16:29-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Shining light on our government through public information helps us ask questions of elected officials – and hold them accountable. Sunshine Week, taking place March 10-16, recognizes the importance of open government and educates Americans about their right to public information. It’s not an abstract notion. It’s about what’s happening in the real world. You may be checking on the safety of roads and bridges in your community. Or wanting to know how your school board is spending taxpayer money. Perhaps there’s concern about pollution or water quality in your [...]

Sunshine Week Column: Taking a stand against public information blackouts2024-03-11T10:16:29-05:00

TPIA rulings database required by recently enacted law now available on AG website

2024-01-05T18:58:01-06:00

A newly enacted state law requires the Texas Attorney General's Office to make available to the public a searchable database of attorney general rulings issued under the Texas Public Information Act. The database, called for in House Bill 3033, is now available on the agency's website. The law said the database was to be accessible to the public no later than Jan. 1, 2024. The link to the Public Information Act database can be found on the AG's Open Records Letter Rulings page. Previously, letter rulings were posted on the page in lengthy lists without the new search functions.  

TPIA rulings database required by recently enacted law now available on AG website2024-01-05T18:58:01-06:00

Judge orders Texas DPS to release Uvalde school shooting records

2023-12-01T10:48:24-06:00

By Tony Plohestski Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 30, 2023 A Travis County judge has issued a formal order to the Texas Department of Public Safety for the agency to release a trove of investigative information and evidence from the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. The Nov. 28 order by state District Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle closely follows her statements earlier this year that she intended to order the release of most documents, including videos and statements of officers and other law enforcement who responded to the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School. But the order more officially moves a [...]

Judge orders Texas DPS to release Uvalde school shooting records2023-12-01T10:48:24-06:00

Some Uvalde families call for DPS sanctions over Washington Post photo release

2023-11-17T11:19:17-06:00

By Sofi Zeman Uvalde Leader-News Originally published Nov. 16, 2023 Family members of victims killed and wounded in the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary filed sanctions against the Texas Department of Public Safety for selectively sharing crime scene images with the Washington Post. “The same DPS that stands before this court and argues that this information must be withheld from these families has now released some of this information to the Washington Post – one of the plaintiffs in this suit,” the motion reads. The original media lawsuit was filed in August and seeks to release the department’s 2022 [...]

Some Uvalde families call for DPS sanctions over Washington Post photo release2023-11-17T11:19:17-06:00

Odessa American public records lawsuit against the city has ended

2023-11-05T13:30:37-06:00

By Odessa American Originally published Oct. 20, 2023 The Odessa American’s almost four-year battle with the City of Odessa over public records access is over, as the Texas Supreme Court on Friday declined to take up the OA’s appeal of an appellate court decision in March to dismiss the lawsuit. AIM Media Texas LLC attorney John Bussian said the Odessa American “went the distance" — in its case that is a lot like the one against Uvalde— to try to hold the City to the requirement in the Texas public records law that the government ‘promptly’ turn over public records, rather [...]

Odessa American public records lawsuit against the city has ended2023-11-05T13:30:37-06:00
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