Gov. Greg Abbott

Threats from Gov. Abbott among reasons why a Texas school district keeps book challenges secretive

FOIFT2022-01-10T17:02:41-06:00

By Talia Richman The Dallas Morning News Originally published Jan. 10, 2022 Fear of retribution from Gov. Greg Abbott contributes to Keller school officials’ push to keep deliberations about which books to ban from libraries private. ... Joe Larsen, an attorney on the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas board of directors, reviewed Keller ISD’s arguments. But despite the district’s concerns, he said, book challenge committee meetings should be open to the public because of the decisions members are empowered to make. “What we’re able to read is the basis of a free society,” Larsen said. “There are obviously going to [...]

Threats from Gov. Abbott among reasons why a Texas school district keeps book challenges secretiveFOIFT2022-01-10T17:02:41-06:00

Coronavirus has upended local government, moving democracy online and putting it on hold in some cases

FOIFT2020-04-13T15:21:43-05:00

By Joshua FechterSan Antonio Express-NewsOriginally published April 13, 2020 Democracy at the local level usually involves elected officials weighing policy within arm’s reach of each other, residents delivering impassioned remarks at a lectern, oblivious to the microphone’s cleanliness, and voters filing into libraries and schools. But the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus has forced elected officials to try to strike a balance between open government and the need for everyone to keep their distance from each another — a key tool in slowing the spread of the virus but not conducive to public participation. “The virus doesn’t care about democracy,” [...]

Coronavirus has upended local government, moving democracy online and putting it on hold in some casesFOIFT2020-04-13T15:21:43-05:00

Texas is behind the curve on releasing timely information on the coronavirus. Here’s why.

FOIFT2020-04-06T15:44:38-05:00

By John Tedesco, Alex Stuckey, Stephanie Lamm, Matt DempseyHouston ChronicleOriginally published April 4, 2020 Texas is bracing for a pandemic that is projected to kill tens of thousands of people across the U.S., but health officials and state leaders are struggling to provide the public with timely updates on how many people are infected and how many hospital beds and ventilators are available for the critically ill. Other states across the country have been providing coronavirus hospitalization figures for weeks. On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that 827 people have been hospitalized in Texas. But the true number of cases is [...]

Texas is behind the curve on releasing timely information on the coronavirus. Here’s why.FOIFT2020-04-06T15:44:38-05:00

Open government awareness during coronavirus emergency

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:21-05:00

By Kelley ShannonExecutive DirectorFreedom of Information Foundation of Texas The coronavirus emergency is creating trying times for public officials and citizens when it comes to open government. But transparency and the public's right to know are vitally important during a disaster. We need more information flowing now, not less. Here are reminders and resources for complying with Texas transparency laws during the COVID-19 outbreak: Gov. Greg Abbott has suspended one portion of the Texas Open Meetings Act dealing with public gatherings during a videoconference or telephone meeting of a public body, but all other aspects of the law remain in force. [...]

Open government awareness during coronavirus emergencyFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:21-05:00

Gov. Abbott suspends part of Texas Open Meetings Act during coronavirus emergency

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:23-05:00

By Kelley ShannonExecutive DirectorFOI Foundation of Texas We at the FOI Foundation of Texas recognize the need to avoid large public gatherings right now during the coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Greg Abbott's suspension of part of the Texas Open Meetings Act allows additional options for governments holding virtual meetings, either through telephone or videoconferencing. Virtual meetings are already permitted under the law, but this action removes the requirement of a physical location for the public to observe the video or phone meeting. It also removes the requirement that a quorum of a governmental body be physically present in one location. Members of [...]

Gov. Abbott suspends part of Texas Open Meetings Act during coronavirus emergencyFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:23-05:00

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