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UT regents call special meeting on Hall’s new information requests

2015-04-07T15:13:23-05:00

By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published April 6, 2015 Inquiries by a grand jury and an outside consultant have wrapped up. Calls for resignation have been ignored, and impeachment efforts have stalled. But the controversy over requests for information from University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall continues to boil. The system’s board of regents on Monday called a special meeting for this week to discuss a new request from Hall. The outspoken regent is seeking information about a March investigative report by Kroll Associates that was critical of UT-Austin President Bill Powers and other top university officials. According [...]

UT regents call special meeting on Hall’s new information requests2015-04-07T15:13:23-05:00

Perry prosecutors fight to keep invoices secret

2015-04-06T15:38:34-05:00

By Terri Langford The Texas Tribune Originally published April 3, 2015 A Houston lawyer, for reasons unknown, is trying to get the detailed billing records submitted by special prosecutors pursuing felony charges against former Gov. Rick Perry, opening another front in the tangled legal saga. While the likely presidential candidate waits to hear if an appeals court will throw out the charges against him, special prosecutors Mike McCrum and David Gonzalez are now suing state Attorney General Ken Paxton on the side. They are fighting an open records ruling that might force them to disclose details of their investigation, including whom [...]

Perry prosecutors fight to keep invoices secret2015-04-06T15:38:34-05:00

Spirit of FOI Awards open to broadcast, online and newspaper entries

2015-04-02T14:00:16-05:00

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is seeking entries for the annual Spirit of FOI Awards, which recognize outstanding journalism promoting open government and the public's right to know. This year the awards are open to television and radio stations and online news organizations as well as newspapers. Eligible work must have been published in 2014. Winners will be honored at the FOI Foundation of Texas annual conference Sept. 17 and will be chosen from two size categories: news organizations in markets over 500,000 population and those under 500,000 population. For more details go to the Spirit of FOI Award [...]

Spirit of FOI Awards open to broadcast, online and newspaper entries2015-04-02T14:00:16-05:00

House Elections Committee hears election notice bills

2015-03-30T22:30:19-05:00

The Texas House Elections Committee was hearing two bills Monday that would move election notice information from newspapers to government websites. House Bill 1499 by Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston,would allow a newspaper notice to state only a website address at which readers could go find election polling place locations, rather than listing all the locations. House Bill 2644 by Rep. Cesar Jose Blanco, D-El Paso, would allow election boundary locations to be listed online on a government website rather than in a newspaper. Blanco indicated he is willing to work with opponents of his bill to change its language. The Freedom [...]

House Elections Committee hears election notice bills2015-03-30T22:30:19-05:00

Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open records

2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00

Editorial Tyler Morning Telegraph Originally published March 25, 2015 One of the best ideas to come out of this year’s Sunshine Week — a week dedicated to open and accountable government — is a bipartisan movement in Austin to change the way governing bodies such as cities and counties do economic development. An “Economic Development Transparency Coalition” has formed, calling on the Legislature to change the Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act to make economic development matters — like tax incentives and abatements — open to the public. The Coalition includes conservative groups, such as the Texas Public Policy [...]

Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open records2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00
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