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Free speech case springs from fracking dispute

2014-09-05T19:44:22-05:00

By Jim Malewitz The Texas Tribune Originally published Sept. 5, 2014 Steve Lipsky’s tainted water well had already stirred national debate about the impacts of oil and gas production. Now it stars in a free speech dispute that has landed in Texas’ highest court – the biggest test of a state law meant to curb attempts to stifle public protest. So much methane has migrated into the well on Lipsky’s Parker County estate that he can ignite the stream that flows from it with the flick of a barbeque lighter. The Wisconsin transplant blames the phenomenon on nearby gas drilling in [...]

Free speech case springs from fracking dispute2014-09-05T19:44:22-05:00

First Amendment rights, open government essential to democracy

2022-03-31T17:08:45-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Sept. 4, 2014 Defending the U.S. Constitution is popular these days, when it centers on gun rights, states’ rights or search and seizure protections. As we guard the principles of our nation’s founders, let’s not overlook the all-important First Amendment of the Constitution and its guarantee of free speech and free press, which, along with public access to government information, are crucial to our democracy. The non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has been fighting for these First Amendment liberties and the doctrine of open government since the foundation [...]

First Amendment rights, open government essential to democracy2022-03-31T17:08:45-05:00

Texas Supreme Court voids order to identify blogger

2014-09-04T13:21:18-05:00

By Chuck Lindell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Aug. 29, 2014 An Ohio company, seeking to sue a sharply critical blogger who wrote under a pseudonym, cannot use the Texas courts to discover the online author’s identity, a divided Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday. The 5-4 decision voided a Harris County district judge’s ruling that ordered Google Inc., which operated the blog’s online home, to disclose the blogger’s name and address so the company would know who to sue for defamation and business disparagement. To order such pre-lawsuit disclosures, however, a Texas court must first establish that the person targeted for a [...]

Texas Supreme Court voids order to identify blogger2014-09-04T13:21:18-05:00

Donnis Baggett to receive FOI Foundation’s James Madison Award at Sept. 12 conference

2014-09-02T19:09:41-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 2, 2014 AUSTIN - Donnis Baggett, whose career has spanned more than 40 years in Texas journalism, is the recipient of the 2014 James Madison Award presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The award goes to those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to upholding the principles of the First Amendment. It will be presented Sept. 12 during the John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon at the foundation’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference in Austin. Baggett, the executive vice president of the Texas Press Association, leads the association’s governmental affairs program, focusing on protecting open [...]

Donnis Baggett to receive FOI Foundation’s James Madison Award at Sept. 12 conference2014-09-02T19:09:41-05:00

McAllen noise ordinance prompts First Amendment lawsuit

2014-09-02T14:29:52-05:00

By Karen Antonacci The Monitor Originally published Sept. 1, 2014 McALLEN — Hector Guzman Lopez pointed to the megaphone slung on his shoulder Monday morning while he explained his freshly-filed lawsuit alleging the city is infringing on his First Amendment rights. But, if he used the megaphone, he could be issued a citation and fined as much as $500, he said. Lopez, through his lawyers Efrén Olivares and Carlos M. Garcia, filed a lawsuit against the city Monday saying the city ordinance prohibiting megaphones and yelling is unconstitutional. While parts of the ordinance Lopez took issue with have been on the [...]

McAllen noise ordinance prompts First Amendment lawsuit2014-09-02T14:29:52-05:00

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