FOIFT, Author at Freedom of Information Foundation Texas

Veteran journalist and FOI proponent Ross Ramsey to receive James Madison Award

FOIFT2022-08-31T17:47:23-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 30, 2022 Veteran journalist and FOI proponent Ross Ramsey to receive James Madison Award AUSTIN – Ross Ramsey, a Texas journalist for more than 40 years and longtime champion of the people’s right to know, will be honored with the prestigious James Madison Award. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award on those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of the First Amendment and open government. The foundation will present the award at its state conference Sept. 29 in Austin. Ramsey retired from The Texas Tribune earlier this year. He co-founded the online [...]

Veteran journalist and FOI proponent Ross Ramsey to receive James Madison AwardFOIFT2022-08-31T17:47:23-05:00

FOI Foundation of Texas state conference set for Sept. 29

FOIFT2022-08-31T17:48:26-05:00

AUSTIN - Transparency issues surrounding the Uvalde mass shooting, First Amendment rights in school libraries and journalism classrooms and news leaders' and legislators' views on the current open government landscape are the focus of the upcoming FOI Foundation state conference, "New Takes on Texas Transparency." The event will be Thursday, Sept. 29, at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave., in Austin. Individual tickets and sponsorships are available for purchase online at www.foift.org. Discounted hotel rooms can be reserved for the night of Sept. 28. (Use this reservation link; the cutoff date for the conference hotel room rate is Monday, [...]

FOI Foundation of Texas state conference set for Sept. 29FOIFT2022-08-31T17:48:26-05:00

Katy ISD police ‘investigated’ a library book after complaint alleged it was ‘harmful to minors’

FOIFT2022-08-23T17:49:14-05:00

By Hannah Dellinger Houston Chronicle Originally published Aug. 23, 2022 A Katy ISD police officer temporarily removed a copy of a book from a high school library last month as part of an investigation after a woman filed a criminal complaint alleging the district was providing “harmful” material to minors. The book, “Flamer,” by Mike Curato, had been formally reviewed by a committee and deemed appropriate for high school students in the district in March, records show. However, a vocal group of parents and community members continued to speak out against the book at many board meetings, saying the descriptions of [...]

Katy ISD police ‘investigated’ a library book after complaint alleged it was ‘harmful to minors’FOIFT2022-08-23T17:49:14-05:00

Coalition of news organizations sues Texas DPS over withheld records on Uvalde shooting

FOIFT2022-08-02T09:21:21-05:00

By Zach Despart The Texas Tribune Originally published Aug. 1, 2022 More than a dozen news organizations filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday, accusing the agency of unlawfully withholding public records related to the May school shooting in Uvalde. The organizations — which include The Texas Tribune and its partner ProPublica and other local, state and national newsrooms — have each filed requests under the Texas Public Information Act for information detailing the response by various authorities, including law enforcement, to the massacre. DPS has refused to release records in response to these requests, even [...]

Coalition of news organizations sues Texas DPS over withheld records on Uvalde shootingFOIFT2022-08-02T09:21:21-05:00

Bexar County, city of Elmendorf fight to keep body cam footage of police killing secret

FOIFT2022-07-26T12:28:31-05:00

By Paul Flahive Texas Public Radio Originally published July 25, 2022 Two years ago, Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy Brandin Moran killed Jesus Benito Garcia in a rain of gunfire while a sergeant with the Elmendorf Police Department looked on. TPR requested body cam footage for both officers in an attempt to answer questions around Moran’s use of deadly force and the significant differences in narratives between Garcia’s family and law enforcement of what transpired. But both the county and the city of Elmendorf are fighting to keep the footage confidential. Read the full story here.

Bexar County, city of Elmendorf fight to keep body cam footage of police killing secretFOIFT2022-07-26T12:28:31-05:00

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