FOIFT, Author at Freedom of Information Foundation Texas

Austin cites new state law to keep secret pandemic relief non-profits

FOIFT2021-01-11T20:50:22-06:00

By Ryan AutulloAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 8, 2021 More than $6 million in taxpayer money flowed to Austin nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but taxpayers might never learn the identities of the organizations that got the money or get a chance to dig into their stated need for assistance. The city of Austin is citing a little-noticed provision in a new Texas law to keep secret the identities of non-profits receiving taxpayer pandemic relief funds. Read the full story here.

Austin cites new state law to keep secret pandemic relief non-profitsFOIFT2021-01-11T20:50:22-06:00

Newspaper highlights its best uses of Texas Public Information Act in 2020

FOIFT2021-01-11T20:51:58-06:00

By Marshall ReidDenton Record-ChronicleOriginally published Dec. 29, 2020 Each year, Denton Record-Chronicle reporters send dozens of requests for public information, a quasi-formal process to obtain hard-to-obtain information from government agencies. Requests range from routine contract requests to more complicated asks that often get bumped to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for guidance. Read the full story here about some of the best uses of the Texas Public Information Act by the Record-Chronicle in 2020.

Newspaper highlights its best uses of Texas Public Information Act in 2020FOIFT2021-01-11T20:51:58-06:00

FOIFT challenges roadblocks to public information

FOIFT2020-12-09T17:22:20-06:00

News 4 San Antonio/WOAI broadcast this piece by reporter April Molina on Nov. 29 explaining barriers to public information that citizens are encountering during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/foift-challenges-roadblocks-to-public-information

FOIFT challenges roadblocks to public informationFOIFT2020-12-09T17:22:20-06:00

After shutting down workouts, UH avoids serious COVID-19 outbreaks, public records show

FOIFT2020-11-16T22:34:44-06:00

By Joseph DuarteHouston ChronicleOriginally published Nov. 12, 2020 The University of Houston athletic department has avoided any serious outbreaks of the novel coronavirus since temporarily halting voluntary summer workouts in June, test results provided to the Houston Chronicle show. During a nearly three-month span from July 30 to Oct. 22, the athletic department reported 26 positive cases out of 5,453 tests administered — a positivity rate of .005 percent — for 14 varsity sports, according to data obtained through an open-records request. Read the full story here.

After shutting down workouts, UH avoids serious COVID-19 outbreaks, public records showFOIFT2020-11-16T22:34:44-06:00

Journalist Karen Blumenthal receives James Madison Award for open records activism

FOIFT2020-11-10T20:26:22-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 10, 2020 AUSTIN – The late journalist and author Karen Blumenthal, an ardent advocate for the people’s right to know who ensured public access to historic Texas records in the Roe v. Wade case, has been honored with the 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. Blumenthal spent more than two decades with The Wall Street Journal, including eight years as its Dallas bureau chief, and wrote non-fiction books for young people in the final [...]

Journalist Karen Blumenthal receives James Madison Award for open records activismFOIFT2020-11-10T20:26:22-06:00

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