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Sunshine Week Column: Sun starting to shine again on Texas government

2022-03-31T17:08:24-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Texans have something to celebrate during Sunshine Week this year. But we also have more work to do to protect the public’s right to know about our government.  Sunshine Week, March 15-21, is an annual national initiative proclaiming the importance of access to public information. First, the bright spot for Texas: Essential elements of contracts between governments and private companies – including pricing and promises – are public again under a law that took effect Jan. 1. It seems like those basics of how taxpayer dollars are spent should be easily accessible, doesn’t it? They were, for years, [...]

Sunshine Week Column: Sun starting to shine again on Texas government2022-03-31T17:08:24-05:00

POSTPONED: FOI Foundation’s Open Government Seminar in San Antonio to be rescheduled

2020-03-25T15:01:43-05:00

The FOI Foundation's Open Government Seminar in San Antonio, previously scheduled for April 8, has been postponed amid coronavirus concerns and stay-at-home orders. Please stay tuned for the reschedule date, tentatively planned for June. The Open Government Seminar is part of a series of regional educational sessions the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is hosting this year in cooperation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.  It is open to all who are interested, including community activists, journalists, attorneys, government employees and the general public. “Fully participating in our democracy means having access to information. This seminar will inform citizens [...]

POSTPONED: FOI Foundation’s Open Government Seminar in San Antonio to be rescheduled2020-03-25T15:01:43-05:00

Roe v. Wade was filed 50 years ago, but Texas still won’t release the full legal files

2020-03-08T18:09:43-05:00

By Karen BlumenthalOpinion piece in The Dallas Morning NewsOriginally published March 8, 2020 Getting state and local government records of any kind, especially those of a famous legal case that is nearly 50 years old, should not require a lawyer or a bucket of cash. The state’s Public Information Act is supposed to compel state and local governmental bodies to release records to those who request them within 10 business days. That kind of transparency is crucial to an open society and trust and accountability in government. But in recent years, accessing these documents has gotten harder and more expensive and [...]

Roe v. Wade was filed 50 years ago, but Texas still won’t release the full legal files2020-03-08T18:09:43-05:00

Austin officials fast-track new policy to release online videos of critical incidents

2020-03-05T18:28:29-06:00

By Katie HallAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published March 2, 2020 Austin police are on track to begin releasing available video footage of new critical incidents by the end of this month under a new policy, police officials say. The video release policy — modeled after the Los Angeles Police Department’s rules on sharing footage — comes after the Austin City Council directed the police department in February to produce a clear protocol by the end of March. Read the full story here.

Austin officials fast-track new policy to release online videos of critical incidents2020-03-05T18:28:29-06:00

Odessa American files lawsuit against city of Odessa

2020-02-19T15:15:30-06:00

By Laura DennisOdessa AmericanOriginally published Jan. 31, 2020 The Odessa American has filed a lawsuit against the City of Odessa to force the city to release public crime records in a timely manner and in accordance with state law. For months, the OA has battled the city to provide public documents to both the OA and the public that includes police reports and probable cause affidavits in a timely manner without redacting information that has always been considered public information under Texas law. “The amount of information the city has been withholding from the public is appalling,” said attorney John Bussian, [...]

Odessa American files lawsuit against city of Odessa2020-02-19T15:15:30-06:00

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    Kelley Shannon, Executive Director
    3001 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 302
    Austin, Texas 78705

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