FOIFT, Author at Freedom of Information Foundation Texas

Open government seminar set for Feb. 25 in Corpus Christi

FOIFT2020-01-29T15:27:55-06:00

CORPUS CHRISTI – Transparency experts will gather Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Corpus Christi for a seminar examining updates to state open government laws and offering training on the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act. Rep. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi is hosting the one-day open government conference, joined by the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas in cooperation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office. “Open government and transparency are priorities for the public. We need to encourage accessibility and fairness in the public information gathering process. Freedom of information is key to effective government,” Hunter said. [...]

Open government seminar set for Feb. 25 in Corpus ChristiFOIFT2020-01-29T15:27:55-06:00

Partial records released: TRS rent starts at $326,000 per month

FOIFT2020-01-27T14:47:17-06:00

By Bob SechlerAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 24, 2020 The Teacher Retirement System of Texas has disclosed partial costs of its office lease in an upscale high-rise under construction in downtown Austin, seven months after the American-Statesman first asked for financial details about it and the state agency sought to keep it secret. The starting base lease rate disclosed by the retirement system — which has an investment relationship with one of the developers of the 36-story Indeed Tower going up on West Sixth Street — equates to about $326,000 per month initially. That rate is below the current average for top-end [...]

Partial records released: TRS rent starts at $326,000 per monthFOIFT2020-01-27T14:47:17-06:00

Odessa American says city violating public information laws

FOIFT2020-01-17T16:32:52-06:00

By Royal McGregorOdessa AmericanOriginally published Jan. 16, 2020 Signs point to another legal battle brewing between the Odessa American and the City of Odessa following a crackdown by the city on releasing crime information. The OA for decades has received prompt response for requests for information about crime in Odessa but that grinded to an almost standstill following a mass shooting in Odessa on Aug. 31. Some elected officials were unhappy that names of victims from the mass shooting were released quickly and a shift in how information was released on all crime in Odessa began. Public documents that had taken [...]

Odessa American says city violating public information lawsFOIFT2020-01-17T16:32:52-06:00

Under new Texas law, records finally released: McAllen paid Enrique Iglesias $485,000 for holiday parade

FOIFT2020-01-08T16:07:20-06:00

By Mitchell FermanThe MonitorOriginally published Jan. 7, 2020 The city of McAllen paid singer Enrique Iglesias $485,000 for his performance at the city’s 2015 holiday parade, the city disclosed on Tuesday, ending more than four years of city officials keeping the contract private. The contract also revealed that the city chartered a flight to fly in Iglesias from Guadalajara, purchased 24 hotel rooms for two nights and provided and paid for sound, lighting, special effects and a runway at the 2015 concert. The release of the contract comes days after a new law went into effect following bi-partisan legislation that was [...]

Under new Texas law, records finally released: McAllen paid Enrique Iglesias $485,000 for holiday paradeFOIFT2020-01-08T16:07:20-06:00

Newly enacted Texas law to shine light on spending of taxpayer money

FOIFT2020-01-06T17:18:49-06:00

By Asher PriceAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 3, 2020 How much taxpayer money did the University of Texas pay the rapper Ludacris to perform after a spring football game last year? Or how much money is the Teacher Retirement System paying for new digs in downtown Austin? Public entities declined to release information that would answer either of these questions, posed by the American-Statesman, citing rulings handed down by the Texas Supreme Court in 2015. They were among dozens of requests the Statesman made under the Texas Public Information Act over the past four years that were denied, citing the same rulings. [...]

Newly enacted Texas law to shine light on spending of taxpayer moneyFOIFT2020-01-06T17:18:49-06:00

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