FOIFT – Page 5 – Freedom of Information Foundation Texas

Sunshine Week Column: Taking a stand against public information blackouts

FOIFT2024-03-11T10:16:29-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Shining light on our government through public information helps us ask questions of elected officials – and hold them accountable. Sunshine Week, taking place March 10-16, recognizes the importance of open government and educates Americans about their right to public information. It’s not an abstract notion. It’s about what’s happening in the real world. You may be checking on the safety of roads and bridges in your community. Or wanting to know how your school board is spending taxpayer money. Perhaps there’s concern about pollution or water quality in your [...]

Sunshine Week Column: Taking a stand against public information blackoutsFOIFT2024-03-11T10:16:29-05:00

Student journalists at St. Edward’s barred from reporting on student government meeting about Pride flag

FOIFT2024-02-27T15:39:20-06:00

By Lily Kepner Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 27, 2024 An LGBTQ+ pride flag had hung from the ceiling of a buzzing coffeehouse on St. Edward's University's campus in South Austin since 2018. This year, after remodeling and a vendor change at the cafe, the flag was taken down, and students' attempts to bring it back have not succeeded. ... At the Student Government Association's Senate meeting Wednesday, during which President Montserrat Fuentes and Vice President for Student Affairs and Administration Lisa Kirkpatrick addressed concerns about the flag's removal, administrators barred journalists from Hilltop Views, the student newspaper, from reporting on [...]

Student journalists at St. Edward’s barred from reporting on student government meeting about Pride flagFOIFT2024-02-27T15:39:20-06:00

Every American has the right to ask questions. Including La Gordiloca.

FOIFT2024-02-06T13:18:42-06:00

By Arif Panju Guest Column Houston Chronicle Originally published Feb. 2, 2024 The First Amendment protects the right to criticize public officials without fear of imprisonment. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press would be meaningless if people could express only opinions favored by the authorities. This is what citizen journalist Priscilla Villarreal thought. But on Jan. 23, 2024, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals split 9-7 against her in her First Amendment retaliation case against the Laredo police and prosecutors who arrested her. Her alleged crime? Asking a police officer questions to corroborate the details of a traffic [...]

Every American has the right to ask questions. Including La Gordiloca.FOIFT2024-02-06T13:18:42-06:00

TPIA rulings database required by recently enacted law now available on AG website

FOIFT2024-01-05T18:58:01-06:00

A newly enacted state law requires the Texas Attorney General's Office to make available to the public a searchable database of attorney general rulings issued under the Texas Public Information Act. The database, called for in House Bill 3033, is now available on the agency's website. The law said the database was to be accessible to the public no later than Jan. 1, 2024. The link to the Public Information Act database can be found on the AG's Open Records Letter Rulings page. Previously, letter rulings were posted on the page in lengthy lists without the new search functions.

TPIA rulings database required by recently enacted law now available on AG websiteFOIFT2024-01-05T18:58:01-06:00

Judge orders Texas DPS to release Uvalde school shooting records

FOIFT2023-12-01T10:48:24-06:00

By Tony Plohestski Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 30, 2023 A Travis County judge has issued a formal order to the Texas Department of Public Safety for the agency to release a trove of investigative information and evidence from the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. The Nov. 28 order by state District Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle closely follows her statements earlier this year that she intended to order the release of most documents, including videos and statements of officers and other law enforcement who responded to the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School. But the order more officially moves a [...]

Judge orders Texas DPS to release Uvalde school shooting recordsFOIFT2023-12-01T10:48:24-06:00

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