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Goodbye, scanner. Austin police, fire, EMS will no longer make radios available to the public

FOIFT2024-06-13T10:09:30-05:00

By Skye Seipp Austin American-Statesman Originally published April 18, 2024 Public safety agencies in Austin — police, fire and EMS — will soon go radio silent to the public once they transition to an encrypted radio system. This means that the current publicly available scanner information, wherein citizens can listen to police being dispatched to a call in real time, will no longer be accessible starting April 22. Read the full story here.

Goodbye, scanner. Austin police, fire, EMS will no longer make radios available to the publicFOIFT2024-06-13T10:09:30-05:00

KTRK: How open records law helps shine a light on government

FOIFT2024-04-03T09:39:08-05:00

By Keven Ozebek and Sarah Rafique KTRK, ABC 13 Originally published March 11, 2024 HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Whether it's investigating controversial decisions by local governments or digging into how those agencies spend taxpayer money, 13 Investigates relies on open records laws to get copies of internal documents, datasets and even emails and text messages between government officials all so we can hold our leaders accountable. ... Under the Texas Public Information Act, anyone can request information from a government agency and by law should receive a response from them within 10 business days. The response can range anywhere from the [...]

KTRK: How open records law helps shine a light on governmentFOIFT2024-04-03T09:39:08-05:00

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

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