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Police withheld records of their son’s death; now they know why

2017-04-21T17:14:41-05:00

By Eric Dexheimer Austin American-Statesman Originally published April 20, 2017 Kathy and Robert Dyer received the phone call out of every parent’s nightmares at 3 a.m. on Aug. 14, 2013. A Mesquite police officer was telling them their 18-year-old son, Graham, was in the hospital with a serious head injury. They should come as quickly as possible. They sped in the dark south to Dallas from their home on a dirt road outside of Paris, in Northeast Texas, arriving at Baylor University Medical Center at dawn. Graham lay unresponsive in the intensive care unit beneath a bristle of medical tubes and [...]

Police withheld records of their son’s death; now they know why2017-04-21T17:14:41-05:00

Texas House considers bills to erode press protection, expose journalists, bloggers to more lawsuits

2017-04-25T23:55:18-05:00

By J. David McSwane The Dallas Morning News Originally published April 12, 2017 AUSTIN — Plans to force journalists to reveal their sources  and further expose media outlets to lawsuits made strange bedfellows Wednesday as leaders of journalism advocacy groups attacked two bills alongside members of a far-right fundraising and propaganda outfit. During a House committee hearing, two bills authored by Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, drew protests from prominent First Amendment attorneys who say the bills violate the U.S. Constitution and would suppress the reporting of information in the public interest. One bill attacks the reporter's shield law, which protects journalists from being forced [...]

Texas House considers bills to erode press protection, expose journalists, bloggers to more lawsuits2017-04-25T23:55:18-05:00

Call for entries: 2017 Spirit of FOI Awards

2017-04-11T21:27:35-05:00

The FOI Foundation of Texas is pleased to announce 2017 guidelines for the Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award contest. The contest is open to newspaper, broadcast and online media. The Spirit of FOI Award recognizes outstanding work in promoting open government and the public’s right to know. The deadline for submission of entries is Thursday, May 18, 2017. Nominations must be for work published or broadcast in calendar year 2016. A nomination can be a single news story or series; an editorial or series of editorials; columns; editorial cartoons; or a community FOI project. There is a limit of one [...]

Call for entries: 2017 Spirit of FOI Awards2017-04-11T21:27:35-05:00

Judge rules portion of Texas Open Meetings Act unconstitutional

2017-04-05T13:47:20-05:00

By Jesse Mendoza Community Impact Newspaper Originally published April 4, 2017 Presiding Judge Randy Clapp of Wharton County’s 329th District Court ruled that a portion of the Texas Open Meetings Act is unconstitutional—thus dismissing the case against Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal and other officials. The case, which was heard in Montgomery County’s 221st District Court, brought to question whether Doyal, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley, Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark and political consultant Marc Davenport violated the Texas Open Meetings Act while negotiating details of the November 2015 Montgomery County road bond. However, the case never made it to trial. [...]

Judge rules portion of Texas Open Meetings Act unconstitutional2017-04-05T13:47:20-05:00

Austin American-Statesman: Austin abandons transparency in search for new city manager

2017-04-03T19:42:37-05:00

By Editorial Board Austin American-Statesman Originally published April 1, 2017 The Austin City Council should reverse its decision to conduct a secret search for the next city manager to lead Austin, one of the fastest-growing metropolises in the nation. A closed search would obstruct Austin residents from having a meaningful say in the selection of a manager charged with running most every aspect of city government, either directly or indirectly. It’s a job that helps determine Austin’s quality of life, cultural vitality and global image. Consider that it is the manager who is responsible for city services or departments that recycle [...]

Austin American-Statesman: Austin abandons transparency in search for new city manager2017-04-03T19:42:37-05:00

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