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Watson, Capriglione: Close loopholes in the state Public Information Act

2017-01-27T15:53:31-06:00

By Kirk Watson and Giovanni Capriglione Published by the Houston Chronicle Jan. 26, 2017 After the Sharpstown fraud and bribery scandal rocked the Texas Capitol in the early 1970s, Texans opted to "throw the rascals out" and elect a reform-minded Legislature to clean up the mess. A cornerstone of the 63rd Legislature's reform agenda was the Public Information Act of 1973, which empowered the people to see what their government officials were doing and hold them accountable. Lawmakers clearly stated that the public's right to know, in most cases, should prevail over other interests because information is key to accountability. But [...]

Watson, Capriglione: Close loopholes in the state Public Information Act2017-01-27T15:53:31-06:00

State water conference raises open meetings questions

2017-01-24T14:00:14-06:00

By Jo Clifton Austin Monitor Originally published Jan. 24, 2017 An attorney for the nonprofit League of Independent Voters of Texas warned the Texas Water Development Board on Sunday that the agency was in jeopardy of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. However, by the end of the day Monday, it appeared that the agency and the nonprofit had reached an accommodation. The board is sponsoring a conference about water issues called Water for Texas 2017, with members of the agency’s three-member board of directors as well as movers and shakers in state government, like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas [...]

State water conference raises open meetings questions2017-01-24T14:00:14-06:00

‘Textbook case’ of evading open meetings law in El Paso

2017-01-24T13:55:02-06:00

By Elida S. Perez El Paso Times Originally published Jan. 19, 2017 Text messages between Mayor Oscar Leeser and city Rep. Jim Tolbert clearly show that City Council members violated state law when they cycled in and out of a closed-door meeting to discuss alternative sites for a planned $180 million Downtown arena, a Texas open government expert said. Tolbert texted Leeser on the same day that the mayor and several City Council representatives met behind closed doors with opponents of a plan to place the voter-approved arena in Union Plaza's Duranguito neighborhood. In his text, Tolbert expressed his frustration at [...]

‘Textbook case’ of evading open meetings law in El Paso2017-01-24T13:55:02-06:00

UT Regent Hall’s attorney faces tough questions over records in Texas Supreme Court hearing

2017-01-12T18:38:25-06:00

By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published Jan. 11, 2017 A lawyer for University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall faced tough questioning Wednesday from state Supreme Court justices over whether he should be allowed to see confidential student admissions records that the UT System chancellor has denied him. Four of the nine justices in particular drilled down into Hall's argument that he needs the information to fulfill his oversight role of the UT System and that Chancellor Bill McRaven broke the law when he denied Hall that information. But at least two other justices were far more receptive to [...]

UT Regent Hall’s attorney faces tough questions over records in Texas Supreme Court hearing2017-01-12T18:38:25-06:00

State Bar seeks entries for 2017 Texas Gavel Awards

2017-01-09T23:41:07-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 9, 2017 Contact Amy Starnes, State Bar of Texas (800) 204-2222, ext. 1706, or (512) 427-1706 [email protected] AUSTIN — Submissions are sought for the 2017 Texas Gavel Awards, which honor outstanding journalism that fosters public understanding of the legal system. Entries published or broadcast during the 2016 calendar year will be accepted for print, broadcast, and online categories until 5 p.m. April 3. There is no entry fee. The awards will be presented at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas’ annual conference Sept. 14, 2017 at the Hilton Austin. Texas Gavel Awards recognize excellence in journalism [...]

State Bar seeks entries for 2017 Texas Gavel Awards2017-01-09T23:41:07-06:00

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