FOIFT, Author at Freedom of Information Foundation Texas

Texas AG blocks release of ‘burn in hell’ audio

FOIFT2016-03-23T18:51:04-05:00

By Kenric Ward Watchdog.org Originally published March 23, 2016 The Texas Education Agency and state Attorney General Ken Paxton are blocking Watchdog.org from obtaining an audio recording of a teleconference during which a school board member told the TEA commissioner to “burn in hell.” Watchdog independently confirmed that an unidentified school board trustee told then-Commissioner Michael Williams that Williams should “die and burn in hell.” The remark was made as the state ordered La Marque ISD to shut down over failing academic and financial performance. Neither a recording nor a transcript of the contentious teleconference was released. TEA asserted that the [...]

Texas AG blocks release of ‘burn in hell’ audioFOIFT2016-03-23T18:51:04-05:00

Public’s right to know highlighted by case of handcuffed 8-year-old

FOIFT2016-03-16T13:56:03-05:00

By Deborah McKeon Temple Daily Telegram Originally published March 14, 2016 The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas works hard to make sure that public business is conducted in public and that the liberties guaranteed by the First Amendment are protected. The public has a right to know what its government is doing and to receive straight talk, and that is what Sunshine Week highlights — the importance of efforts to stop attempts to chip away at transparency in the courts, at the Legislature and in government offices. Both the Belton Independent School District and the Temple Daily Telegram have requested [...]

Public’s right to know highlighted by case of handcuffed 8-year-oldFOIFT2016-03-16T13:56:03-05:00

Call for entries: 2016 Spirit of FOI Award

FOIFT2016-03-15T15:35:04-05:00

The FOI Foundation of Texas is pleased to announce 2016 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 electronic submission of entries is Friday, May 6. Nominations must be for work published or broadcast in calendar year 2015. 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: 2016 Spirit of FOI AwardFOIFT2016-03-15T15:35:04-05:00

Celebrate ‘Sunshine Week,’ cherish Texas transparency

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:39-05:00

By Kelley Shannon FOI Foundation of Texas March 14, 2016 We Texans have a history of straight talk and openness, and our state’s public information laws reflect it. Shining light on our government allows democracy to flourish. As we celebrate that light during national Sunshine Week from March 13-19, let’s be thankful that Texas laws value the public’s right to know through broad access to records and meetings. But we cannot grow complacent. We must fight to keep the laws strong. Every year, there are attempts to chip away at our Texas transparency in the courts, at the Legislature and in [...]

Celebrate ‘Sunshine Week,’ cherish Texas transparencyFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:39-05:00

El Paso City Council deletes proposed open records restriction

FOIFT2016-03-09T17:13:23-06:00

By Elida S. Perez El Paso Times Originally published March 8, 2016 The El Paso City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to delete a controversial item that would have restricted an entire class of people from requesting city documents through the Texas Public Information Act. City Rep. Emma Acosta, who placed the open records item on the agenda, initially asked City Council to approve an item that called for "discussion and action regarding open records requests released to person(s) and/or petitioner(s) convicted of a felony and/or misdemeanor of a crime of moral turpitude." “This is about the issue of technology not keeping [...]

El Paso City Council deletes proposed open records restrictionFOIFT2016-03-09T17:13:23-06:00

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