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Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards

2023-09-29T12:16:47-05:00

For Immediate Release Sept. 28, 2023 Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards AUSTIN – Texas news organizations that exposed the truth about law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde school shooting and revealed a district attorney’s high rate of case dismissals have won this year’s Spirit of FOI Awards. The Austin American-Statesman, KVUE-TV of Austin and KRIS-TV of Corpus Christi received the awards at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference Thursday. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award honors journalism that upholds First Amendment rights and promotes or uses open government laws. “When governments [...]

Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards2023-09-29T12:16:47-05:00

Seize the Moment: At 50-year mark, celebrate and strengthen the Public Information Act

2023-09-20T15:00:50-05:00

 By Kelley Shannon With trust in government waning, a Texas law can help keep a closer watch on public officials. Even citizens who continue to have faith in government can use this law to stay better informed. How is taxpayer money spent? What’s happening behind the scenes as government decisions are made? The Texas Public Information Act produces answers to these crucial questions. The act has been here for us for 50 years and is essential in protecting our right to know. Like a well-built old house, the landmark law is constantly in need of upkeep, yet it withstands the test [...]

Seize the Moment: At 50-year mark, celebrate and strengthen the Public Information Act2023-09-20T15:00:50-05:00

Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award

2023-09-08T10:12:45-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 8, 2023 Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award AUSTIN – Bill Girdner, the editor of Courthouse News Service who has worked to require timely news media access to court filings in Texas and across the nation, will receive the prestigious James Madison Award. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award on those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of the First Amendment and open government. The foundation will present the award to Girdner at its state conference Sept. 28 in Austin during the John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon. [...]

Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award2023-09-08T10:12:45-05:00

Federal judge temporarily blocks new Texas book-rating law

2023-08-31T16:26:45-05:00

By Edward McKinley San Antonio Express-News Originally published Aug. 31, 2023 A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a new Texas law that would establish a book-rating system and ban or restrict books with sexual content from Texas public schools. Austin-based Judge Alan D. Albright told lawyers that the state could not enforce the law when it was planned to take effect Friday, according to a spokesperson for plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit. The judge said he intends to publish a written order in the coming weeks blocking it entirely. Read the full story here.  

Federal judge temporarily blocks new Texas book-rating law2023-08-31T16:26:45-05:00

Audit details backlog of public records requests at Austin Police Department

2023-08-25T12:47:17-05:00

By Skye Seipp Austin American-Statesman Originally published Aug. 24, 2023 If you file an open records request with the Austin Police Department, you might have to wait significantly longer to receive that information than if you sought records from another city department. An audit found the Police Department has a backlog of nearly 20,000 public information requests, largely because its staff to handle these requests is 20 times smaller than that of the city's — even though the Police Department receives double the number of requests per year compared with the city. These findings were presented to the Austin City Council [...]

Audit details backlog of public records requests at Austin Police Department2023-08-25T12:47:17-05:00

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