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Police used loophole in Texas law to withhold records from deceased soldier’s family

2023-05-17T09:10:20-05:00

By Vianna Davila ProPublica, co-published with The Texas Tribune Originally published May 9, 2023 Texas public records law allows officials to withhold police records if no one was convicted in a case. At least one city has used this rule to deny the release of suicide records. A new bill aims to close this loophole. When Patty Troyan’s son Logan Castello died by suicide in November 2019 in his Central Texas home, she immediately tried to understand what prompted him to take his own life not long after getting married and days before a planned family Thanksgiving gathering. Castello was a [...]

Police used loophole in Texas law to withhold records from deceased soldier’s family2023-05-17T09:10:20-05:00

Transparency legislation makes progress in Texas House of Representatives

2023-05-09T11:27:53-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas May 9, 2023 Transparency proposals supported by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the diverse Texas Sunshine Coalition have progressed in the Texas House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. House Bill 2493 by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, is a searchable-sortable records bill requiring information to be supplied in spreadsheet format when available. The measure won final passage in the House on Saturday. It now moves on to the Texas Senate. Legislation defining "business days" under the Texas Public Information Act, carried in the House by Rep. Terry [...]

Transparency legislation makes progress in Texas House of Representatives2023-05-09T11:27:53-05:00

FOI Foundation of Texas announces Ralph Langer Scholarship recipients

2023-04-27T15:15:49-05:00

For Immediate Release April 27, 2023  AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has named Brianna Chavez, a journalism junior at Texas State University, as the recipient of the inaugural Ralph Langer Scholarship. Alongside her journalism studies, Chavez has worked as a life and arts reporter at the University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper. Some of her stories have been published by the Austin American-Statesmen. Chavez, who is in the first generation of her family to attend college, will receive a $6,000 scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship was created in memory of Ralph Langer, a guiding [...]

FOI Foundation of Texas announces Ralph Langer Scholarship recipients2023-04-27T15:15:49-05:00

Protect free speech: Don’t mess with Texas’ anti-SLAPP law

2023-04-24T12:15:24-05:00

Protect free speech: Don't mess with Texas' anti-SLAPP law Guest Column By Will Creeley Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression When it comes to criticizing the powerful or politically connected, the First Amendment protects the little guy. No matter who you are or how much money you have in the bank, you have the right to speak your mind. Because the Founders knew all too well the danger of granting the government the power to decide who can and cannot speak, the First Amendment was designed to shield speakers from government retribution. But these days, the government isn’t the only Goliath, and [...]

Protect free speech: Don’t mess with Texas’ anti-SLAPP law2023-04-24T12:15:24-05:00

‘Dead suspect loophole’ bill moving forward in Texas Legislature after Uvalde

2023-05-04T16:58:11-05:00

By Matt Grant KXAN Originally published April 13, 2023 Update May 4, 2023: The Texas House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to HB 30 with a vote of 112-31. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly a year after 19 elementary school students and two teachers were murdered in Uvalde — followed by a steady stream of incorrect and incomplete information released to the public — Texas House lawmakers heard testimony on a bill that would end the state’s controversial “dead suspect loophole.” For years, KXAN has investigated this loophole, which allows police to keep information secret in closed criminal cases that don’t go [...]

‘Dead suspect loophole’ bill moving forward in Texas Legislature after Uvalde2023-05-04T16:58:11-05:00
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