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Dallas Morning News, KXAS, Temple Daily Telegram receive Spirit of FOI Awards

2015-09-17T19:26:30-05:00

For Immediate Release Sept. 17, 201 AUSTIN _ Three Texas news organizations have won the Spirit of FOI Award for their investigations that made use of state and federal open records laws and resulted in revealing, impactful stories. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award, presented Thursday by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, was given to The Dallas Morning News and NBC affiliate KXAS in the Class AA large market category for the joint investigation, “Injured Heroes, Broken Promises.” The Temple Daily Telegram, a winner of the award last year, received this year’s Class A market for reporting on [...]

Dallas Morning News, KXAS, Temple Daily Telegram receive Spirit of FOI Awards2015-09-17T19:26:30-05:00

Citing shift to openness, CIA declassifies Kennedy, Johnson documents

2015-09-17T09:59:55-05:00

By Jordan Rudner The Texas Tribune Originally published Sept. 16, 2015 In a massive declassification, the Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday unveiled roughly eight years of presidential daily briefings from the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson — the largest-ever release of such material. The briefings, which touch on everything from the construction of the Berlin Wall to the space race, are "among the most highly classified and sensitive documents in all our government,” CIA Director John Brennan said Wednesday at an event at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin. “For students of history, the declassified [...]

Citing shift to openness, CIA declassifies Kennedy, Johnson documents2015-09-17T09:59:55-05:00

Commentary: Governance by “We the People”

2015-09-14T15:31:36-05:00

By Allan K. DuBois President, State Bar of Texas Published in Lufkin Daily News, Sept. 14, 2015 Celebrate Freedom Week is Sept. 13 through 19, 2015. During this week, Texas public schools are encouraged to focus student attention on the importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, in their historical contexts. Constitution Day is on Sept. 17. On this day we commemorate the document, signed by 40 patriots almost 228 years ago, that frames our rights and liberties. Why do we have Celebrate Freedom Week and Constitution Day? While every day is cause [...]

Commentary: Governance by “We the People”2015-09-14T15:31:36-05:00

LBJ Library Director Updegrove speech, open records discussions featured at conference

2015-09-03T16:56:23-05:00

AUSTIN _ Texas ethics disclosures and access to university admissions records will highlight debate and discussion at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference Sept. 17, when open government champions also will be honored. This year’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport Annual State Conference, “Transparency: Talk vs. Practice,” takes place at the Hyatt Regency in Austin. “Our state has a proud history of standing up for open government and the people’s right to know,” said Kelley Shannon, executive director of the FOI Foundation of Texas. “At this gathering, we celebrate those principles and look to strengthen them in the future.” [...]

LBJ Library Director Updegrove speech, open records discussions featured at conference2015-09-03T16:56:23-05:00

FOI Foundation: Denton ordinance likely illegal

2015-09-01T13:17:06-05:00

By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Denton Record-Chronicle Originally published Aug. 31, 2015 A 10-year-old city of Denton ordinance that could make criminals of City Council members who talk about City Hall secrets is probably illegal, according to the Texas Freedom of Information Foundation, which has called for the ordinance’s repeal. Houston attorney Joseph Larsen wrote the City Council a two-page letter last week on behalf of the foundation, a statewide nonprofit that advocates for open government. In the letter, Larsen detailed how the ordinance compromises the First Amendment free-speech rights of council members, the public and the press. The ordinance also usurps and [...]

FOI Foundation: Denton ordinance likely illegal2015-09-01T13:17:06-05:00
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