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When ‘Live PD’ cameras rolled, Williamson County deputies used more violence

FOIFT2020-10-27T17:24:12-05:00

By Julie Chang and Tony PlohetskiAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Oct. 23, 2020 The kind of violence Imani Nembhard experienced in April 2019 became increasingly common in Williamson County after Sheriff Robert Chody invited the camera crews of “Live PD” to feature his department. An American-Statesman analysis of 124 use-of-force reports shows that violent encounters between Williamson County sheriff’s deputies and civilians nearly doubled from 43 in 2017 — the year before “Live PD” joined the department — to 82 in 2019. During the weeks when the reality TV show filmed with the department, deputies used force significantly more often than during weeks [...]

When ‘Live PD’ cameras rolled, Williamson County deputies used more violenceFOIFT2020-10-27T17:24:12-05:00

FOI Column: Even during a pandemic, government must be open with easy access

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:20-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Reopening public places amid the COVID-19 pandemic should certainly be carried out with caution. Government offices are no exception. Yet citizens must have the ability to watch over their government, even during an emergency. Especially during an emergency. It’s long past time to reopen public access to government records and meetings that have been shut off for months. This can happen even if government employees continue to work from home for safety reasons. The Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act – two major open government laws that help us learn about everything from local zoning [...]

FOI Column: Even during a pandemic, government must be open with easy accessFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:20-05:00

Judge rules in favor of Odessa American, denies city request to dismiss public information lawsuit

FOIFT2020-10-13T19:40:23-05:00

By the Odessa AmericanOriginally published Oct. 12, 2020 A visiting state district judge has denied the City of Odessa’s request to dismiss a lawsuit by the Odessa American to force the city to comply with public information laws. It took only a few days for Judge Rodney Satterwhite to review arguments and rule Monday that the OA’s lawsuit should be allowed to proceed. Attorneys for the city wanted Satterwhite to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing in a hearing Thursday that as a matter of jurisdiction, the judge did not have the power to adjudicate the legal matter. But attorneys representing the newspaper [...]

Judge rules in favor of Odessa American, denies city request to dismiss public information lawsuitFOIFT2020-10-13T19:40:23-05:00

Transparency panel addresses open government concerns amid COVID-19 pandemic

FOIFT2020-10-07T23:38:19-05:00

Requestors seeking government records using the Texas Public Information Act are running into roadblocks during the COVID-19 pandemic. A panel of journalists and open government experts addressed their concerns and questions during an online policy discussion Wednesday hosted by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini and co-hosted by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, the Texas Association of Broadcasters and the Texas Press Association. View a recording of online event on the senator's Facebook page. Several questions from audience members centered on government offices saying they are not filling Public Information Act requests because their offices are closed or are operating on [...]

Transparency panel addresses open government concerns amid COVID-19 pandemicFOIFT2020-10-07T23:38:19-05:00

Government transparency is another casualty of COVID-19

FOIFT2020-10-05T19:42:13-05:00

By John TedescoHouston ChronicleOriginally published Sept. 30, 2020 Open government advocates say transparency in Texas has taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic as officials across the state say their offices are closed and workloads are too heavy to respond to requests for public information. Read the full story here.

Government transparency is another casualty of COVID-19FOIFT2020-10-05T19:42:13-05:00

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