News

Records reveal drama, disguises in Austin city manager search

FOIFT2017-12-08T15:17:00-06:00

By Philip Jankowski Austin American-Statesman Originally published Dec. 6, 2017 To dodge reporters, consultants suggested the finalists to be Austin’s next city manager don wigs, pretend to be tourists or possibly even wear Halloween masks after American-Statesman reporters managed to identify several candidates during the city’s top-secret search for its next leader. That was one of many details revealed in more than 400 pages of communications the city provided in response to a request under the Texas Public Information Act made within hours of officials making the legally murky decision to secretly change the location of a second round of interviewsconducted Nov. [...]

Records reveal drama, disguises in Austin city manager searchFOIFT2017-12-08T15:17:00-06:00

George P. Bush grilled on Alamo transparency

FOIFT2017-12-06T15:59:22-06:00

By Scott Huddleston San Antonio Express-News Originally published Dec. 5, 2018 State legislators quizzed Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush about the Alamo and a long-range master plan, and asked him to look for ways to provide more transparency in the management of the historic mission and battle site. “We need to get it more simple, and clearer,” Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said at the conclusion of an hourlong exchange Tuesday between Bush and the Senate Finance Committee, which Nelson chairs. Committee members said they would like to see better access to meetings of the nonprofit contractors that run the [...]

George P. Bush grilled on Alamo transparencyFOIFT2017-12-06T15:59:22-06:00

Join fundraising spree supporting the FOI Foundation’s mission

FOIFT2017-11-27T22:05:32-06:00

This week marks the kickoff of a major fundraising effort by the FOI Foundation of Texas to generate donations supporting our mission of preserving open government and protecting the First Amendment rights of free speech and free press. Most likely, you are interested in this mission if you are on our website, so please join in. You can make a contribution here on our site now, or any time. Or, if you go to the FOI Foundation of Texas page on Facebook and contribute on Tuesday, Nov. 28, using our donate button you'll be part of the "Giving Tuesday" campaign, when [...]

Join fundraising spree supporting the FOI Foundation’s missionFOIFT2017-11-27T22:05:32-06:00

Judge voids Austin’s approval of development, citing Open Meetings Act violation

FOIFT2017-11-22T16:25:11-06:00

By Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 21, 2019 Austin city leaders did not give the public a proper heads-up about their intentions before voting to waive environmental regulations for a controversial housing development, a judge ruled Tuesday. The ruling marks the second time in just over a year that the city of Austin has been found to have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act in approving a development plan. Both suits came from former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire, an open government attorney. In yet another Open Meetings Act case, the American-Statesman is suing the city alleging violations during [...]

Judge voids Austin’s approval of development, citing Open Meetings Act violationFOIFT2017-11-22T16:25:11-06:00

FOI Column: Boeing ruling stretched, twisted to keep government records secret

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:33-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas Every week, government officials across Texas and private companies receiving taxpayer dollars get increasingly creative in hiding public records. Their new tool is the Boeing ruling, a decision from the Texas Supreme Court that lowered the threshold for arguing competitive bidding as an exemption from disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act. It gives governments an easier path to claim that competitive bidding concerns should allow them to keep records secret. And, businesses can now make the claim, too. Those attempting to censor records under Boeing have sought approximately 1,500 rulings from [...]

FOI Column: Boeing ruling stretched, twisted to keep government records secretFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:33-05:00

CONTACT INFO

TEXAS FOI NEWS

QUICK LINKS

MENU

RESOURCES

Contact Info

Latest News