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Court: State can deny fund for ‘Machete’ movie producers

FOIFT2016-02-01T17:05:44-06:00

By Jamie Lovegrove The Texas Tribune Originally published Jan. 29, 2016 A Texas appeals court ruled Friday that the Texas Film Commission acted within its authority when it decided after the release of the film "Machete" to deny its producers state incentive funds because of the movie's negative portrayal of Texas. The 2010 Robert Rodriguez film starred Danny Trejo as a former Mexican Federale turned vigilante who accepts a hit contract from a corrupt Texas state senator before being used as a pawn in the senator’s hardline immigration policies. Filmed in and around Austin, the movie was theoretically eligible for a [...]

Court: State can deny fund for ‘Machete’ movie producersFOIFT2016-02-01T17:05:44-06:00

Judge: County must pay newspaper’s legal expenses

FOIFT2016-01-28T20:40:43-06:00

By Wes Gardner Fort Bend Herald Originally published Jan. 26, 2016 Visiting Judge Larry Wagenbach denied a motion Monday that would have required the Fort Bend Herald to pay thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees for the release of information deemed to be public record. The decision means The Herald is eligible to receive attorney’s fees from Fort Bend County if county officials do not appeal the judge’s decision. For full story through subscription, click here.

Judge: County must pay newspaper’s legal expensesFOIFT2016-01-28T20:40:43-06:00

Questions raised in sex assault case as Bexar sheriff refuses to release basic report

FOIFT2016-01-19T19:11:51-06:00

By Brian Chasnoff Metro Columnist San Antonio Express-News Originally published Jan. 18, 2016 Last month, Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau seemed to acknowledge the role the media can play in cases of potential officer misconduct. Previously, her office had refused to release to the media even a basic incident report of a fatal deputy-involved shooting. That day, after a grand jury declined to indict two deputies in the shooting of Gilbert Flores, Pamerleau told a roomful of reporters that “times have changed … and going forward, we may make different decisions on information, on whether it’s releasable or not.” The times, [...]

Questions raised in sex assault case as Bexar sheriff refuses to release basic reportFOIFT2016-01-19T19:11:51-06:00

Paxton prosecutors sue Paxton’s agency to block records

FOIFT2016-01-15T15:37:11-06:00

By Chuck Lindell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Jan. 14, 2016 In an unusual and head-spinning twist, prosecutors in the criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the attorney general’s office Thursday to block the release of sensitive case information that could hinder Paxton’s defense but that his own agency ordered to be turned over to a Texas newspaper. Go ahead, read that sentence again. The latest twist began Oct. 14 when The Dallas Morning News requested copies of thousands of pages of investigative records that prosecutors had provided to Paxton’s defense lawyers in preparation for a potential trial on [...]

Paxton prosecutors sue Paxton’s agency to block recordsFOIFT2016-01-15T15:37:11-06:00

U.S. House backs bill to update FOIA as report faults Obama administration

FOIFT2016-01-12T16:00:23-06:00

By Matthew Daly Associated Press via U.S. News and World Report Originally published Jan. 11, 2016 WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved legislation Monday making it easier to obtain government records, as a new congressional report concluded that the freedom of information process under the Obama administration is broken and in need of serious change. The bill, approved by a voice vote, would require government agencies to make information available to the public online. It also would require agencies to adopt a presumption in favor of disclosing records rather than keeping them secret. The vote came as Republicans on the House [...]

U.S. House backs bill to update FOIA as report faults Obama administrationFOIFT2016-01-12T16:00:23-06:00

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