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Texas journalists battle for media access

FOIFT2014-09-29T14:01:49-05:00

By Lena Williams Right to Report Originally published Sept. 24 A year ago, the Texas Legislature amended the state’s Public Information Act to give citizens and journalists greater access to public records and the discussions of public officials. Gov. Rick Perry signed it into law, but did he mean it? Officials across Texas are circumventing some of the key provisions of the state’s 41-year-old Public Information Act, considered by many First Amendment advocates to be one of the strongest in the country. Requests that have been refused in recent months include access to Perry’s travel records, as well as certain court [...]

Texas journalists battle for media accessFOIFT2014-09-29T14:01:49-05:00

KRIS-TV reports on Del Mar College’s $26 million charge for public records

FOIFT2014-09-25T19:13:27-05:00

Reporter Rick Spruill of KRIS-TV investigates the fallout over a $26 million fee quoted by Del Mar College to turn over public information. Open government experts wonder whether Del Mar is unlawful or just incompetent. View the story here: http://www.kristv.com/news/6-investigates-del-mar-college-public-information-fallout/

KRIS-TV reports on Del Mar College’s $26 million charge for public recordsFOIFT2014-09-25T19:13:27-05:00

Open records request shows Texas football team drug testing rate doubled under Charlie Strong

FOIFT2014-09-25T18:55:56-05:00

By Brian Davis Austin American-Statesman Originally published Sept. 24, 2014 The number of drug tests administered to University of Texas football players has skyrocketed under first-year coach Charlie Strong, according to university data obtained by the American-Statesman through an open records request. According to university records, an average of 104 tests were administered annually to football players from 2010 to 2013, the last four years under former coach Mack Brown. A total of 188 tests were administered the first eight months this year under Strong. At an annualized rate, that’s more than double the previous four years. Subscribers to the American-Statesman can [...]

Open records request shows Texas football team drug testing rate doubled under Charlie StrongFOIFT2014-09-25T18:55:56-05:00

Rule 12 grants access to judges’ emails, payroll information

FOIFT2014-09-23T16:35:35-05:00

By Angela Morris Texas Lawyer Originally published Sept. 19, 2014 Lawyers might be interested in a little-known tool to request copies of courts' administrative records such as emails, calendars and payroll records. During a Sept. 12 panel at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas annual conference, solo Joel White said that in 1998 he helped draft the tool—Rule 12 of the Rules of Judicial Administration. The Texas Public Information Act doesn't apply to the judiciary, but Rule 12 is sort of like the judiciary's version of an open records law. White explained that the public can use Rule 12 to [...]

Rule 12 grants access to judges’ emails, payroll informationFOIFT2014-09-23T16:35:35-05:00

Texas court tosses out ‘improper photography’ law as a free speech violation

FOIFT2014-09-17T18:16:17-05:00

By Chuck Lindell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Sept. 17, 2014 The state’s highest criminal court on Wednesday tossed out a state law banning “improper photography” — photos or videos taken in a public place without consent and with the purpose of sexual gratification — as a violation of free-speech rights. In an 8-1 ruling, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said photos, much like paintings and films, are “inherently expressive” and therefore protected by the First Amendment. “Protecting someone who appears in public from being the object of sexual thoughts seems to be the sort of paternalistic interest in regulating the defendant’s [...]

Texas court tosses out ‘improper photography’ law as a free speech violationFOIFT2014-09-17T18:16:17-05:00

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