News

Big Bend Sentinel reporter subpoenaed; defense attorney cites shield law, First Amendment rights

2014-03-24T13:37:32-05:00

By Alberto Tomas Halpern Big Bend Sentinel Originally published March 20, 2014 PRESIDIO and JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES – Investigators have served a Big Bend Sentinel reporter with a subpoena in the Prada Marfa vandalism case. But Texas’ journalist shield law requires certain tests and measures be met before a journalist can be compelled to disclose information. The alleged vandal, a guerilla artist known only as 9271977, was arrested on Tuesday in Waco and identified as Joe Magnano. The artist exchanged text messages with Sentinel reporter John Daniel Garcia last week. Garcia acquired the alleged vandal’s phone number through an internet search, [...]

Big Bend Sentinel reporter subpoenaed; defense attorney cites shield law, First Amendment rights2014-03-24T13:37:32-05:00

Juvenile judge refuses to release murder case transcripts

2014-03-20T23:59:16-05:00

By Mitch Mitchell Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally published March 20, 2014 FORT WORTH — After twice barring the media from court hearings in a murder case involving a juvenile, state district Judge Jean Boyd on Thursday denied a request to make records from that case public. Tarrant County prosecutor Riley Shaw requested that she issue written findings of fact that she used to support the ruling. Boyd did not comment on her decision. Several North Texas media outlets, including the Star-Telegram, had petitioned the court to make public any records and transcripts from the case of a 16-year-old boy, identified in [...]

Juvenile judge refuses to release murder case transcripts2014-03-20T23:59:16-05:00

Sunshine Week: The Eagle reports on Texas universities and open records

2014-03-20T18:44:02-05:00

By Allen Reed The Bryan-College Station Eagle Originally published March 18, 2014 It's Sunshine Week, so let's look at how many information requests were sent to the top universities in Texas last year and how many of those are referred to the Texas attorney general. In February, The Eagle asked the six university systems and their flagship institutions for “the number of information requests received during the 2013 calendar year and the number of those requests for which an attorney general ruling was sought.” Last year, for example, Texas A&M received about 890 open records requests and sent about 10 percent [...]

Sunshine Week: The Eagle reports on Texas universities and open records2014-03-20T18:44:02-05:00

Judge rules in favor of Dallas Morning News, says agency must answer open records request

2014-03-19T22:09:29-05:00

Attorneys for The Dallas Morning News have obtained a declaration that a North Texas agency is subject to the Texas Public Information Act and must answer an open records request by the newspaper. Judge Eric Moyé of the 14th District Court in Dallas entered a final judgment on a counterclaim by The News, according to the newspaper's attorneys at the law firm Jackson Walker. The newspaper requested information about the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency and its certification of companies as eligible for minority set–aside programs involving millions of dollars in contract awards by local governments. To read The News' [...]

Judge rules in favor of Dallas Morning News, says agency must answer open records request2014-03-19T22:09:29-05:00

Dallas Morning News: Transparency is hope for citizens, foil for officeholders

2014-03-19T14:49:48-05:00

The Dallas Morning News Editorial Originally published March 18, 2014 There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle, there is not a vice which does not live by secrecy.” Joseph Pulitzer This is Sunshine Week, a time to celebrate and advocate for truth and transparency. And although our iWorld of websites, smartphones and laptops might be unrecognizable to Pulitzer and other turn-of-the-20th-century purveyors of “new journalism,” they would no doubt recognize — and lament — one aspect: the seemingly never-ending quest to force greater transparency from government. That struggle [...]

Dallas Morning News: Transparency is hope for citizens, foil for officeholders2014-03-19T14:49:48-05:00

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