PIA

San Antonio ISD pays outside attorneys nearly a teacher’s salary to review information requests

FOIFT2024-12-10T09:55:29-06:00

By Daniela Ibarra KSAT Originally published Dec. 9, 2024 In a year full of financial challenges, KSAT Investigates found San Antonio Independent School District spent nearly a teacher’s salary’s worth on attorneys to review records requests made by news agencies. ... Between November 2023 and November 2024, records show the district had outside law firm Escamilla and Poneck review 19 requests made by media outlets, including KSAT. Invoices show the firm charged the district $55,149.50 for their work. ... That’s just over $3,000 more than SAISD pays first-time teachers with a bachelor’s degree, according to SAISD's pay schedule for this school [...]

San Antonio ISD pays outside attorneys nearly a teacher’s salary to review information requestsFOIFT2024-12-10T09:55:29-06:00

Formerly sealed Austin police records would cost $27K in public information request

FOIFT2024-12-02T11:15:07-06:00

By Brianna Hollis KXAN Originally published Nov. 11, 2024 AUSTIN — Once-confidential Austin police records have been publicly accessible via an official public information request for about two months now. These files are formerly known as “g-files,” and contain primarily unsubstantiated complaints against police officers that don’t result in discipline. They were unsealed after the the topic made its way through a city ballot and multiple court settings. KXAN requested these files for every current police officer. After a weeks-long back-and-forth with the city’s records staff, we got an invoice estimating the total cost to procure these records to be $27,180. [...]

Formerly sealed Austin police records would cost $27K in public information requestFOIFT2024-12-02T11:15:07-06:00

Keep Texas information laws working as intended; learn more at Sept. 13 FOIFT conference

FOIFT2024-09-08T15:18:26-05:00

Register today for the Sept. 13 FOIFT conference. FOI Column: Keep information laws working as intended to help all Texans By Kelley Shannon When it’s time to take a hard look at our public officials and decide which ones to re-elect – or reject – we need information. A major source of that information is the government itself. Access to public records and meetings is essential for us to know the facts and speak out about how government is run, during election season or any time. Among the tools at our disposal are the Texas Public Information Act, the Texas Open [...]

Keep Texas information laws working as intended; learn more at Sept. 13 FOIFT conferenceFOIFT2024-09-08T15:18:26-05:00

City of Uvalde releases big batch of shooting records; families say other agencies should follow suit

FOIFT2024-08-14T12:21:52-05:00

By The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Originally published Aug. 10, 2024 Police video, audio, texts and emails released Saturday by Uvalde city officials offer new details about the Robb Elementary school shooting while also largely reaffirming reporting about law enforcement’s failure to engage a gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers. ... The Saturday release is the first major disclosure of documents by a government agency involved in the flawed response to the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. It was part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit between the city and the news organizations. Three other government agencies [...]

City of Uvalde releases big batch of shooting records; families say other agencies should follow suitFOIFT2024-08-14T12:21:52-05:00

Texas Tribune’s conversation on Texans’ access to government

FOIFT2024-07-02T10:49:05-05:00

The Texas Tribune hosted a live-streamed program June 26 "Public Access to Government - a Closer Look at Texas and Transparency," featuring FOI Foundation executive director Kelley Shannon; attorney Laura Prather of Haynes and Boone and the FOIFT board; Rachel Clow of KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi; and Ruth Soucy of the State Comptroller's Office. Check out a recording of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_aE1GiU8bQ&list=PLJ0QpNyUHKi67JNrgbNwLzWGKGqRYBFKM

Texas Tribune’s conversation on Texans’ access to governmentFOIFT2024-07-02T10:49:05-05:00

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