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Why everyone should care about government transparency

FOIFT2018-10-16T22:49:22-05:00

Why Everyone Should Care About Government Transparency By Kathleen Stone Government transparency in the state of Texas is the big issue that no one is talking about. Or that’s how it seems to me, the public relations student who joined the FOI Foundation of Texas as the digital marketing intern roughly two months ago. I came aboard to revamp the Texas Sunshine Coalition website and lay out a new social media plan. Beyond a few journalism classes and a media law class, I really didn’t know that much about the issues surrounding government transparency. After spending some time studying the cases, I’ve [...]

Why everyone should care about government transparencyFOIFT2018-10-16T22:49:22-05:00

Attorney Joel White, former FOI Foundation president, remembered as strong advocate for press freedom, open government

FOIFT2018-09-06T23:08:20-05:00

First Amendment attorney Joel White, a former president of the FOI Foundation of Texas and longtime champion of open government, has passed away. White died July 21 in Cartagena, Colombia. He became ill during a trip, having suffered a perforated diverticulitis and septic shock, according to friends and his wife, Melinda Rainey. In his law practice in Austin, White represented news media clients in many types of cases including court access, open records, subpoenas and libel. He also represented clients in finance, energy, construction and manufacturing. He was board certified in civil appellate law and was named one of the best lawyers in [...]

Attorney Joel White, former FOI Foundation president, remembered as strong advocate for press freedom, open governmentFOIFT2018-09-06T23:08:20-05:00

Houston mayor’s former press secretary indicted, accused of withholding public records

FOIFT2018-07-19T23:23:39-05:00

By Mike Morris Houston Chronicle Originally published July 19, 2018 Mayor Sylvester Turner's former press secretary, Darian Ward, was indicted by a grand jury this week, accused of violating state law by failing to turn over public records in response to a reporter’s request late last year. The indictment, handed up Tuesday but released by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg’s office Thursday, says Ward misrepresented the number of emails responsive to a reporter’s request for correspondence about her personal business activities and unlawfully withheld public records. Read the full story here.

Houston mayor’s former press secretary indicted, accused of withholding public recordsFOIFT2018-07-19T23:23:39-05:00

Phillips: Local newspapers help taxpayers as watchdogs on government

FOIFT2018-07-17T16:26:27-05:00

By Alberta Phillips Austin American-Statesman Originally published July 12, 2018 Daily newspapers long have been the barking – and oftentimes biting – watchdogs that keep the public informed about what their government is doing, be that rescuing people from massive flooding in Austin in 2015, or the mismanagement of $2 billion in contracts by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which came to light that same year. Find the full column here.

Phillips: Local newspapers help taxpayers as watchdogs on governmentFOIFT2018-07-17T16:26:27-05:00

AG tells Victoria school district to release superintendent search details

FOIFT2018-07-15T22:31:38-05:00

By Gabriella Canales Victoria Advocate Originally published July 1, 2018 Victoria school district officials must release public documents about the district’s superintendent hiring process, according to an opinion issued by the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The opinion came about three months after Emett Alvarez, managing editor of the Revista de Victoria, requested information in May about the district’s superintendent search. Read the full story here.

AG tells Victoria school district to release superintendent search detailsFOIFT2018-07-15T22:31:38-05:00

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