PIA

Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executions

FOIFT2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

By Jolie McCullough The Texas Tribune Originally published Feb. 15, 2018 The cloud of secrecy surrounding Texas executions has grown a little darker lately. After death penalty defense lawyers claimed the state’s first two executions of the year were botched because of old lethal injection drugs, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has stalled the release of public information regarding the state’s supply of lethal doses. Without providing a reason, the department told a Texas Tribune reporter last week that it would take an estimated 20 business days — until the day before the state’s next scheduled execution — to provide information on [...]

Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executionsFOIFT2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

Internal GLO draft audit slams unusual use of non-profits to manage Alamo

FOIFT2018-02-09T15:17:03-06:00

By Jonathan Tilove Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 8, 2018 On Dec. 5, the state Senate Finance Committee questioned Land Commissioner George P. Bush and the agency’s general counsel, Jeff Gordon, about the three nonprofits the General Land Office had set up to manage, promote and raise money for the Alamo — each with its own mission but with identical boards made up of Bush and 10 of the state’s most recognizable movers and shakers. What most vexed the senators was that Alamo Complex Management, the nonprofit responsible for day-to-day operations of the most iconic site in Texas, was entirely funded [...]

Internal GLO draft audit slams unusual use of non-profits to manage AlamoFOIFT2018-02-09T15:17:03-06:00

Dallas Morning News editorial: Paxton’s misinformed spokesman turns Public Information Act against Texans over petty grudge

FOIFT2018-02-06T05:15:47-06:00

The Dallas Morning News Editorial Originally published Feb. 2, 2018 At a conference put on last month by the attorney general's office to help train local and state officials on how to comply with the Texas Public Information Act, one of the experts providing advice was Marc Rylander. Rylander works for Attorney General Ken Paxton and in comments caught on video he managed to embarrass himself and his boss. Worse still, he undermined a reputation lawyers in that office have built over many years for evenhanded enforcement of the state's open meetings and open records laws, no matter who happens to [...]

Dallas Morning News editorial: Paxton’s misinformed spokesman turns Public Information Act against Texans over petty grudgeFOIFT2018-02-06T05:15:47-06:00

Alamo Trust to hold open meetings in wake of transparency concerns

FOIFT2018-01-16T16:43:05-06:00

By Scott Huddleston San Antonio Express-News Originally published Jan. 15, 2018 A nonprofit board overseeing the Alamo’s day-to-day operations will open its meetings to the public this year. But one state senator says state officials and philanthropists in charge of the historic mission and battle site and a far-reaching plan to improve it should do more to provide a level of openness befitting the Texas shrine. “The public just has an inherent right to know how their tax dollars are being spent. And we’re now talking about the Alamo, which is a big deal,” said Sen. Kirk Watson, one of several [...]

Alamo Trust to hold open meetings in wake of transparency concernsFOIFT2018-01-16T16:43:05-06:00

Attorney general: Austin city manager candidates not a competitive secret

FOIFT2018-01-12T15:09:32-06:00

By Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Jan. 11, 2018 The city of Austin cannot withhold records showing who applied for its city manager position by claiming the information would harm the city competitively in a search for qualified applicants, the Texas attorney general’s office says. Nor is the information a trade secret, a matter that would harm the search firm competitively or “highly intimate and embarrassing,” Matthew Taylor, an assistant attorney general in the open records division, wrote in his opinion. The opinion says that the city and its executive search firm, Russell Reynolds, must turn over the bulk of the [...]

Attorney general: Austin city manager candidates not a competitive secretFOIFT2018-01-12T15:09:32-06:00

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