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2017-12-29T16:45:02-06:00

It's been a challenging year for open government and First Amendment liberties in Texas and throughout the nation. The non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has worked in 2017 to protect these rights, and we will renew and intensify our efforts in 2018. The public's right to know is at stake. Our operations depend on donations from individuals, groups and companies. So please support our mission with a contribution today. Any amount is helpful. We also welcome your ideas and feedback, so please contact us to voice concerns and share  information about public access issues. You are our partner in [...]

Support open government and First Amendment rights by donating to FOI Foundation2017-12-29T16:45:02-06:00

Media law experts say arrest violated citizen journalist’s First Amendment rights

2017-12-19T16:09:30-06:00

By Julia Wallace Laredo Morning Times Originally published Dec. 17, 2017 The recent arrest of Priscilla Villarreal, better known as the Facebook star/citizen journalist Lagordiloca, on misuse of information charges is novel, and potentially a violation of her First Amendment rights, according to several media law experts. Villarreal was charged Wednesday with two counts of misuse of information. Police said she received or solicited information from one of their own in order to obtain a benefit. The cop, a 19-year veteran, has been placed on administrative reassignment pending the outcome of internal and criminal investigations. Villarreal regularly received information about arrests, [...]

Media law experts say arrest violated citizen journalist’s First Amendment rights2017-12-19T16:09:30-06:00

Records reveal drama, disguises in Austin city manager search

2017-12-08T15:17:00-06:00

By Philip Jankowski Austin American-Statesman Originally published Dec. 6, 2017 To dodge reporters, consultants suggested the finalists to be Austin’s next city manager don wigs, pretend to be tourists or possibly even wear Halloween masks after American-Statesman reporters managed to identify several candidates during the city’s top-secret search for its next leader. That was one of many details revealed in more than 400 pages of communications the city provided in response to a request under the Texas Public Information Act made within hours of officials making the legally murky decision to secretly change the location of a second round of interviewsconducted Nov. [...]

Records reveal drama, disguises in Austin city manager search2017-12-08T15:17:00-06:00

George P. Bush grilled on Alamo transparency

2017-12-06T15:59:22-06:00

By Scott Huddleston San Antonio Express-News Originally published Dec. 5, 2018 State legislators quizzed Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush about the Alamo and a long-range master plan, and asked him to look for ways to provide more transparency in the management of the historic mission and battle site. “We need to get it more simple, and clearer,” Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said at the conclusion of an hourlong exchange Tuesday between Bush and the Senate Finance Committee, which Nelson chairs. Committee members said they would like to see better access to meetings of the nonprofit contractors that run the [...]

George P. Bush grilled on Alamo transparency2017-12-06T15:59:22-06:00

FOI Column: Boeing ruling stretched, twisted to keep government records secret

2022-03-31T17:08:33-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas Every week, government officials across Texas and private companies receiving taxpayer dollars get increasingly creative in hiding public records. Their new tool is the Boeing ruling, a decision from the Texas Supreme Court that lowered the threshold for arguing competitive bidding as an exemption from disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act. It gives governments an easier path to claim that competitive bidding concerns should allow them to keep records secret. And, businesses can now make the claim, too. Those attempting to censor records under Boeing have sought approximately 1,500 rulings from [...]

FOI Column: Boeing ruling stretched, twisted to keep government records secret2022-03-31T17:08:33-05:00

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