PIA

Subpoenas show Agua district investigation focuses on controversial severance payments

2018-02-23T17:24:50-06:00

By Dave Hendricks Progress Times Originally published Feb. 23, 2018 The Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office investigation of the Agua Special Utility District focuses on two former employees who received six-figure severance payments, according to grand jury subpoenas obtained by the Progress Times. Prosecutors sent the first subpoena in November, requesting records on severance payments to former Community Relations Coordinator Oscar “Coach” Salinas and former utility Project Manager Armin Garza. Prosecutors sent four more subpoenas in January, requesting employment records for Salinas and Garza. They also sought text messages between the utility board and the former executive director who approved the [...]

Subpoenas show Agua district investigation focuses on controversial severance payments2018-02-23T17:24:50-06:00

Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executions

2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

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 executions2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

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

2018-02-09T15:17:03-06:00

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 Alamo2018-02-09T15:17:03-06:00

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

2018-02-06T05:15:47-06:00

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 grudge2018-02-06T05:15:47-06:00

Alamo Trust to hold open meetings in wake of transparency concerns

2018-01-16T16:43:05-06:00

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 concerns2018-01-16T16:43:05-06:00

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