PIA

City of East Mountain faces lawsuit claiming Texas Public Information Act violation

2016-12-05T16:04:02-06:00

By Christina Lane Longview News-Journal Originally published Dec. 2, 2016 A new lawsuit filed against the city of East Mountain claims it violated the Texas Public Information Act. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in the Upshur County Clerk's Office by Lester Glover, an East Mountain resident who has lived in the city since April 2012. In the lawsuit, Glover is seeking for a court to order the city to deliver complete public information per Glover's open records request as well as costs for litigation and attorney fees. The city of East Mountain and its attorney's office declined to comment on the [...]

City of East Mountain faces lawsuit claiming Texas Public Information Act violation2016-12-05T16:04:02-06:00

Texas blows grant for funds to combat opioids, tries to keep records secret

2016-11-22T15:31:01-06:00

By Edgard Walters and Isabelle Taft The Texas Tribune Originally published Nov. 20, 2016 Faced with a rising death toll from opioid abuse, Texas public health officials in May decided to apply for a $1 million federal grant to purchase Naloxone, a drug that, if administered during an overdose, can save the life of a person addicted to heroin or pain pills. The Texas Department of State Health Services hired an outside grant writer to begin drafting a proposal, which was due at the end of the month. As the deadline drew closer, outside researchers and public health workers were brought in to help. [...]

Texas blows grant for funds to combat opioids, tries to keep records secret2016-11-22T15:31:01-06:00

State Board of Ed member fields private email controversy

2016-11-07T19:43:57-06:00

By Aliyya Swaby The Texas Tribune Originally published Nov. 4, 2016 State Board of Education member David Bradley, R-Beaumont, is under fire for allegedly not releasing board-related emails from his private server in response to an open records request. The Texas Freedom Network says Bradley did not hand over all of his emails in October when the organization filed a request under the state Public Information Act. Bradley said Texas Education Agency staff is responsible for handling those requests, and that he is sure they have been thorough. TFN is calling on the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office to investigate the issue, according [...]

State Board of Ed member fields private email controversy2016-11-07T19:43:57-06:00

How many racing dogs failed drug tests? In Texas, that’s confidential

2016-11-07T16:56:31-06:00

By Eric Dexheimer Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 6, 2016 Why would a state agency voluntarily publish information for years – and then, when directly asked for the same material, suddenly decide it’s confidential? That’s what the Texas Racing Commission did last month, in what open records experts describe as the latest example of the erosion of laws the public depends on to pry essential information from the government. The Texas Public Information Act is a basic tool of journalists, detailing what government records must be made public and, if necessary, providing a framework for forcing dawdling or obstructionist agencies to [...]

How many racing dogs failed drug tests? In Texas, that’s confidential2016-11-07T16:56:31-06:00

FOI Foundation offers Nov. 16 Open Government Seminar in Denton

2016-11-03T15:00:34-05:00

AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will host an Open Government Seminar in Denton in November featuring training in public meetings and public records laws. The non-profit FOI Foundation, in cooperation with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and the Mayborn School of Journalism at UNT, will offer the one-day seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 16. It is designed for government employees, journalists, attorneys and members of the general public interested in the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act. “This seminar highlighting Texas’ open government laws helps to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities as [...]

FOI Foundation offers Nov. 16 Open Government Seminar in Denton2016-11-03T15:00:34-05:00
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