PIA

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

Attorneys: Public has right to know details of Bryan superintendent agreement

2016-10-13T15:53:33-05:00

By Elizabeth Kamenicky The Eagle Originally published Oct. 9, 2016 Two attorneys serving on the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas board said Bryan school trustees are wrong to cite a confidentiality agreement with former Superintendent Tommy Wallis as their reason for not telling the public why the top administrator suddenly resigned. In the days following the release of a 16-page exit agreement between the board and Wallis, trustees remained quiet about Wallis' abrupt departure after five years of positive performance reviews, including one given several months ago. Wallis, who resigned from his position Sept. 30, received a check last week [...]

Attorneys: Public has right to know details of Bryan superintendent agreement2016-10-13T15:53:33-05:00

Reasons for Texas’ surge in pregnancy-related deaths cloaked in secrecy, bad data

2016-09-28T18:39:42-05:00

By J. David McSwane and Terri Langford The Dallas Morning News Originally published Sept. 28, 2016 The rate of pregnancy-related deaths among Texas women nearly doubled in recent years, a national study found this month, while a separate state-commissioned study found black women are especially vulnerable. Researchers can't say why maternal death rates are higher in Texas than any other state, and the reasons are likely to remain hidden. That's because the data and records that could provide answers to the maternal death quandary are being kept secret by the Department of State Health Services, which has refused to disclose even [...]

Reasons for Texas’ surge in pregnancy-related deaths cloaked in secrecy, bad data2016-09-28T18:39:42-05:00

Victoria County pays $105,000 for open records advice

2016-09-26T15:07:51-05:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published Sept. 24, 2016 Victoria County paid an outside law firm about $105,000 over four years to answer open records requests. In 2015 alone, after several sheriff's office employees were investigated for wrongdoing, the county paid more than $77,000. The county made the payments to the Austin-based Allison, Bass and Magee law firm even though the elected district attorney has offered to answer the open records requests faster and for no outside cost. The sheriff's office wrote in a statement that it wants the DA's office "to remain focused on fighting crime by prosecuting the [...]

Victoria County pays $105,000 for open records advice2016-09-26T15:07:51-05:00

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