PIA

AG orders records released; Fort Worth school district settled with Chesapeake for $1million

2016-04-12T15:26:30-05:00

By Max Baker Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally published April 11, 2016 FORT WORTH - The Fort Worth school district settled its lawsuit with Chesapeake Energy over natural gas royalties for $1 million, according to documents released Monday after the Texas attorney general decided that the information is public. The attorney general’s office ordered the district to release details of the out-of-court settlement despite efforts by Chesapeake to keep it private through a confidentiality agreement signed by both parties in December. The Star-Telegram, along with the city of Fort Worth, sought to have the settlement agreement, approved by the Fort Worth school [...]

AG orders records released; Fort Worth school district settled with Chesapeake for $1million2016-04-12T15:26:30-05:00

Court: Austin must ID private email addresses used for public business

2016-04-11T14:54:46-05:00

By Nolan Hicks Austin American-Statesman Originally published April 8, 2016 Public officials won’t be able to shield their personal email addresses from the public if they use the accounts for government business, a state appellate court ruled Friday. Government watchdogs hailed the decision as a win for government transparency and the state’s public records laws. The litigation stems from the “walking quorum” controversy that roiled Austin City Hall five years ago, involving accusations that City Council members violated the state’s transparency laws by conducting government business out of public view. None of the current City Council members were in office then. [...]

Court: Austin must ID private email addresses used for public business2016-04-11T14:54:46-05:00

Miller’s office withheld emails about ‘Jesus Shot’ trip

2016-04-07T13:41:10-05:00

By Brian M. Rosenthal Houston Chronicle Originally published April 1, 2016 Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller's office withheld public records that suggest he obtained a medical procedure known as "The Jesus Shot" on a taxpayer-funded trip to Oklahoma, the Houston Chronicle has learned. In response to a February public records request, Miller's office had said that no email messages about the trip existed, even though it had more than a dozen of them, a spokeswoman acknowledged Friday. The emails disprove Miller's initial account of the trip and show that he tried to set up work meetings for that day only after [...]

Miller’s office withheld emails about ‘Jesus Shot’ trip2016-04-07T13:41:10-05:00

FOI Foundation of Texas hosting upcoming Open Government Seminars

2016-03-29T17:11:41-05:00

AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will host Open Government Seminars in the north Houston area, El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley in May and June featuring training in the state’s public meetings and public records laws. The non-profit FOI Foundation, partnering with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, will offer one-day seminars designed for government employees, journalists, attorneys and members of the general public who want to learn more about 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 [...]

FOI Foundation of Texas hosting upcoming Open Government Seminars2016-03-29T17:11:41-05:00

City of McAllen continues to withhold parade information

2016-03-23T18:49:57-05:00

By Mitchell Ferman The Monitor Originally published March 22, 2016 The City of McAllen called The Monitor’s open records request for issued checks, documents and emails between city officials relating to the Enrique Iglesias concert in December 2015 a “backdoor” attempt to “circumvent” a previous ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The city complied with a portion of the request while deferring the rest of the request to an opinion from the attorney general. In a letter to the attorney general pertaining to the request, the city stated it will be negotiating similar contracts and documents with other performers in [...]

City of McAllen continues to withhold parade information2016-03-23T18:49:57-05:00
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