PIA

Open records squabble blooms over Austin Music Census data

FOIFT2015-10-06T17:33:01-05:00

By Lilly Rockwell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Oct. 5, 2015 For Texas State University professor Cindy Royal, the Austin Music Census data was like Christmas came early. A city-hired consultant had collected surveys from nearly 4,000 people in Austin’s music industry, with data ranging from musicians’ revenue sources to answers on broader questions about the challenges facing the local music scene. Royal, who teaches a class in the journalism program at Texas State on computer coding and data skills, wanted to use the survey data in her class. So she filed an open records request in August with the city of [...]

Open records squabble blooms over Austin Music Census dataFOIFT2015-10-06T17:33:01-05:00

Corpus Christi Caller-Times: Texas’ top court downsized the right to know

FOIFT2015-10-05T18:48:12-05:00

Corpus Christi Caller-Times Editorial Originally published Oct. 4, 2015 Among the most basic of the reasons for We the People to have a right to know is so we can review how our government is spending our money. The Texas Public Information Act protects this right, with careful exceptions meant to protect commerce without infringing on this basic right. An example is the right of a private company that contracts with the state to protect trade secrets that make its products or services unique. Recently, the Texas Supreme Court extended private companies' right to keep secrets from the public way too [...]

Corpus Christi Caller-Times: Texas’ top court downsized the right to knowFOIFT2015-10-05T18:48:12-05:00

Dallas Morning News, KXAS, Temple Daily Telegram receive Spirit of FOI Awards

FOIFT2015-09-17T19:26:30-05:00

For Immediate Release Sept. 17, 201 AUSTIN _ Three Texas news organizations have won the Spirit of FOI Award for their investigations that made use of state and federal open records laws and resulted in revealing, impactful stories. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award, presented Thursday by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, was given to The Dallas Morning News and NBC affiliate KXAS in the Class AA large market category for the joint investigation, “Injured Heroes, Broken Promises.” The Temple Daily Telegram, a winner of the award last year, received this year’s Class A market for reporting on [...]

Dallas Morning News, KXAS, Temple Daily Telegram receive Spirit of FOI AwardsFOIFT2015-09-17T19:26:30-05:00

LBJ Library Director Updegrove speech, open records discussions featured at conference

FOIFT2015-09-03T16:56:23-05:00

AUSTIN _ Texas ethics disclosures and access to university admissions records will highlight debate and discussion at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference Sept. 17, when open government champions also will be honored. This year’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport Annual State Conference, “Transparency: Talk vs. Practice,” takes place at the Hyatt Regency in Austin. “Our state has a proud history of standing up for open government and the people’s right to know,” said Kelley Shannon, executive director of the FOI Foundation of Texas. “At this gathering, we celebrate those principles and look to strengthen them in the future.” [...]

LBJ Library Director Updegrove speech, open records discussions featured at conferenceFOIFT2015-09-03T16:56:23-05:00

Abbott withholding records with Paxton’s blessing

FOIFT2015-08-26T15:08:38-05:00

By Jay Root The Texas Tribune Originally published Aug. 25, 2015 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently added his voice to the Republican uproar over Hillary Clinton’s email scandal, congratulating a GOP presidential hopeful for saying foreign countries know more about her electronic communications than the U.S. Congress does. But Abbott, too, often uses a private email address for official government business, and in many years as a state elected official has often decided less is more when it comes to disclosing the communications. He has argued recently, for instance, that he is a "member of the public" in order to shield [...]

Abbott withholding records with Paxton’s blessingFOIFT2015-08-26T15:08:38-05:00

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