PIA

Answers and evidence in Twin Peaks shootout delayed by case complexity, police caution

FOIFT2015-06-22T16:56:29-05:00

By Tommy Witherspoon and Olivia Messer Waco Tribune-Herald Originally published June 20, 2015 One month after the deadly May 17 shootout at Twin Peaks prompted the unprecedented mass arrests of 177 bikers, officials are releasing limited information and say disclosure of certain evidence, including videos of the incident, would compromise their investigation. The incident was of such a rare scale and variety that McLennan County officials had never experienced anything like it. Their response after the shooting stopped has been criticized by some and spawned at least one federal civil rights lawsuit and a judicial complaint. Now, as the media, bikers [...]

Answers and evidence in Twin Peaks shootout delayed by case complexity, police cautionFOIFT2015-06-22T16:56:29-05:00

New Texas laws protect public’s right to know

FOIFT2015-06-03T16:06:54-05:00

AUSTIN – Texans will gain access to private university police records and more easily observe public meetings because of action this legislative session, while journalists can continue robust reporting on allegations of wrongdoing. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas pressed for these and other transparency measures in the 84th Legislature, which concluded Monday. One highlight was passage of Senate Bill 627, allowing journalists to accurately report on wrongdoing accusations that are not yet part of a government inquiry. It codifies what has been common law in Texas for 25 years and clarifies a recent Texas Supreme Court ruling. This bill [...]

New Texas laws protect public’s right to knowFOIFT2015-06-03T16:06:54-05:00

House expected to remove ban on media access to accident reports

FOIFT2015-05-26T16:35:12-05:00

AUSTIN - A Senate amendment to House Bill 2633 that would ban news media access to detailed traffic accident reports is expected to be stripped out of the bill in a conference committee. House sponsors of the legislation have said the bill by Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston, is expected to return to its House version with removal of the Senate language that was added Sunday night by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock. The bill seeks to limit public access to personal information in traffic accidents to crack down on barratry. A provision in the House version would allow newspapers and broadcast news [...]

House expected to remove ban on media access to accident reportsFOIFT2015-05-26T16:35:12-05:00

Open government advocates optimistic about Texas legislative session

FOIFT2015-05-21T17:18:47-05:00

By Eva-Marie Ayala The Dallas Morning News Originally published May 20, 2015 AUSTIN — Texans are likely to get greater access to campus police records and public meetings online. But after a group secretly taped lawmakers in Austin, some are wary of legislation that could make it harder to record audio without the consent of all recorded. A variety of bills still in play in the final days of the legislative session will affect government transparency, and so far, major legislative efforts are falling on the side of open government. “Until the last day of the session, it’s just too early [...]

Open government advocates optimistic about Texas legislative sessionFOIFT2015-05-21T17:18:47-05:00

Lawmakers pass bill making college police records public

FOIFT2015-05-19T18:38:59-05:00

AUSTIN - The Texas House today passed legislation making private university police records subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Senate Bill 308 by Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, had already passed the Senate and was sponsored in the House by Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston. The open government bill passed on the House Local and Consent Calendar. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott.

Lawmakers pass bill making college police records publicFOIFT2015-05-19T18:38:59-05:00

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