PIA

AG Ken Paxton sides with UT regent Wallace Hall on access to records

2015-05-12T21:57:04-05:00

By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz Austin American-Statesman Originally published May 12, 2015 Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion Tuesday siding with a University of Texas System regent seeking access to records from an investigation into admissions at the Austin campus. The UT System cannot bar a regent’s access to records unless a state or federal law requires otherwise, Paxton said. Even the federal student privacy law does not allow a university to withhold student records deemed necessary for evaluating a state-supported education program, he said. Regent Wallace L. Hall Jr. sought the opinion after the system’s chancellor, Bill McRaven, refused to [...]

AG Ken Paxton sides with UT regent Wallace Hall on access to records2015-05-12T21:57:04-05:00

FOI Foundation files court brief arguing Greater Houston Partnership is governmental body

2015-05-06T20:41:34-05:00

AUSTIN - The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has filed a brief with the Texas Supreme Court arguing that the Greater Houston Partnership is a governmental entity and subject to the state open records law. The FOI Foundation amicus brief was filed Monday in an appeal brought by the Greater Houston Partnership against the attorney general's office. The FOI Foundation contends the partnership is a "governmental body" under the Texas Public Information Act. The partnership is supported in part by public funds for the performance of traditional government services, in this case economic development activities, according to the brief. "The [...]

FOI Foundation files court brief arguing Greater Houston Partnership is governmental body2015-05-06T20:41:34-05:00

UT regents ask AG to ignore Hall’s request for information

2015-05-05T13:41:17-05:00

By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published May 4, 2015 In the latest bit of infighting among the governing board of the University of Texas System, the Board of Regents on Monday asked the state attorney general to ignore one of its member's request for help accessing confidential student information. The board approved a letter saying the regent, Wallace Hall, doesn't have a right to "unfettered" information from the system. The letter also says that Hall doesn't have a right to ask Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on the issue. The regents voted 8-0 to send the letter [...]

UT regents ask AG to ignore Hall’s request for information2015-05-05T13:41:17-05:00

Deadline for entering Spirit of FOI Award contest is Friday

2015-05-04T15:07:56-05:00

Texas journalists have until Friday to enter the 2015 Spirit of FOI Award contest, which recognizes outstanding efforts to promote open government and the First Amendment. This year's contest is open to newspaper, radio and television stations and online news organizations. Entries must have been published or broadcast in 2014. Winners will be honored at the FOI Foundation of Texas annual conference Sept. 17 in Austin. Click here for contest details. The deadline for entries is midnight Friday, May 8.

Deadline for entering Spirit of FOI Award contest is Friday2015-05-04T15:07:56-05:00

Private college police bill among open government proposals this week at Texas Capitol

2015-04-30T14:55:12-05:00

The Texas House Higher Education Committee heard testimony this week on Senate Bill 308, which would make private college campus police records accessible to the public. Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, sponsored the measure in the House. The bill originated with Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, following a videotaped beating of a man by Rice University police. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and other open government advocates are supporting the bill. On Wednesday, before the House committee, Dallas Morning News reporter Melissa Repko and KPRC-TV reporter Robert Arnold of Houston testified, respectively, on their experiences covering police at Southern Methodist University [...]

Private college police bill among open government proposals this week at Texas Capitol2015-04-30T14:55:12-05:00
Go to Top