PIA

Open government bills moving forward, getting hearings at Texas Capitol

2015-04-24T15:21:12-05:00

This week Texas legislators were busy hearing bills both good and bad for open government and freedom of information as end-of-session legislative deadlines loom. The House Judiciary and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved HB 1766 by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, that allows for continued reporting by the news media on third party allegations of wrongdoing. The Senate, meanwhile, passed its version of the bill, SB 627 by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston. These bills are positive for the public's right to know. A rough bill for open government is HB 1118 by Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy, which would allow government officials to [...]

Open government bills moving forward, getting hearings at Texas Capitol2015-04-24T15:21:12-05:00

UT regent asks attorney general for access to confidential information

2015-04-21T15:29:01-05:00

By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published April 20, 2015 When he abstained from voting to appoint Gregory Fenves as the new president of the University of Texas at Austin on Monday, UT System Regent Wallace Hall said he still had some "lingering, unresolved questions" about the admissions process at the flagship school. Hours later, Hall's lawyer requested help from the state attorney general to find some answers. In a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton, Hall's lawyer says Hall wants access to supporting documents and evidence that was used to compile a consultant's report about the admissions policies at [...]

UT regent asks attorney general for access to confidential information2015-04-21T15:29:01-05:00

Texas lawmakers consider shielding information on suppliers of execution drugs

2015-04-16T16:01:27-05:00

By Paul Weber Associated Press via Laredo Morning Times Originally published April 15, 2015 AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Saying that executions in Texas are becoming "increasingly difficult to carry out," state officials Wednesday urged lawmakers to send Republican Gov. Greg Abbott a bill that would prevent even death row inmates from knowing the identity of lethal injection drug suppliers. The debate in the Legislature took place just hours before the sixth person this year was set to die in Texas, where the nation's busiest death chamber is again running low on inventory. The office of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton told [...]

Texas lawmakers consider shielding information on suppliers of execution drugs2015-04-16T16:01:27-05:00

UPDATE: Many bills before legislative committees this week open, close access to government

2015-04-15T20:39:10-05:00

Texas House and Senate committees are considering more than 20 bills this week that would open - and close - public access to state and local government. The House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee is holding a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 2633 by Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston, that would close off public access to key information in traffic accident reports. Meanwhile, the House Business and Industry Committee is considering House Bill 3199 by Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, that would ban use of information obtained under the Texas Public Information Act for marketing purposes. On Wednesday, the House Government Transparency and [...]

UPDATE: Many bills before legislative committees this week open, close access to government2015-04-15T20:39:10-05:00

Hacker group Anonymous demands release of video in Grapevine police shooting

2015-04-14T13:40:51-05:00

By Dianne Solis The Dallas Morning News Originally published April 13, 2015 Anonymous, the collective of activist hackers, is urging North Texas officials to release a Grapevine police video of a traffic stop that led to the fatal shooting of Rubén García Villalpando, a 31-year-old mechanic who was not armed. García Villalpando, a Mexican immigrant, was shot Feb. 20 after he was chased into Euless by Grapevine Officer Robert Clark. An Anonymous offshoot played a role last summer in civil unrest in Ferguson, Mo., when a police officer there killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old. The group posted the names [...]

Hacker group Anonymous demands release of video in Grapevine police shooting2015-04-14T13:40:51-05:00

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