PIA

Texas Supreme Court limits reach of open government law with GHP ruling

FOIFT2015-06-26T21:31:44-05:00

By Mark Collette Houston Chronicle Originally published June 26, 2015 In a 6-3 opinion with profound reach on the state's open government laws, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday decided that Greater Houston Partnership doesn't have to open its check registers, even though it receives funds from the city of Houston. The case stemmed from a 2007 request by Jim Jenkins of Montgomery County, who wanted to see how GHP spends the city's money. GHP, the region's major economic development group, argued that it wasn't a governmental body for the purposes of the Texas Public Information Act, and eventually sued to [...]

Texas Supreme Court limits reach of open government law with GHP rulingFOIFT2015-06-26T21:31:44-05:00

Regent Wallace Hall sues UT System Chancellor McRaven

FOIFT2015-06-24T14:11:56-05:00

By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published June 23, 2015 In an effort to gain access to confidential student information, University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall has taken the unusual step of suing the chancellor of the system he oversees. Hall claims in the suit that Chancellor William McRaven wrongly denied Hall access to the records, which Hall says are necessary to fulfill his oversight role as a regent. He couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday night. In a statement, the system denied that claim, saying students' academic records are protected by federal law. "Chancellor McRaven believes that a [...]

Regent Wallace Hall sues UT System Chancellor McRavenFOIFT2015-06-24T14:11:56-05:00

Follow up on pricey public records request in Corpus Christi

FOIFT2015-06-23T14:10:15-05:00

By Rick Spruill KRIS-TV Originally published June 23, 2015 CORPUS CHRISTI - This is a Six Investigates follow up on Del Mar College, where a man's fight for information about the college's finances is getting noticed by some powerful open-government advocates.Accountant Ed Bennett got sticker shock last year when Del Mar College asked him to pay almost 27-million dollars for an open records request. Bennett is digging in to whether the college wrote-off debts it could and should have collected and then misled the public about it. "I assume, based on the 26-point-7 million dollar quote that they're trying to get [...]

Follow up on pricey public records request in Corpus ChristiFOIFT2015-06-23T14:10:15-05:00

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

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