PIA

Temple Daily Telegram, Alvin Sun receive Spirit of FOI Award

FOIFT2014-06-21T19:46:30-05:00

CORPUS CHRISTI _ Two Texas newspapers have received the annual Spirit of FOI Award for their extensive work using and examining the state’s open records laws. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award, presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Press Association, was given Saturday to the Temple Daily Telegram among Class AA, or mid-sized newspapers, and to the Alvin Sun among Class A, or small, newspapers. There were no entries in the largest size category. The annual award honors journalists and news organizations for outstanding efforts that uphold First Amendment principles and promote freedom of [...]

Temple Daily Telegram, Alvin Sun receive Spirit of FOI AwardFOIFT2014-06-21T19:46:30-05:00

Hazardous chemical lists no longer public record in Texas

FOIFT2014-06-13T17:28:21-05:00

By Brett Shipp WFAA.com Originally published June 12, 2014 DALLAS -- For the past 30 years, federal law has required chemical makers and handlers to disclose what's stored on premises. It's called the Community Right To Know Act, and it has been at the core of the safety conversation since last year's deadly fertilizer explosion in West, Texas. But News 8 has learned that in the past few weeks, state health officials have stopped making those hazardous chemical records public. On May 29, emergency responders in Athens, Texas, were faced with a potential disaster. An old storage building filled with explosive [...]

Hazardous chemical lists no longer public record in TexasFOIFT2014-06-13T17:28:21-05:00

Commentary: Know Texas’ open records laws

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:47-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Guest Columnist The Monitor Originally published June 9, 2014 Picture yourself attending a local government meeting because you’re curious about the hiring of a new city manager. Suddenly, city commissioners go into a closed-door session to talk secretly. Can they do that? Is it legal? Or, let’s say, you’ve requested information from your school district about its classroom curriculum. You are told obtaining those documents will cost hundreds of dollars. What can you do? Conversely, if you are a public official, what does the law allow you to charge for a large and time-consuming public records request? These [...]

Commentary: Know Texas’ open records lawsFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:47-05:00

Perry seeks to keep details of Toyota incentives secret

FOIFT2014-06-03T22:00:13-05:00

By Forrest Wilder Texas Observer Originally published June 1, 2014 Rick Perry’s office refuses to release any information about the $40 million it’s offering Toyota to relocate to Texas, despite providing the Observer with similar information last year for a $12 million grant to Chevron. The Observer and the Houston Chronicle both filed open records requests with the governor’s office after Perry announced in April the $40 million incentive grant to Toyota from the Texas Enterprise Fund. The governor’s office promotes the Enterprise Fund as a “deal-closing” program that helps bring jobs to Texas. But in some cases evidence suggests that [...]

Perry seeks to keep details of Toyota incentives secretFOIFT2014-06-03T22:00:13-05:00

El Paso case arguments address public business on private devices

FOIFT2014-05-27T15:04:37-05:00

By Marty Schladen El Paso Times Originally published May 22, 2014 AUSTIN - The limits of Texas Public Information Act - and how El Paso city government has tested them - were the subject of arguments Thursday in an appellate court here. Attorneys argued about what duties governmental entities have to turn over communications about government business that officials create using personal accounts and devices. The case, argued before the Third Court of Appeals in Austin, stems from the controversy surrounding the El Paso City Council's 2012 decision to tear down the old City Hall and build a baseball stadium in [...]

El Paso case arguments address public business on private devicesFOIFT2014-05-27T15:04:37-05:00

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