PIA

Federal judge rules Texas drone law violates First Amendment

FOIFT2022-04-04T15:06:32-05:00

Federal Judge Robert Pitman struck down Texas' drone photography law, ruling it violates the First Amendment. The law prevented journalists from gathering news. As attorney Jim Hemphill, an FOI Foundation of Texas board member, explains in this article by Alicia Calzada, the decision confirms drone photography is "an integral tool in 21st-Century journalism.” Read Calzada's full article here, published by the National Press Photographers Association, the plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Federal judge rules Texas drone law violates First AmendmentFOIFT2022-04-04T15:06:32-05:00

At the root of democracy: Free flow of information

FOIFT2022-04-13T15:01:54-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas As Ukrainians fight and die for democracy, Russia is arresting its own citizens who are protesting the war and threatening prison for journalists who report the truth. The attempt to crush a democratic government and stop the flow of information comes as American news organizations and transparency advocates observe Sunshine Week from March 13-19, a time for highlighting government openness and a free press. Certainly, let’s commemorate the freedom of information we enjoy – and constantly strive to improve – in the United States. But it’s imperative to contrast it [...]

At the root of democracy: Free flow of informationFOIFT2022-04-13T15:01:54-05:00

How the University of Texas defers to business interests in public records requests

FOIFT2022-03-03T17:19:11-06:00

By Asher Price Axios Originally published March 2, 2022 Axios Austin is currently embroiled in three open records disputes with the University of Texas. Why it matters: University officials acknowledge they are deferring to business interests — instead of simply releasing information to the public. Details: UT officials are refusing to say how much money the public university has agreed to pay one outside firm to assist in its ongoing law school dean search or how much it's contracted to pay another to consult on name-image-likeness issues involving student-athletes. Read the full story here.

How the University of Texas defers to business interests in public records requestsFOIFT2022-03-03T17:19:11-06:00

Mother of man killed by Denton County deputies in 2019 still holding out for footage

FOIFT2022-02-25T17:25:07-06:00

By Zaira Perez Denton Record-Chronicle Originally published Feb. 23, 2022 More than two years after her son’s death at the hands of Denton County deputies, Cheryl Kristin Adams said she still thinks about the fatal shooting every day. Adams said she still doesn’t have closure because she said the sheriff’s office isn’t sharing the body camera footage from that night even though she has requested body camera footage showing the shooting of her son, Kristopher Adams, on Sept. 16, 2019. ... Jim Hemphill, an attorney with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, said the sheriff’s office might be relying on [...]

Mother of man killed by Denton County deputies in 2019 still holding out for footageFOIFT2022-02-25T17:25:07-06:00

Judge dismisses Odessa American’s open records lawsuit

FOIFT2022-02-25T17:17:31-06:00

By Hannah Burbank CBS7/KOSA Originally published Feb. 16, 2022 ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - A judge dismissed the Odessa American’s lawsuit against the City of Odessa. On Tuesday, City Council discussed the court's order. The Odessa American claims the city violated the Texas Public Information Act; however the City said it did nothing wrong. The Odessa American said the city was redacting information but city officials said they were only redacting information like Social Security numbers and license numbers. The newspaper also contended that the city wasn't releasing public records in a timely manner.

Judge dismisses Odessa American’s open records lawsuitFOIFT2022-02-25T17:17:31-06:00

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