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The Monitor: Respecting Texas open meetings laws in the Rio Grande Valley

FOIFT2015-03-17T14:15:06-05:00

Editorial Board The Monitor Originally published March 15, 2015 There’s a bit of irony, and perhaps coincidence, that a 16-month-old case regarding a violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act during a November 2013 Weslaco City Commission meeting was finally resolved last week, right before today’s start of Sunshine Week. The case, of course, involved former City Commissioner Joe Martinez, ex-Mayor Pro Tem John Cuellar and current Commissioners David Fox, Lupe Rivera and Jerry Tafolla, who on Thursday agreed to probation and fines for their part in closing the public meeting. The five will each serve up to two years of [...]

The Monitor: Respecting Texas open meetings laws in the Rio Grande ValleyFOIFT2015-03-17T14:15:06-05:00

Sunshine Week: Legislative spotlight on private email accounts, police records, news reporting

FOIFT2015-03-16T13:49:20-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Private university police beat a man suspected of stealing a bicycle. The violent episode was captured on a dash camera, but when questions arose the police refused to release the complete video. City officials used their personal email accounts to discuss government business, just as Hillary Clinton did as secretary of state. When a citizen sought the local records, which are public under Texas law, city employees claimed their power was limited because they didn’t have custody of the documents. As matters of widespread public concern come to light – [...]

Sunshine Week: Legislative spotlight on private email accounts, police records, news reportingFOIFT2015-03-16T13:49:20-05:00

Commissioners enter pretrial diversion program in Open Meetings Act case

FOIFT2015-03-13T21:07:45-05:00

By Michael Rodriguez Valley Morning Star Originally published March 12, 2015 WESLACO — At least some semblance of finality in the Weslaco city commissioners’ Texas Open Meetings Act case was achieved on Thursday when the elected officials accused of violating the act agreed to enter a pretrial diversion program. The decision came at a pretrial hearing held inside Judge Bobby Flores’ 139th State District Court in Edinburg, where the defendants — former commissioner Joe Martinez and ex-Mayor Pro Tem John Cuellar, together with current commissioners David Fox, Lupe Rivera and Jerry Tafolla — agreed to the conditions of the program for [...]

Commissioners enter pretrial diversion program in Open Meetings Act caseFOIFT2015-03-13T21:07:45-05:00

Positive open government bills emerging at Capitol, too

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:42-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Every legislative session there are attempts to shut off government information to the public, and this year is no exception. But there are also a number of positive open government bills emerging at the Texas Capitol. Throughout the session, we'll highlight some good open government bills in periodic blog posts. Here are a few of those bills filed so far: Senate Bill 308 by Sen. John Whitmire. This measure would ensure that the records of private universities' police departments are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Senate Bill 434 [...]

Positive open government bills emerging at Capitol, tooFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:42-05:00

Court says Tarrant Regional Water District didn’t violate open meetings law

FOIFT2014-12-01T16:15:40-06:00

By Bill Hanna Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally published Nov. 28, 2014 The 2nd Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the Tarrant Regional Water District did not violate the Texas Open Meetings Act when it discussed a massive 149-mile pipeline project that will bring water from east Texas to Fort Worth and Dallas. Dallas businessman Monty Bennett sued TRWD in 2013, arguing that the board circumvented the Open Meetings law by effectively making most of its decisions in two-person committees that the board then rubber stamped with little or no public discussion. Bennett is fighting TRWD’s attempts to use eminent domain to [...]

Court says Tarrant Regional Water District didn’t violate open meetings lawFOIFT2014-12-01T16:15:40-06:00

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