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Paris News Column: Time to fight for your information rights

FOIFT2018-12-04T14:31:49-06:00

By Klark Byrd The Paris News Originally published Dec. 2, 2018 Texas Sunshine Laws are bumming me out. Sunshine Laws protect the public’s right to access information generated by the government and the right to witness proceedings of government agencies, boards and committees. There’s usually two parts, a public information act and an open meetings act. Texas, like every other state in which I’ve practiced journalism, has both acts. Unfortunately, Texas’ Sunshine Laws do little to no good. Sources in my research tell me that wasn’t always the case. In fact, I’ve learned Texas’ protection of the public’s right to know [...]

Paris News Column: Time to fight for your information rightsFOIFT2018-12-04T14:31:49-06:00

Records obtained under Public Information Act show Calhoun Port commissioners spent 19K on trip to Chile

FOIFT2018-12-03T14:09:07-06:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published Dec. 1, 2018 The Calhoun Port Authority spent about $19,000 to send three board members and their wives to an October conference in Chile. By comparison, a similarly sized port 90 miles east along the Texas coast, Port Freeport, sent its port director and one board member to the international conference. The much-larger Port Houston sent no one to the same conference. The Calhoun Port Authority board members who attended – Randy L. Boyd, Dell R. Weathersby, and Shields A. “Tony” Holladay Sr. – have not shared with the public much of what they [...]

Records obtained under Public Information Act show Calhoun Port commissioners spent 19K on trip to ChileFOIFT2018-12-03T14:09:07-06:00

Attorney Joel White, former FOI Foundation president, remembered as strong advocate for press freedom, open government

FOIFT2018-09-06T23:08:20-05:00

First Amendment attorney Joel White, a former president of the FOI Foundation of Texas and longtime champion of open government, has passed away. White died July 21 in Cartagena, Colombia. He became ill during a trip, having suffered a perforated diverticulitis and septic shock, according to friends and his wife, Melinda Rainey. In his law practice in Austin, White represented news media clients in many types of cases including court access, open records, subpoenas and libel. He also represented clients in finance, energy, construction and manufacturing. He was board certified in civil appellate law and was named one of the best lawyers in [...]

Attorney Joel White, former FOI Foundation president, remembered as strong advocate for press freedom, open governmentFOIFT2018-09-06T23:08:20-05:00

Judge: Farenthold must testify in Open Meetings Act case

FOIFT2018-07-24T18:18:59-05:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published July 23, 2018 Former U.S. Congressman Blake Farenthold will have to testify in a Texas Open Meetings Act lawsuit, a judge ruled Monday. And so will Farenthold’s boss, Calhoun Port Authority Director Charles Hausmann, as well as the man who directed Hausmann to hire him, the Calhoun Port Authority’s Board Chairman Randy Boyd. The Victoria Advocate sued the port earlier this year, seeking to nullify Farenthold’s hiring because the action was taken without proper public notice. Read the full story here.

Judge: Farenthold must testify in Open Meetings Act caseFOIFT2018-07-24T18:18:59-05:00

Phillips: Local newspapers help taxpayers as watchdogs on government

FOIFT2018-07-17T16:26:27-05:00

By Alberta Phillips Austin American-Statesman Originally published July 12, 2018 Daily newspapers long have been the barking – and oftentimes biting – watchdogs that keep the public informed about what their government is doing, be that rescuing people from massive flooding in Austin in 2015, or the mismanagement of $2 billion in contracts by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which came to light that same year. Find the full column here.

Phillips: Local newspapers help taxpayers as watchdogs on governmentFOIFT2018-07-17T16:26:27-05:00

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