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San Antonio council’s closed-door meeting on GOP convention a ‘blatant mistake’

2018-05-08T14:14:03-05:00

By Brian Chasnoff San Antonio Express-News Originally published May 8, 2018 San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg opted last week to convene the City Council behind closed doors to discuss whether the city should submit a bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention. Made in private, the council’s controversial decision not to pursue the event likely violated the Texas Open Meetings Act — regardless of whether the council arrived at that decision by vote, experts said. “Wow. That’s a pretty blatant mistake,” said Bill Aleshire, an Austin-based attorney whose law practice is focused on government transparency and accountability. Read the full [...]

San Antonio council’s closed-door meeting on GOP convention a ‘blatant mistake’2018-05-08T14:14:03-05:00

Spirit of FOI Award – Call for Entries 2018

2018-05-03T16:15:32-05:00

The FOI Foundation of Texas is pleased to announce 2018 guidelines for the Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award contest. The contest is open to newspaper, broadcast and online media. The Spirit of FOI Award recognizes outstanding work in promoting open government and the public’s right to know. The deadline for submission of entries is Thursday, May 31, 2018. Nominations must be for work published or broadcast in calendar year 2017. A nomination can be a single news story or series; an editorial or series of editorials; columns; editorial cartoons; or a community FOI project. There is a limit of one [...]

Spirit of FOI Award – Call for Entries 20182018-05-03T16:15:32-05:00

City of Odessa commits to closed-door meeting reform after newspaper’s lawsuit

2018-03-21T12:50:59-05:00

By Corey Paul Odessa American Originally published March 20, 2018 The Odessa City Council will start keeping audio recordings of all closed-door meetings instead of written summaries, making it easier for the public to hold the officials to account if future violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act seem apparent. The agreement stems from a settlement between the City of Odessa and the Odessa American in a lawsuit filed by the newspaper in June 2017. The suit alleged that the City Council violated the state open meetings law weeks earlier, when a majority voted to oust the head of the board [...]

City of Odessa commits to closed-door meeting reform after newspaper’s lawsuit2018-03-21T12:50:59-05:00

FOI Foundation to host Open Government Seminar, First Amendment Institute in Arlington

2018-03-14T21:06:25-05:00

For Immediate Release AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is hosting an Open Government Seminar in Arlington on April 17, featuring training in public meeting and public records laws. A First Amendment Institute session also offered that day will instruct journalists on free press rights. The non-profit FOI Foundation, in cooperation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, is organizing the one-day Open Government Seminar on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. It is designed for government employees, journalists, attorneys and anyone interested in the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act. “Access to public information is crucial for [...]

FOI Foundation to host Open Government Seminar, First Amendment Institute in Arlington2018-03-14T21:06:25-05:00

FOI Foundation state conference set for Sept. 21, 2018

2018-02-23T17:40:30-06:00

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is pleased to announce that its annual state conference will take place Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road. This one-day conference features journalists, First Amendment attorneys, government officials and others who share information on the latest activities and trends in open government and the rights of free press and free speech. Speakers and details will be confirmed soon, so continue checking this website for further details. A highlight of the state conference is the John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon, where the FOI Foundation presents the James Madison Award to an [...]

FOI Foundation state conference set for Sept. 21, 20182018-02-23T17:40:30-06:00

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