Transparency

Sunshine Coalition pressing transparency legislation at Texas Capitol

FOIFT2025-02-18T12:19:10-06:00

The Texas Sunshine Coalition, a diverse group of organizations supporting government transparency, is working to pass state legislation this year to promote the free flow of information. Organizations participating in the Sunshine Coalition are the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas; Texas Association of Broadcasters; Texas Press Association; Texas Public Policy Foundation; Institute for Justice; ACLU of Texas; Every Texan; Common Cause; Grassroots America; League of Women Voters of Texas; SMU School of Law First Amendment Clinic; Texas Appleseed; Texas Association of Licensed Investigators; Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom; Public Citizen; and PublicData.com. Some of the transparency bills have already [...]

Sunshine Coalition pressing transparency legislation at Texas CapitolFOIFT2025-02-18T12:19:10-06:00

After complaint about art museum photos, Fort Worth police department refuses to release report

FOIFT2025-01-31T09:36:26-06:00

By David Moreno Fort Worth Report Originally published Jan. 30, 2025 Weeks after Fort Worth police seized photographs featured in a Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth exhibit, the city has declined to release documents related to its investigation into child pornography allegations. Earlier this month, the Fort Worth Police Department confirmed they had launched an investigation into decades-old images by Virginia-born photographer Sally Mann that were featured as part of the “Diaries of Home” exhibition, which opened Nov. 17. The investigation followed a series of Dallas Express articles quoting County Judge Tim O’Hare, among other Republican leaders, calling for the [...]

After complaint about art museum photos, Fort Worth police department refuses to release reportFOIFT2025-01-31T09:36:26-06:00

Support the FOI Foundation mission with a year-end donation

FOIFT2024-12-30T11:26:51-06:00

It's that time of year - time to make a year-end donation to the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas to promote open government and protect the First Amendment rights of free speech and free press. The FOI Foundation works to educate the public about government transparency through regional training seminars for government employees and local citizens; speaking engagements with civic groups and college classes; a state conference; an FOI hotline; meetings with state officials; and columns, newsletters and videos throughout the year. While some national organizations that use open government laws to compile information are struggling, the FOI Foundation of [...]

Support the FOI Foundation mission with a year-end donationFOIFT2024-12-30T11:26:51-06:00

San Antonio ISD pays outside attorneys nearly a teacher’s salary to review information requests

FOIFT2024-12-10T09:55:29-06:00

By Daniela Ibarra KSAT Originally published Dec. 9, 2024 In a year full of financial challenges, KSAT Investigates found San Antonio Independent School District spent nearly a teacher’s salary’s worth on attorneys to review records requests made by news agencies. ... Between November 2023 and November 2024, records show the district had outside law firm Escamilla and Poneck review 19 requests made by media outlets, including KSAT. Invoices show the firm charged the district $55,149.50 for their work. ... That’s just over $3,000 more than SAISD pays first-time teachers with a bachelor’s degree, according to SAISD's pay schedule for this school [...]

San Antonio ISD pays outside attorneys nearly a teacher’s salary to review information requestsFOIFT2024-12-10T09:55:29-06:00

Formerly sealed Austin police records would cost $27K in public information request

FOIFT2024-12-02T11:15:07-06:00

By Brianna Hollis KXAN Originally published Nov. 11, 2024 AUSTIN — Once-confidential Austin police records have been publicly accessible via an official public information request for about two months now. These files are formerly known as “g-files,” and contain primarily unsubstantiated complaints against police officers that don’t result in discipline. They were unsealed after the the topic made its way through a city ballot and multiple court settings. KXAN requested these files for every current police officer. After a weeks-long back-and-forth with the city’s records staff, we got an invoice estimating the total cost to procure these records to be $27,180. [...]

Formerly sealed Austin police records would cost $27K in public information requestFOIFT2024-12-02T11:15:07-06:00

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