Transparency

Sunshine Week Column: An eye on government can track taxpayer money, expose wrongdoing

FOIFT2026-03-16T14:44:01-05:00

By Kelley Shannon As we watch over our government, it’s often about the money. Are taxpayer dollars being spent wisely on social programs, road projects and employee pay? Can we view government contracts with outside organizations? What are the details of bond proposals on the election ballot? Long-established state open government laws – the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act – help us answer these questions and root out malfeasance. As we celebrate national Sunshine Week March 15-21 let’s recognize our transparency laws and learn how to keep them strong. Beyond detecting financial waste and fraud, journalists [...]

Sunshine Week Column: An eye on government can track taxpayer money, expose wrongdoingFOIFT2026-03-16T14:44:01-05:00

Families frustrated by secrecy over Fort Worth ISD’s future leadership

FOIFT2026-02-25T14:51:33-06:00

By Jacob Sanchez and Matthew Sgroi Fort Worth Report Originally published Feb. 24, 2026 Nearly 300 people want a seat on the Texas-appointed board replacing FWISD’s nine locally elected trustees, but none of their names are publicly known. The Fort Worth Report requested the list of applicants seeking to serve on the board of managers through Texas’ open records law. Agency officials declined to release it, requesting an opinion from the Texas attorney general’s office. That lack of transparency frustrates Fort Worth parents and residents as Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath prepares to appoint the managers in the coming weeks. The [...]

Families frustrated by secrecy over Fort Worth ISD’s future leadershipFOIFT2026-02-25T14:51:33-06:00

Austin cancels budget session after lawyers allege open meetings violation

FOIFT2025-11-13T09:57:26-06:00

By Chaya Tong Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 12, 2025 The city of Austin late Wednesday opted to cancel a highly anticipated City Council budget work session after two attorneys alleged there had been a lack of adequate public notice for the meeting. The 11-member council had been set to convene Thursday to discuss what cuts to make to the budget a week after Austin voters rejected a controversial tax hike proposal known as Proposition Q. But on Wednesday, Austin lawyers Bill Aleshire and Rick Fine accused the city of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act by leaving out two key pieces of information government entities are now [...]

Austin cancels budget session after lawyers allege open meetings violationFOIFT2025-11-13T09:57:26-06:00

Texas Talks podcast features FOI Foundation’s educational outreach, advocacy

FOIFT2025-11-06T12:54:40-06:00

The Texas Talks podcast hosted by Brad Swail and the Lone Star Standard recently featured Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas executive director Kelley Shannon to discuss the foundation's open government outreach and advocacy. You can listen to the 30-minute podcast on Spotify, Apple, X/Twitter or YouTube.

Texas Talks podcast features FOI Foundation’s educational outreach, advocacyFOIFT2025-11-06T12:54:40-06:00

FOIFT Conference 2025 Videos

FOIFT2025-10-02T09:36:38-05:00

The FOI Foundation of Texas state conference Sept. 26 featured a lineup of impactful speakers and discussions addressing a range of open government and free speech topics. Thanks to all the conference participants, planners and attendees. Video recordings of each panel session and the luncheon speeches are now available on our website at https://foift.org/about/video/

FOIFT Conference 2025 VideosFOIFT2025-10-02T09:36:38-05:00

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