Transparency

POSTPONED: FOI Foundation’s Open Government Seminar in San Antonio to be rescheduled

2020-03-25T15:01:43-05:00

The FOI Foundation's Open Government Seminar in San Antonio, previously scheduled for April 8, has been postponed amid coronavirus concerns and stay-at-home orders. Please stay tuned for the reschedule date, tentatively planned for June. The Open Government Seminar is part of a series of regional educational sessions the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is hosting this year in cooperation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.  It is open to all who are interested, including community activists, journalists, attorneys, government employees and the general public. “Fully participating in our democracy means having access to information. This seminar will inform citizens [...]

POSTPONED: FOI Foundation’s Open Government Seminar in San Antonio to be rescheduled2020-03-25T15:01:43-05:00

Roe v. Wade was filed 50 years ago, but Texas still won’t release the full legal files

2020-03-08T18:09:43-05:00

By Karen BlumenthalOpinion piece in The Dallas Morning NewsOriginally published March 8, 2020 Getting state and local government records of any kind, especially those of a famous legal case that is nearly 50 years old, should not require a lawyer or a bucket of cash. The state’s Public Information Act is supposed to compel state and local governmental bodies to release records to those who request them within 10 business days. That kind of transparency is crucial to an open society and trust and accountability in government. But in recent years, accessing these documents has gotten harder and more expensive and [...]

Roe v. Wade was filed 50 years ago, but Texas still won’t release the full legal files2020-03-08T18:09:43-05:00

Austin officials fast-track new policy to release online videos of critical incidents

2020-03-05T18:28:29-06:00

By Katie HallAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published March 2, 2020 Austin police are on track to begin releasing available video footage of new critical incidents by the end of this month under a new policy, police officials say. The video release policy — modeled after the Los Angeles Police Department’s rules on sharing footage — comes after the Austin City Council directed the police department in February to produce a clear protocol by the end of March. Read the full story here.

Austin officials fast-track new policy to release online videos of critical incidents2020-03-05T18:28:29-06:00

Partial records released: TRS rent starts at $326,000 per month

2020-01-27T14:47:17-06:00

By Bob SechlerAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 24, 2020 The Teacher Retirement System of Texas has disclosed partial costs of its office lease in an upscale high-rise under construction in downtown Austin, seven months after the American-Statesman first asked for financial details about it and the state agency sought to keep it secret. The starting base lease rate disclosed by the retirement system — which has an investment relationship with one of the developers of the 36-story Indeed Tower going up on West Sixth Street — equates to about $326,000 per month initially. That rate is below the current average for top-end [...]

Partial records released: TRS rent starts at $326,000 per month2020-01-27T14:47:17-06:00

Odessa American says city violating public information laws

2020-01-17T16:32:52-06:00

By Royal McGregorOdessa AmericanOriginally published Jan. 16, 2020 Signs point to another legal battle brewing between the Odessa American and the City of Odessa following a crackdown by the city on releasing crime information. The OA for decades has received prompt response for requests for information about crime in Odessa but that grinded to an almost standstill following a mass shooting in Odessa on Aug. 31. Some elected officials were unhappy that names of victims from the mass shooting were released quickly and a shift in how information was released on all crime in Odessa began. Public documents that had taken [...]

Odessa American says city violating public information laws2020-01-17T16:32:52-06:00
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