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Houston Chronicle Editorial: The video the Houston firefighters union doesn’t want you to see

FOIFT2018-08-12T23:27:59-05:00

Recording of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs meeting on July 26. Whatever you’re doing, don’t read this editorial. Stop. Reading. Right now. Did we get your attention? Thought so. Anybody with a lick of sense knows that when you tell people not to look at something, they can’t help but look. All of which makes you wonder what the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association was thinking when it went to court to get a video of a public meeting pulled off the internet. What doesn’t the firefighters’ union want you to see? If you’re reading online, click on the video and [...]

Houston Chronicle Editorial: The video the Houston firefighters union doesn’t want you to seeFOIFT2018-08-12T23:27:59-05:00

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

Houston mayor’s former press secretary indicted, accused of withholding public records

FOIFT2018-07-19T23:23:39-05:00

By Mike Morris Houston Chronicle Originally published July 19, 2018 Mayor Sylvester Turner's former press secretary, Darian Ward, was indicted by a grand jury this week, accused of violating state law by failing to turn over public records in response to a reporter’s request late last year. The indictment, handed up Tuesday but released by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg’s office Thursday, says Ward misrepresented the number of emails responsive to a reporter’s request for correspondence about her personal business activities and unlawfully withheld public records. Read the full story here.

Houston mayor’s former press secretary indicted, accused of withholding public recordsFOIFT2018-07-19T23:23:39-05:00

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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