Uncategorized

U.S. Supreme Court orders new look at case of arrested Texas journalist

FOIFT2024-10-28T09:48:02-05:00

By The Associated Press Originally published Oct. 15, 2024 WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a federal appeals court to take a new look at the lawsuit filed by a Texas-based online citizen journalist who said she was wrongly arrested in a case that drew attention from national media organizations and free speech advocates. The justices tossed out the ruling of a divided federal appeals court that found journalist Priscilla Villarreal, known online as La Gordiloca, could not sue police officers and other officials over her arrest for seeking and obtaining nonpublic information from police. Read the full story [...]

U.S. Supreme Court orders new look at case of arrested Texas journalistFOIFT2024-10-28T09:48:02-05:00

FOI Foundation of Texas announces Ralph Langer Scholarship recipients

FOIFT2023-04-27T15:15:49-05:00

For Immediate Release April 27, 2023 AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has named Brianna Chavez, a journalism junior at Texas State University, as the recipient of the inaugural Ralph Langer Scholarship. Alongside her journalism studies, Chavez has worked as a life and arts reporter at the University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper. Some of her stories have been published by the Austin American-Statesmen. Chavez, who is in the first generation of her family to attend college, will receive a $6,000 scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship was created in memory of Ralph Langer, a guiding [...]

FOI Foundation of Texas announces Ralph Langer Scholarship recipientsFOIFT2023-04-27T15:15:49-05:00

IDEA Public Schools sues attorney general to keep hotel purchase records secret

FOIFT2021-11-02T14:36:13-05:00

By Dave HendricksProgress TimesOriginally published Oct. 29, 2021 IDEA Public Schools filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in mid-October, attempting to block the release of records that may explain why the charter school system purchased a hotel in Cameron County. IDEA purchased the Inn at Chachalaca Bend, a boutique hotel in Los Fresnos, during October 2019. Less than a year later, Chief Financial Officer Wyatt Truscheit abruptly resigned amid questions about improper spending. IDEA decided to audit financial transactions authorized by Truscheit and other top executives. “During the course of this investigation, IDEA’s special counsel reviewed records related [...]

IDEA Public Schools sues attorney general to keep hotel purchase records secretFOIFT2021-11-02T14:36:13-05:00

Researchers examine Texas, other state laws on public records response requirements, times

FOIFT2021-10-26T22:28:56-05:00

Five research papers were accepted to the third annual National Freedom of Information Coalition FOI research competition, which was presented online Sept. 28, 2021, at the national FOI Summit. In all, seven one-page proposals were entered and five selected through double-blind peer review for final consideration. Then, a team of eight expert judges rated the full manuscripts based on importance, relevance to practitioners, and strength of methodology. Three of the papers earned cash prizes for excellence, of $500, $300 and $200. Top papers are guaranteed publication in the University of Florida’s Journal of Civic Information, which welcomes submissions from all researchers. Read [...]

Researchers examine Texas, other state laws on public records response requirements, timesFOIFT2021-10-26T22:28:56-05:00

2021 State Conference Videos

FOIFT2021-10-05T20:10:31-05:00

Video recordings from the FOI Foundation's Sept. 24, 2021, state conference in Austin: Panel: Law enforcement transparency - Where do we stand?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlmmT9QWtmY Panel: Texas Legislature - Looking Aheadhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8wolQGfpTk Panel: Pro tips - Managing information roadblockshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ4MIPpyV2s Spirit of FOI Awards Presentationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EtVXDkxE28James Madison Award presentation honoring Patrick Cantyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP2iXFBaDmo Luncheon Keynote: Interview of Texas Land Commissioner and AG candidate George P. Bush, by Bob Garrett of the Dallas Morning News; preceded by FOIFT board president Arif Panju remembering FOI hero Ralph Langerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Qf75jkapY

2021 State Conference VideosFOIFT2021-10-05T20:10:31-05:00

CONTACT INFO

TEXAS FOI NEWS

QUICK LINKS

MENU

RESOURCES

Contact Info

Latest News