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By Kelsey BradshawAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published July 23, 2021 Austin police will now release video footage from critical incidents, like shootings that involve officers, within 10 business days of the event, the department announced Friday. Critical incidents include: Shootings in which an office discharges a gun, including incidents where no one is shot or if no allegation of misconduct is made.A use of force incident that results in death or serious bodily injuryAll deaths that occur while a person is in the police department's care Read the full story here.

Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that his March 2020 suspension of sections of the Texas Open Meetings Act amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be lifted as of Sept. 1, 2021. Abbott suspended parts of the law requiring a quorum to be in one physical place for a virtual meeting and requiring a physical meeting place for the public to observe the meeting. The order required certain notice provisions to enable the public to watch and participate in the online or telephone meeting. Here's the brief announcement from the attorney general's office about the governor's June 30 decision: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government/open-meetings-act-suspension-updates

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has issued the following letter to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice: June 9, 2021 Bryan CollierExecutive DirectorTexas Department of Criminal JusticeP.O. Box 99Huntsville, TX 77342                                     Re:      Unwitnessed execution of Quintin Jones Dear Mr. Collier: The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas (“FOIFT”) writes to rebuke the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and your execution of Quintin Jones with no public witness present. Executions must be done publicly to maintain the integrity of the judicial process. Indeed, the public interest is at its highest when the government is using its power to extinguish the life [...]