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For Immediate Release Sept. 20, 2019 AUSTIN - Two Texas news organizations have won the Spirit of FOI Award for reports exposing suspected corruption within the Calhoun Port Authority and the lack of access to information following the deaths of suspects in police custody. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award, presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, highlights journalism that upholds First Amendment principles and promotes or uses open government laws such as the Texas Public Information Act. The awards were presented Friday at the FOI Foundation’s state conference in Austin. The Victoria Advocate won in the Class [...]

By Bob SechlerAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Sept. 6, 2019 When construction of what will be the tallest office tower in downtown Austin is finished in 2021, the taxpayer-funded state agency charged with overseeing retirement benefits for about 1.6 million Texas teachers and school employees will be among the first tenants moving in. But the cost to taxpayers for the high-profile office space isn’t publicly known, because the Teacher Retirement System of Texas has been successful so far in its legal effort to withhold the information from the American-Statesman and keep secret how much it has agreed to pay for the estimated 100,000 [...]

By Jacob CarpenterHouston ChronicleOriginally published Aug. 6, 2019 Texas Education Agency officials have recommended that a state-appointed governing team replace Houston ISD’s locally elected school board after a six-month investigation found several instances of alleged misconduct by some trustees, including violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, inappropriate influencing of vendor contracts and making false statements to investigators. Read the full story here.

Rep. Dade Phelan, leader of the Texas House State Affairs Committee, will be the keynote speaker at the FOI Foundation of Texas state conference Sept. 20. A prominent Texas journalist will interview Phelan during the conference luncheon. Panel discussions throughout the day will focus on open government outcomes in the 2019 Texas Legislature; public access to police records; and best practices for news reporters and others in seeking government information and making Texas Public Information Act requests. The FOI Foundation of Texas conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road. Registration is open! See the agenda here. [...]