These groups make up Ted Oberg’s freedom of information hall of shame
By Ted Oberg KTRK, Houston Originally published July 5, 2018 One of the great freedoms we have in this country is being able to report freely the activities of those elected to govern us. And it's a guiding principle written into the constitution, federal law, and Texas state law. But there are some government agencies that need a lesson in just that. Over the last year, they've earned a spot [...]
Calhoun Port Authority in court filing denies it violated Open Meetings Act
The Victoria Advocate reported on June 22: The Calhoun Port Authority in a court filing has officially denied violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. At the same time, the port might be guilty of violating the law again with its posting of a special meeting next week, legal experts said. The port’s lawyer, Bill Cobb, of Austin, responded to the Victoria Advocate’s lawsuit by denying all its allegations. Read the full [...]
Comptroller Glenn Hegar to speak at FOI Foundation conference Sept. 21
Comptroller Glenn Hegar will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference on Friday, Sept. 21, in Austin. Hegar will address transparency initiatives his office is overseeing to encourage all governmental entities to make their financial records publicly accessible. The one-day conference "Texas: Let the Sun Shine" will also feature panel discussions on college campus free speech, news reporting on difficult issues and the [...]
State audit slams Alamo oversight, appears similar to ‘doctored’ draft
By Jonathan Tilove Austin American-Statesman Originally published May 31, 2018 The Texas General Land Office released an internal audit Thursday critical of accounting practices at the Alamo that is consistent with a draft report from September that the American-Statesman had obtained and written about in February but which Land Commissioner George P. Bush had described as “doctored.” The document, which questions the use of a nonprofit to manage the Alamo, [...]
San Antonio City Council closed meeting spurs debate on transparency, Texas law
By Jan Ross Piedad Texas Public Radio Originally published May 24, 2018 Texas Public Radio's program "The Source" recently focused on the dispute sparked when the San Antonio City Council met behind closed doors to discuss whether the city should submit a bid to host the Republican National Convention in 2020. Joe Larsen, an attorney on the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas board, was one of the program's guests. [...]
Victoria Advocate files suit against Calhoun port in Farenthold hiring
By Jon Wilcox Victoria Advocate Originally published May 21, 2018 The Victoria Advocate filed a lawsuit Monday asserting the Calhoun Port Authority broke the Texas open meetings law in hiring former Congressman Blake Farenthold as a lobbyist. “Few rights of the public are as important as the right to knowledge about how their government spends taxpayer funds and manages the public’s business. This suit is to vindicate those rights and [...]
Calhoun Port Authority’s hiring of Farenthold could be illegal
By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published May 18, 2018 The Calhoun Port Authority apparently violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when it hired former Congressman Blake Farenthold as its lobbyist. The Victoria Advocate is investigating its legal options in challenging the May 9 action on behalf of the public. “This is one of the most clear-cut examples of a notice violation that I’ve ever seen,” said longtime media attorney [...]
Corpus Christi community members, civic leaders talk importance of open government
By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas CORPUS CHRISTI - The public must have access to information about how taxpayer money is spent and other basic government data, transparency advocates said Thursday at a forum organized by state Rep. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi. The event focused on the importance of access to information in holding government accountable. "This isn't partisan," Hunter told the audience at Texas [...]
Texas Supreme Court dismisses defamation lawsuit against The Dallas Morning News
By Jeff Mosier The Dallas Morning News Originally published May 12, 2018 The Texas Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit Friday in which a couple claimed The Dallas Morning News defamed them when it published a column disclosing their decision to omit information about their teenage son’s suicide from a paid obituary. John and Mary Ann Tatum, whose 17-year-old son shot himself, sued The News and now-retired Metro columnist Steve Blow [...]
Column: Late-night Austin council meetings hurt the cause of open government
By Bridget Grumet Column Austin American-Statesman Originally published May 11, 2018 Click here to read Bridget Grumet's column, which starts out: We’re nearly a year into the Austin City Council’s latest push to rein in its late-night meetings. And if, like me, you were watching as the April 26 meeting ran into April 27, with a big debate on rentable scooters starting after midnight and a critical CodeNext discussion running [...]
San Antonio council’s closed-door meeting on GOP convention a ‘blatant mistake’
By Brian Chasnoff San Antonio Express-News Originally published May 8, 2018 San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg opted last week to convene the City Council behind closed doors to discuss whether the city should submit a bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention. Made in private, the council’s controversial decision not to pursue the event likely violated the Texas Open Meetings Act — regardless of whether the council arrived at [...]
Spirit of FOI Award – Call for Entries 2018
The FOI Foundation of Texas is pleased to announce 2018 guidelines for the Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award contest. The contest is open to newspaper, broadcast and online media. The Spirit of FOI Award recognizes outstanding work in promoting open government and the public’s right to know. The deadline for submission of entries is Thursday, May 31, 2018. Nominations must be for work published or broadcast in calendar year [...]
KXAN’s ‘State of Texas’: A look at laws that block access to information
KXAN-TV's weekly program "State of Texas" focused on state laws that deny public access to government information: http://www.kxan.com/news/texas/state-of-texas-a-look-at-laws-that-deny-access-to-information/1147532344
Denied: KXAN series reports on police withholding records when suspect dies
KXAN television in Austin is airing a series about a Texas law that gives police discretion to withhold information if a suspect dies in custody. Legislative efforts to close that loophole failed in 2017, but it has not stopped the families who have been denied video and other records detailing their loved ones' final moments from speaking out. Check out this KXAN report based on a year-long investigation and shining [...]
Why Austin bomber Mark Conditt’s confession may be kept secret — forever
Read recent coverage by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV of the police investigation into the Austin bomber case: https://www.mystatesman.com/news/why-austin-bomber-mark-conditt-confession-may-kept-secret-forever/Irdwv4O8IZCYYSnwuXLSUK/ http://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/public-may-never-hear-austin-bombers-confession-experts-say/269-535953990
Bail lawsuit accuses Dallas County of violating poor people’s rights in secret hearings
By Michael Barajas Texas Observer Originally published April 4, 2018 The Dallas County Jail books about 67,000 people every year, a population roughly equal to that of the Houston suburb Missouri City. The conveyor belt driving Dallas County’s hulking jail complex, the seventh largest in the country, operates in a courtroom deep inside the Lew Sterrett Justice Center downtown. That’s where magistrates hold around-the-clock hearings to determine bail. On any given [...]
Keep the public informed by releasing the video in Austin bombing case
By Paul Watler FOI Foundation Board Member April 3, 2018 As the investigation into the Austin bombings became increasingly urgent last month, police also worked to inform the public and enlist their vigilance. Interim Chief Brian Manley as well as state and federal law enforcement officials provided repeated news briefings on the hunt to identify and apprehend the serial bomber. When officers closed in, the bomber detonated a final device, [...]
Video: A conversation about Texas’ Public Information Act
Watch video of a policy primer on the Texas Public Information Act, a panel discussion hosted March 29 by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and co-sponsored by the FOI Foundation of Texas and an assortment of other organizations. This was one of several Sunshine Month activities in Texas. Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey moderated the conversation, which featured First Amendment attorney Laura Prather, an FOI Foundation board member; state [...]
Register for Thursday’s TPPF policy primer on Texas Public Information Act
Join the FOI Foundation of Texas and other Sunshine Coalition groups for Thursday's free policy primer on the Texas Public Information Act, hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation at their offices in Austin. Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin and Rep. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi will be participating, along with James Quintero of TPPF and First Amendment attorney Laura Prather of the FOI Foundation. Ross Ramsey of the Texas [...]
City of Odessa commits to closed-door meeting reform after newspaper’s lawsuit
By Corey Paul Odessa American Originally published March 20, 2018 The Odessa City Council will start keeping audio recordings of all closed-door meetings instead of written summaries, making it easier for the public to hold the officials to account if future violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act seem apparent. The agreement stems from a settlement between the City of Odessa and the Odessa American in a lawsuit filed by [...]