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1805, 2018

Calhoun Port Authority’s hiring of Farenthold could be illegal

By |May 18th, 2018|Categories: News, TOMA, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , |

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 [...]

1705, 2018

Corpus Christi community members, civic leaders talk importance of open government

By |May 17th, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

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 [...]

1405, 2018

Texas Supreme Court dismisses defamation lawsuit against The Dallas Morning News

By |May 14th, 2018|Categories: News, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , , |

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 [...]

805, 2018

San Antonio council’s closed-door meeting on GOP convention a ‘blatant mistake’

By |May 8th, 2018|Categories: News, TOMA, Transparency|Tags: , , , |

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 [...]

305, 2018

Spirit of FOI Award – Call for Entries 2018

By |May 3rd, 2018|Categories: Awards, Events, News, News release, PIA, Texas Legislature, TOMA, Transparency|

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 [...]

2304, 2018

Denied: KXAN series reports on police withholding records when suspect dies

By |April 23rd, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , |

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 [...]

1004, 2018

Why Austin bomber Mark Conditt’s confession may be kept secret — forever

By |April 10th, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , |

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  

404, 2018

Bail lawsuit accuses Dallas County of violating poor people’s rights in secret hearings

By |April 4th, 2018|Categories: News, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , |

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 [...]

304, 2018

Keep the public informed by releasing the video in Austin bombing case

By |April 3rd, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Transparency|Tags: , , , , |

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, [...]

3003, 2018

Video: A conversation about Texas’ Public Information Act

By |March 30th, 2018|Categories: Events, News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , |

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 [...]

2703, 2018

Register for Thursday’s TPPF policy primer on Texas Public Information Act

By |March 27th, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , |

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 [...]

2103, 2018

City of Odessa commits to closed-door meeting reform after newspaper’s lawsuit

By |March 21st, 2018|Categories: News, TOMA, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , |

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 [...]

2003, 2018

Court ruling preventing public from seeing how taxpayer money is spent

By |March 20th, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , , |

By Jaie Avila WOIA/News 4 San Antonio Originally published March 19, 2018 How much did San Antonio pay REO Speedwagon to play on New Year's Eve? What kind of tax breaks are big corporations receiving to move here? The News 4 Trouble Shooters use the Texas Public Information Act to track how your tax dollars are spent. However, a new weapon is being used to prevent us from keeping you [...]

1403, 2018

FOI Foundation to host Open Government Seminar, First Amendment Institute in Arlington

By |March 14th, 2018|Categories: Events, News, News release, PIA, Texas Legislature, TOMA, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , |

For Immediate Release AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is hosting an Open Government Seminar in Arlington on April 17, featuring training in public meeting and public records laws. A First Amendment Institute session also offered that day will instruct journalists on free press rights. The non-profit FOI Foundation, in cooperation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, is organizing the one-day Open Government Seminar on Tuesday, April [...]

903, 2018

During ‘Sunshine Month,’ put spotlight on government accountability

By |March 9th, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , , , |

By Kelley Shannon Shining light on government to hold it accountable is hardly a new idea. In fact, Texas was a national leader in this realm for more than 40 years. Sadly, the flow of public information in this huge state is slipping from the sunshine into the shadows. Some state leaders have been dimming the lights, ensuring that even the most basic information about our government is getting more [...]

303, 2018

Hello Sunshine Month!

By |March 3rd, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|

Sunshine Week is March 11-17, 2018. It's a nationally declared week to celebrate open government and the people's right to know. In Texas, we are celebrating Sunshine Month to highlight our many activities this month aimed at letting the sun shine on our government and opening up access to public records. We'll be posting events and ideas throughout the month, so stay tuned. Mark your calendars now for a March 29 [...]

2302, 2018

FOI Foundation state conference set for Sept. 21, 2018

By |February 23rd, 2018|Categories: Awards, Events, News, News release, PIA, Texas Legislature, TOMA, Transparency|

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is pleased to announce that its annual state conference will take place Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road. This one-day conference features journalists, First Amendment attorneys, government officials and others who share information on the latest activities and trends in open government and the rights of free press and free speech. Speakers and details will be confirmed soon, so [...]

2302, 2018

Subpoenas show Agua district investigation focuses on controversial severance payments

By |February 23rd, 2018|Categories: News, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , , , , |

By Dave Hendricks Progress Times Originally published Feb. 23, 2018 The Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office investigation of the Agua Special Utility District focuses on two former employees who received six-figure severance payments, according to grand jury subpoenas obtained by the Progress Times. Prosecutors sent the first subpoena in November, requesting records on severance payments to former Community Relations Coordinator Oscar “Coach” Salinas and former utility Project Manager Armin Garza. [...]

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