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 [...]
Court ruling preventing public from seeing how taxpayer money is spent
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 [...]
FOI Foundation to host Open Government Seminar, First Amendment Institute in Arlington
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 [...]
During ‘Sunshine Month,’ put spotlight on government accountability
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 [...]
Hello Sunshine Month!
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 [...]
FOI Foundation state conference set for Sept. 21, 2018
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 [...]
Subpoenas show Agua district investigation focuses on controversial severance payments
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. [...]
Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executions
By Jolie McCullough The Texas Tribune Originally published Feb. 15, 2018 The cloud of secrecy surrounding Texas executions has grown a little darker lately. After death penalty defense lawyers claimed the state’s first two executions of the year were botched because of old lethal injection drugs, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has stalled the release of public information regarding the state’s supply of lethal doses. Without providing a reason, the department [...]
Internal GLO draft audit slams unusual use of non-profits to manage Alamo
By Jonathan Tilove Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 8, 2018 On Dec. 5, the state Senate Finance Committee questioned Land Commissioner George P. Bush and the agency’s general counsel, Jeff Gordon, about the three nonprofits the General Land Office had set up to manage, promote and raise money for the Alamo — each with its own mission but with identical boards made up of Bush and 10 of the state’s [...]
Appeals court reinstates Texas Open Meetings Act indictments against Montgomery County officials
By Mike Snyder Houston Chronicle Originally published Feb. 7, 2018 Less than a month before a fiercely contested Republican primary election, a state appeals court on Wednesday reinstated indictments alleging that two elected Montgomery County officials and a consultant violated the state's open meetings law. The 9th Court of Appeals reversed a decision by state District Judge Randy Clapp, who had dismissed the indictments last April in a ruling that [...]
Dallas Morning News editorial: Paxton’s misinformed spokesman turns Public Information Act against Texans over petty grudge
The Dallas Morning News Editorial Originally published Feb. 2, 2018 At a conference put on last month by the attorney general's office to help train local and state officials on how to comply with the Texas Public Information Act, one of the experts providing advice was Marc Rylander. Rylander works for Attorney General Ken Paxton and in comments caught on video he managed to embarrass himself and his boss. Worse [...]
Texas senators examine free speech on college campuses
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz Austin American-Statesman Originally published Jan. 31, 2018 SAN MARCOS —Incidents of hecklers shouting down controversial figures on college campuses are anathema to free speech but pose a difficult challenge to overcome, a state Senate panel chairwoman said Wednesday.“No one should be shouted down,” said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, whose State Affairs Committee held a hearing on campus free speech issues hosted by Texas State University. “We [...]
Six current, ex-members of Pasadena economic development board indicted for private meetings
By Brooke A. Lewis and Mark Collette Houston Chronicle Originally published Jan. 23, 2018, updated Jan. 24, 2018 Six current and former members of Pasadena's economic development board were indicted Tuesday by a grand jury for holding two private meetings in November 2016 with a contractor. Board members Ernesto Paredes and Emilio Carmona, former board President Roy Mease and ex-board members Brad Hance, Jackie Welch and Jim Harris were all indicted for [...]