New Texas court access system raises old information demons
By Kelsey Jukam Courthouse News Service Originally published Sept. 15, 2017 AUSTIN - The checkerboard of public access in Texas courts was the focus of a conference on freedom of information earlier this week that included a bureau chief, a local clerk, a legislator and a state high court clerk. In the face of political headwinds from elected court clerks, who see a goldmine in the records, the Texas Supreme Court clerk [...]
Sen. Watson, Rep. Capriglione receive FOI Lawmaker of the Year awards
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has honored Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione of Southlake with its Open Government Lawmaker of the Year Award. The award is presented periodically to legislators who ardently defend First Amendment principles and work to expand open government. Watson and Capriglione received the honor Thursday at the FOI Foundation of Texas state conference in Austin. Capriglione said the First Amendment [...]
Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Dallas Morning News receive Spirit of FOI Awards
For Immediate Release Sept. 14, 2017 AUSTIN _ Two Texas news organizations have won the Spirit of FOI Award for reports exposing problems with the state’s child welfare system and with one city’s police response to domestic violence. 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 [...]
Crosby plant explosion highlights state efforts to block access to chemical information
By Emma Platoff and Jim Malewitz The Texas Tribune Originally published Sept. 1, 2017 Residents of Crosby, Texas woke Thursday morning to a 40-foot plume of black smoke darkening their sky. Don’t worry, said both government officials and personnel from Arkema, the owner of the plant emitting the fumes — there’s nothing toxic in your air. Locals had little choice but to take them at their word. That's because in [...]
Transparency in government leads to real news
By Kelley Shannon Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Whether depending on our government for storm recovery, good schools, police protection or other important services, openness and access to information are essential to ensuring the job gets done. A free flow of information helps citizens keep watch on their government. It also allows journalists to report on matters of widespread interest by scrutinizing public records and meetings and, just as [...]
Texas Tribune Texplainer: What social media information is subject to state open records laws?
By Alex Samuels The Texas Tribune Originally published Aug. 25, 2017 Hey, Texplainer: what social media information is subject to state open records laws? Is there anything off limits when it comes to what citizens can request to see? All social media is subject to state freedom of information laws, but whether you get the information you’ve requested depends on whether the communication is considered official business of a governmental [...]
Despite evidence, Marlin ISD superintendent says uncertain future of district ‘made up’ news
By Shelly Conlon Waco Tribune-Herald Originally published Aug. 24, 2017 Marlin ISD Superintendent Michael Seabolt has publicly accused the Tribune-Herald of fabricating facts about the district’s future, but emails from a Texas Education Agency official state otherwise. In a video interview with the online news outlet Marlin Pride, Seabolt, referring to an article published in the Aug. 17 Tribune-Herald, alleged the newspaper made up the fact that the district’s future [...]
AG: Spring Hill ISD must release scoreboard document it sought to withhold
By Meredith Shamburger Longview News-Journal Originally published Aug. 15, 2017 Spring Hill ISD cannot withhold a document it had sought to keep confidential relating to financing for a new scoreboard at its football stadium, the Texas Attorney General's Office has ruled. The district has not said if it plans to release the document or appeal the ruling as allowed under the Texas Public Information Act. "However, there is a legitimate [...]
A.H. Belo president, Dallas Morning News publisher Jim Moroney to receive James Madison Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 16, 2017 AUSTIN – Jim Moroney, publisher of The Dallas Morning News and chief executive officer of the A. H. Belo Corporation, is the recipient of the 2017 James Madison Award presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The prestigious award honors those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to upholding the principles of the First Amendment and open government. It will be presented [...]
Texas governor, lieutenant governor won’t say whom they block from public Twitter accounts
By Olivia Krauth Austin American-Statesman Originally published Aug. 13, 2017 In June, the American-Statesman sent public records requests to Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, among other Austin- and Texas-based politicians, asking for lists of whom they block from following their public, taxpayer-funded Twitter accounts. The governor, citing public safety concerns, said, no. His fear: Russian hackers. Lawyers for each office said they are asking Texas Attorney General [...]
Recycling company sues city of Houston over records
By Mike Morris Houston Chronicle Originally published Aug. 1, 2017 A company that claims its innovative technologies can recycle or reuse nearly all household waste is suing the city of Houston, hoping to reveal why its proposal was shunned in favor of a more traditional approach to curbside recycling. EcoHub sued the city Tuesday in state district court, seeking to have a judge compel city leaders to release records its consultants [...]
Garland Police keeping tight grip on documents two years after ISIS attack
By Todd Shepherd Washington Examiner Originally published Aug. 1, 2017 Police in Garland, Texas, are refusing to release documents that could show an FBI agent allowed a terrorist attack to go ahead in 2015, in order to avoid blowing his cover. Police are still saying key documents can't be shared because the investigation is still "pending," even though the police chief said just days after the attack that they did [...]
Winners of 2017 Texas Gavel Awards announced
State Bar of Texas For Immediate Release July 19, 2017 Contact: Amy Starnes Public Information Director, State Bar of Texas (800) 204-2222, ext. 1706, or (512) 427-1706 [email protected] AUSTIN — In-depth stories on potential abuse in Texas’ guardianship system and whether a border-spending surge resulted in arrests of “high-threat criminals” are among the winners of the 2017 Texas Gavel Awards. Journalists representing the Texas Observer, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, and KXAN-TV [...]
Open government advocates now focusing on 2019
By John C. Moritz USA Today Network Originally published July 19, 2017 AUSTIN – When a former employee of the world’s largest aerospace corporation began asking about the specific terms of the company’s lease agreement for its operations in San Antonio, it set in motion a chain of events that would gut Texas’ open government laws. And bills to restore teeth to the law that requires state and local governments [...]
Sen. Kirk Watson to be keynote speaker at FOI Foundation conference Sept. 14
Mark your calendars for Thursday, Sept. 14, when the FOI Foundation of Texas state conference "Transparency = Real News" takes place at the Hilton Austin. Texas Sen. Kirk Watson, an ardent advocate for open government, will be the luncheon keynote speaker. Other sessions at the daylong conference will focus on open government outcomes in the Texas Legislature; online access to court records; and use of public records for in-depth "real [...]
The Brownsville Herald: College president search done right
The Brownsville Herald Editorial Originally published July 2, 2017 We applaud Texas Southmost College trustees for their recent announcement of four finalists for the job of college president, and that they have scheduled public forums so that local residents can meet, and hear from, each of them. The TSC board is looking to fill the vacancy created last September when it dismissed Lily Tercero, who had served since 2011. Mike [...]
Nominate candidates for FOI Foundation’s James Madison Award
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas presents its James Madison Award each year to a champion of open government and the First Amendment rights of free speech and free press. Do you know a worthy recipient? If so, make a nomination. The nomination deadline is Friday, June 30. Information and the nomination form can be found here, as well as a list of past winners. The award winner is [...]
Editorial: Abbott’s pen cut transparency like a sword
Corpus Christi Caller-Times Editorial Originally published June 16, 2017 With the simple act of signing his name, Gov. Greg Abbott completed a trifecta of failure by all branches of state government to defend the people's right to know. Abbott was proud of himself Thursday for vetoing 50 bills that he claimed were government overreach. One of those was House Bill 2783, regrettably the only government transparency measure to survive the 85th [...]
Abbott wields heavy veto pen; Public Information Act bill among those rejected
By Mike Ward and Peggy Fikac San Antonio Express-News Originally published June 15, 2017 AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott’s veto total for the year hit 50 on Thursday as his staff announced a final round of vetoes of bills approved during the recently completed legislative session, including five bills by state Rep. Lyle Larson. The governor even vetoed a bill that Larson had amended. “I think it’s a lack of [...]
Odessa American sues Odessa City Council
By Corey Paul Odessa American Originally published June 7, 2017 The Odessa American filed a lawsuit against the Odessa City Council on Wednesday, accusing the elected officials of violating the state law that requires most public business be conducted in public. The lawsuit alleges multiple violations related to a May 9 meeting when the City Council met for about 56 minutes behind closed doors before voting to oust the head [...]