UT-Austin students take McRaven’s side in records fight with regent Hall
By Benjamin Wermund Houston Chronicle Originally published July 16, 2015 In the ongoing fight over records between University of Texas System leaders, the students of the system's flagship UT Austin have sided with Chancellor Bill McRaven. UT Regent Wallace Hall, Jr. sued McRaven last month, saying he should be allowed to see federally protected student information that the University of Texas turned over to a private investigator. In a letter [...]
After closed-door session, UT regents urge Hall to drop lawsuit
By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published July 8, 2015 University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall on Wednesday was asked to leave the closed-door portion of a regents meeting in which his lawsuit against UT System Chancellor William McRaven was being discussed. Not long after that executive session, regents reconvened and voted to urge Hall to drop his lawsuit, saying it “carries the potential to be costly and [...]
State Bar announces winners of 2015 Texas Gavel Awards
AUSTIN — The State Bar of Texas has announced the winners of the 2015 Texas Gavel Awards, including in-depth stories exploring a flawed capital murder conviction, alleged racial profiling and a debate over DWI sentencing penalties. Journalists representing the Houston Chronicle, Victoria Advocate, KXAN-TV, Marfa Public Radio and The Intercept have been selected as winners. The Gavel Awards honor journalism that deepens public understanding of the legal system. The State Bar [...]
Judge prevents public release of Twin Peaks video, issues gag order
By Tommy Witherspoon Waco Tribune-Herald Originally published June 30, 2015 A state district judge ruled Tuesday that a Dallas attorney can have a copy of a Twin Peaks franchisee’s video of the May 17 biker shootout, but the judge barred the release of the video to the public. Judge Matt Johnson of Waco’s 54th State District Court also granted a prosecution request to place a gag order in the Matthew [...]
City of McKinney charging $79K for emails about pool party cop
By Andy Cush Gawker Originally published June 29, 2015 Days after McKinney, Texas, police officer Eric Casebolt was filmed pointing his service weapon at a group of unarmed black teenagers at a pool party this month, Gawker submitted a Public Information Act request to the city of McKinney asking to see Casebolt’s records and any emails about his conduct sent or received by McKinney Police Department employees. Today, we received [...]
Attorney general to investigate Smith County Commissioners Court on open meetings
By Faith Harper Tyler Morning Telegraph Originally published June 26, 2015 The Texas Attorney General’s Office will investigate whether the Smith County Commissioners Court violated the Texas Open Meetings Act while working to place unmanned speed cameras in school zones. The investigation stems from a complaint filed in the Smith County District Attorney’s Office by JoAnn Fleming, executive director of Grassroots America — We the People. The six-page complaint, dated [...]
Texas Supreme Court limits reach of open government law with GHP ruling
By Mark Collette Houston Chronicle Originally published June 26, 2015 In a 6-3 opinion with profound reach on the state's open government laws, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday decided that Greater Houston Partnership doesn't have to open its check registers, even though it receives funds from the city of Houston. The case stemmed from a 2007 request by Jim Jenkins of Montgomery County, who wanted to see how GHP [...]
Regent Wallace Hall sues UT System Chancellor McRaven
By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published June 23, 2015 In an effort to gain access to confidential student information, University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall has taken the unusual step of suing the chancellor of the system he oversees. Hall claims in the suit that Chancellor William McRaven wrongly denied Hall access to the records, which Hall says are necessary to fulfill his oversight role as a [...]
Follow up on pricey public records request in Corpus Christi
By Rick Spruill KRIS-TV Originally published June 23, 2015 CORPUS CHRISTI - This is a Six Investigates follow up on Del Mar College, where a man's fight for information about the college's finances is getting noticed by some powerful open-government advocates.Accountant Ed Bennett got sticker shock last year when Del Mar College asked him to pay almost 27-million dollars for an open records request. Bennett is digging in to whether [...]
Answers and evidence in Twin Peaks shootout delayed by case complexity, police caution
By Tommy Witherspoon and Olivia Messer Waco Tribune-Herald Originally published June 20, 2015 One month after the deadly May 17 shootout at Twin Peaks prompted the unprecedented mass arrests of 177 bikers, officials are releasing limited information and say disclosure of certain evidence, including videos of the incident, would compromise their investigation. The incident was of such a rare scale and variety that McLennan County officials had never experienced anything [...]
New Texas laws protect public’s right to know
AUSTIN – Texans will gain access to private university police records and more easily observe public meetings because of action this legislative session, while journalists can continue robust reporting on allegations of wrongdoing. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas pressed for these and other transparency measures in the 84th Legislature, which concluded Monday. One highlight was passage of Senate Bill 627, allowing journalists to accurately report on wrongdoing accusations [...]
Gov. Abbott signs legislation providing press freedom to report wrongdoing allegations
AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott has signed Senate Bill 627, making it clear that journalists can report on allegations of wrongdoing and receive protections under state law. Abbott signed the bill late Thursday night. The legislation was authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and sponsored by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi. The measure codifies a defense for accurately reporting on third-party allegations. That defense had been part of common law [...]
House expected to remove ban on media access to accident reports
AUSTIN - A Senate amendment to House Bill 2633 that would ban news media access to detailed traffic accident reports is expected to be stripped out of the bill in a conference committee. House sponsors of the legislation have said the bill by Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston, is expected to return to its House version with removal of the Senate language that was added Sunday night by Sen. Charles Perry, [...]
Open government advocates optimistic about Texas legislative session
By Eva-Marie Ayala The Dallas Morning News Originally published May 20, 2015 AUSTIN — Texans are likely to get greater access to campus police records and public meetings online. But after a group secretly taped lawmakers in Austin, some are wary of legislation that could make it harder to record audio without the consent of all recorded. A variety of bills still in play in the final days of the [...]
Lawmakers pass bill making college police records public
AUSTIN - The Texas House today passed legislation making private university police records subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Senate Bill 308 by Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, had already passed the Senate and was sponsored in the House by Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston. The open government bill passed on the House Local and Consent Calendar. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Legislature approves bill giving journalists ability to report wrongdoing allegations
AUSTIN - The Texas House today approved legislation that allows journalists to continue accurately reporting on allegations of wrongdoing in matters of public importance. The legislation by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, and Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, clarifies a recent Texas Supreme Court decision. The measure provides protection under libel law for reporting on third party allegations that shine light on matters such as contracting malfeasance, youth commission abuse and [...]
AG Ken Paxton sides with UT regent Wallace Hall on access to records
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz Austin American-Statesman Originally published May 12, 2015 Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion Tuesday siding with a University of Texas System regent seeking access to records from an investigation into admissions at the Austin campus. The UT System cannot bar a regent’s access to records unless a state or federal law requires otherwise, Paxton said. Even the federal student privacy law does not allow a [...]
Texas Senate panel considers bill banning one-party consent for recording
AUSTIN - Texas would join a small number of states banning one-party consent for electronic recordings of conversations under a bill the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee considered Tuesday. Senate Bill 1223 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would require all parties that are in a conversation to give their consent to a recording. Only 12 states have such a law. Most states and the federal government do not. There are [...]
FOI Foundation files court brief arguing Greater Houston Partnership is governmental body
AUSTIN - The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has filed a brief with the Texas Supreme Court arguing that the Greater Houston Partnership is a governmental entity and subject to the state open records law. The FOI Foundation amicus brief was filed Monday in an appeal brought by the Greater Houston Partnership against the attorney general's office. The FOI Foundation contends the partnership is a "governmental body" under the [...]
UT regents ask AG to ignore Hall’s request for information
By Matthew Watkins The Texas Tribune Originally published May 4, 2015 In the latest bit of infighting among the governing board of the University of Texas System, the Board of Regents on Monday asked the state attorney general to ignore one of its member's request for help accessing confidential student information. The board approved a letter saying the regent, Wallace Hall, doesn't have a right to "unfettered" information from the [...]