Transparency in Texas: How open is your government?
The 2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference “Transparency in Texas.: How open is your government?” will convene on August 9, 2013 at the Sheraton Austin – Capitol. This year, conference panelists and speakers will include: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake Tom “Smitty” Smith, Public Citizen Laura Prather, First Amendment attorney, Haynes & Boone Reeve Hamilton, Texas Tribune James Drew, The Dallas Morning News Craig McDonald, Texans [...]
Irving ISD Names Debbie Cabrera Interim Superintendent
By BILL ZEEBLE Originally posted July 15, 20 Image Credit: Bill Zeeble / KERA News - Irving ISD’s school board during 7am meeting when they announced Debbie Cabrera as interim superintendent. President Steven Jones wears the purple shirt. Trustee Lee Mosty was absent.The Irving school board named an interim superintendent today, and it’s Debbie Cabrera. Her permanent job is associate superintendent of business services. But the board is still not [...]
1st amendment lawyer: DPS erred in blocking reporter filming arrests
By Kolten Parker Posted July 15, 2013 In a public building with no restrictions on filming, Department of Public Safety officers blocked me and other reporters from filming the arrest of four abortion rights activists at the state Capitol Friday. A DPS officer moves reporter Kolten Parker away from the scene of arrest in the state Capitol July 12. At least 280 DPS officers were charged with containing thousands of [...]
Conference update | Speakers, accommodations + more!
The 2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference is fast approaching and we’ve got some exciting things to share! Speakers Conference speakers have been added to the roll and include: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake Tom “Smitty” Smith, Public Citizen Laura Prather, First Amendment attorney, Haynes & Boone Reeve Hamilton, Texas Tribune James Drew, The Dallas Morning News Craig McDonald, Texans for Public Justice Brian Collister, KTRK-TV [...]
FOIFT Board Member Chris Cobler Wins Community Leadership Award
Originally printed in Texas Press Messenger, Volume 88, Number 6, June 2013 Chris Cobler, editor of the Victoria Advocate, has received the Frank W. Mayborn Award for Community Leadership from the Texas Press Association. Cobler, editor of the Advocate for six years, accepted the award at the association’s summer meeting in Houston. Cobler is treasurer of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and is a board member of the [...]
Open government law updates
Three detailed updates on newly passed Texas open government laws are now available by clicking the “Legislature” tab of our website. First Amendment attorney Laura Prather, a past president of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, describes these new laws and how they will help the public and newsrooms.
Dallas, Corpus Christi newspapers win Spirit of FOI Award
HOUSTON _ Two Texas newspapers have been honored with the prestigious Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award for their in-depth reporting that promoted freedom of information and open government. Presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Press Association, the annual award was given Saturday to The Dallas Morning News in Class AAA and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times in Class AA. The Dallas Morning News won [...]
Open government, free speech protections to become Texas law
Legislation updating the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act along with measures that further protect freedom of speech and the press have been signed by Gov. Rick Perry and will become state law. Perry signed these open government and First Amendment protection bills Friday. They are among the major legislation supported by the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas during the 2013 regular legislative session, which [...]
Two UT regents accuse fellow regent of abusing power
Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, Austin American-Statesman Originally published on June 12, 2013 Continuing demands by a University of Texas System regent for records from the Austin campus amount to an “abuse of power,” according to two fellow regents. Regents R. Steven Hicks and Robert Stillwell charged in emails this week that the actions of Regent Wallace Hall Jr. are intended to discredit the leadership of UT-Austin. The emails, copies of which [...]
2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference – register online today!!!
Online registration for the 2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference is now available. The conference will convene on August 9, 2013 at the Sheraton Austin – Capitol. This year, conference panels will examine the 83rd legislative session and explore current open government issues in higher education. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for a full list of panels, panelists and speakers. Location: Sheraton Austin – Capitol, 701 E. [...]
Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas praises open government advances
AUSTIN _ Texans will gain greater access to the records and actions of their public officials under several measures supported by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas (FOIFT) and approved in the 83rd Legislature. FOIFT board members from across the state testified in favor of these leading open government proposals and First Amendment protections that won House and Senate passage, and now head to Gov. Rick Perry. “This is [...]
Isle to discuss legal options against newspaper after report
By JOHN WAYNE FERGUSON Originally published by the Galveston County Daily News on May 24, 2013 GALVESTON — The city council Thursday voted to hold a special meeting next week to discuss their legal options against The Daily News after an article unveiling the city’s plans for potential legal action over future public housing on the island. The article was based on a legal opinion written by Dallas attorney Terry [...]
Critics Say Bill Does Little To Make Judges More Accountable
By Shelley Kofler Originally published by KERA on May 21, 2013 The Texas Senate and House have passed legislation that’s supposed to rein in judges who are abusing or misusing their authority. It’s a problem KERA looked at last year in a special series, Texas Judges: Out of Order. On the House floor last Friday it took less than five minutes to pass Senate Bill 209, legislation designed to make [...]
The 2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference is set for August 9th
The 2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference is set for Friday, Aug. 9, at the Sheraton Austin – Capitol located at 701 E. 11th St. Conference in downtown Austin. For more information on registration, contact the FOIFT office at 512.377.1575 or email us at [email protected]. If you’d like to come in early, on Thursday, Aug. 8, you can book a room now at the low rate of $159. If [...]
Questions of Contradiction in Ethics Bills
By Emily Ramshaw and Aman Batheja Originally published May 16, 2013 This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature. All session long, freshman state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione has been clamoring for greater transparency, trying to force lawmakers and their relatives to disclose their contracts with government agencies and shine a light on closely held state pension benefits. When his first [...]
Disclosure Bills Get Little Love From Top Leaders
By Emily Ramshaw, Texas Tribune Originally published May 1, 2013 This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature. Six months before the Texas Legislature kicked into gear, Gov. Rick Perry told reporters that candidates for public office should be as “transparent” as they can possibly be with their personal financial interests. It has remained the term du jour for state [...]
FOIFT names new Executive Director
AUSTIN — Kelley Shannon, a longtime Texas journalist, has been named executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Dale Leach, president of the foundation board of directors, said Shannon would begin her new duties Wednesday. She replaces Keith Elkins, who resigned in January to accept a position with an Austin television station. Shannon’s journalism career includes more than 20 years as a correspondent with The Associated Press, [...]
Court says states can restrict access to public records
By Richard Wolf, USA Today Originally posted, 4.29.13 WASHINGTON — States may have little reason to restrict public records access to their own residents, but the practice is not unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous decision, allowing Virginia to favor its residents under its Freedom of Information Act, goes against media organizations and professional data miners that had sided with the law’s out-of-state challengers. During oral arguments in [...]
Court Must Now Decide If T. Boone Pickens’ Case Threatens Son’s First Amendment Rights
By Caleb Melby, Forbes Staff Originally posted 4.29.13 Earlier this month, I wrote about the vicious court battle taking place in Dallas between billionaire corporate raider T. Boone Pickens and his son Michael, who, through his blog, alleges that his oil billionaire father emotionally abused him, which he claims led him to become a drug user. Boone alleges that Michael is a cyberbully and has sued him for defamation, libel, [...]
Texas Legislature: Bills put transparency at risk; Supporters: Restricting FOI ensures justice
By Matthew Waller Originally posted 4.27.13 AUSTIN — House Rep. Phil Stephenson said he wants innocence until a person is proven guilty, and to that end, some information might be better kept away from the public. His bill, HB 1331, would specifically make confidential certain investigations and complaints received by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which would close off to the general public access to complaints lodged against [...]