YISD trustees question board president’s actions
By Alex Hinojosa El Paso Times Originally published Oct. 18, 2013 Trustees of the Ysleta Independent School District are questioning whether the board president's recent actions to recess during a heated argument at a district board meeting violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. Earlier this week, Trustees Shane Haggerty, Ana Dueñez and Connie Woodruff each sent a letter to board President Patricia McLean, requesting a special meeting so that the [...]
Temple Daily Telegram outlines rights, responsibilities in open records requests
By JANICE GIBBS Temple Daily Telegram Originally published Oct. 14, 2013 Most information generated by a governmental entity, with a few exceptions, is public. “People need to remember the government works for them, we elect the government, we’re a democracy,” said Kelley Shannon, executive director of Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. “They should go in confidently knowing they have a right to review information they are asking for.” Any [...]
West conducts ‘do-over’ in city administrator vote
By TOMMY WITHERSPOON Waco Tribune-Herald Originally published Oct. 12, 2013 West City Council members have called a special meeting for Monday to hire a city administrator because their Oct. 1 vote did not comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act and is not valid. The council will meet at 5 p.m. Monday at West City Hall and is expected to vote — for a second time — to hire West [...]
Appeals court hears Bexar open records case
By John W. Gonzalez San Antonio Express-News Originally published Oct. 9, 2013 AUSTIN — An appellate court heard clashing arguments Wednesday over Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson's long-running refusal to disclose official communications in his private email accounts. The Precinct 4 commissioner, who in 2012 was ordered by a trial court in Austin to release transportation policy-related emails sought by the San Antonio Express-News, insisted anew that the communications were [...]
AG’s office says legislative documents must be released
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's office has ruled that a state lawmaker’s documents related to the American Legislative Exchange Council must be made public. The attorney general rejected requests by Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, and ALEC to withhold information related to their communications and legislation proposed by the council. The Wisconsin-based Center for Media and Democracy sought the records. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas filed a brief [...]
Experts: Bryan school board broke meetings law; district disagrees
By Caitlin Perrone The Eagle Originally published Sept. 27, 2013 Bryan school board members recently added an issue to the executive session portion of their agenda, just minutes before gathering behind closed doors - a move that several experts said was a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act. "Personnel" was the only topic listed for discussion during the executive session of the council's Sept. 16 meeting, but the board [...]
City of El Paso files to dismiss email case against Texas attorney general
By Cindy Ramirez El Paso Times, originally published Sept. 19 The city has filed a motion to dismiss its case against the attorney general over an open records debate, saying Tuesday’s release of emails from city officials’ personal accounts make the case moot. In its filing Wednesday, the city also asks for a continuance in its motion to quash a request by local attorney Stephanie Townsend Allala to take depositions [...]
Attorney General closes case against Victoria City Council
Melissa Crowe Victoria Advocate Originally published September 14, 2013 The attorney general's office is closing its open records investigation against the city of Victoria. Four months ago, a public information complaint was filed against the city of Victoria and one former and three current City Council members for records that have yet to be released In a letter dated Sept. 10, Assistant Texas Attorney General Neal Falgoust said the state [...]
FOI Foundation files brief supporting release of lawmaker’s records
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas in a brief filed with Attorney General Greg Abbott has urged that a lawmaker’s records related to the American Legislative Exchange Council be made public. The FOI Foundation brief supports the position of the Center for Media and Democracy, which sought to obtain records from Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, pertaining to ALEC, a conservative think tank. Klick and the American Legislative Exchange [...]
Key open government legislation taking effect Sept. 1
Two major open government bills passed by the 83rd Legislature become law on Sunday, Sept. 1. A modernization of the Texas Public Information Act contained in Senate Bill 1368 makes it clear that electronic messages dealing with official business are public, regardless of the type of message or device it’s transmitted on. That means the TPIA will adapt to modern modes of communication, such as text messaging, emails and instant [...]
Remembering tenacious DMN reporter Steve McGonigle
Award-winning Dallas Morning News reporter Steve McGonigle died Saturday after a long illness. Read his full obituary here, as published in The News on Aug. 25, 2013.
El Paso City Council to release personal emails related to ballpark
KVIA Staff Report KVIA.com (El Paso, TX and Las Cruces, NM) Originally published Aug. 20, 2013 EL PASO, Texas - City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to release a series of emails from the personal accounts of several city officials related to the negotiations in the run-up to the approval of the construction of a new baseball stadium at the site of the old city hall. Council did not say when [...]
Fort Worth lawmaker tries to block request for information on dealings with conservative group
By David Barer The Dallas Morning News Originally published Aug. 15, 2013 AUSTIN — A Fort Worth lawmaker has turned to the attorney general to block a request for information that could show her interactions with the American Legislative Exchange Council, an influential conservative think tank. The Center for Media and Democracy, a Wisconsin-based government watchdog group, requested through Texas public records laws in early July that state lawmakers release [...]
New laws clearly aimed at boosting governmental transparency
By Kolten Parker San Antonio Express-News Originally published Aug. 11, 2013 AUSTIN — As the dust settles on the 83rd Texas Legislature, open government advocates are applauding new laws they say leverage evolving technology to increase access and shine light on all levels of government for both residents and officials. “I think it was a really good session for transparency in government. It was kind of the buzzword of the [...]
FOIFT honors Rep. Todd Hunter, hears from Sen. Wendy Davis
PRESS RELEASE AUSTIN -- Prominent Texas legislators urged Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas conference attendees Friday to remain vigilant in their open government and free speech advocacy. Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, who received the organization’s inaugural Open Government Lawmaker of the Year Award, said he was raised in a family that valued free speech and noted that many elected officials support open government and First Amendment rights. The [...]
Capital Tonight: National healthcare debate plays out in Texas
Representative Todd Hunter discusses government transparency initiatives during the 83rd legislative session on the Thursday edition of YNN's Capital Tonight.
UT-Austin Cancels Regent’s Records Requests
By Reeve Hamilton, Texas Tribune Originally posted, 08.07.13 Over two dozen boxes containing open records requests from the University of Texas system have been retrieved for use by UT Austin. (Image source: Texas Tribune) Kevin Hegarty, the chief financial officer and custodian of records for the University of Texas at Austin, informed the University of Texas System on Monday that all pending records requests from embattled Regent Wallace Hall are [...]
FOIFT ED Kelley Shannon on Austin’s Capital Tonight
On a Friday segment of YNN’s Capital Tonight, Executive Director Kelley Shannon joined anchor Paul Brown to discuss the Freedom of Information Foundation and its mission, open government successes and failures during the 83rd legislative session, and the upcoming 2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport state conference. FOIFT will host its annual conference this Friday, August 9th at the Sheraton Austin. Speakers, panelists and honorees include, Sen. Wendy Davis, Sen. Judith [...]
Open government efforts are cause for celebration
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally published 13 August 2 An editor and reporter whose work in El Paso exposed a school test-rigging scandal and a state legislator from Corpus Christi who has worked to improve public access to government information are being recognized by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. In short, the group’s scheduled annual conference Friday in Austin is expected to be a celebration of and workshop on open [...]
Rep. Todd Hunter named Open Government Lawmaker of the Year
AUSTIN -- Rep. Todd Hunter, who has authored legislation to improve public access to government and protect First Amendment rights, is receiving the Open Government Lawmaker of the Year Award from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, is chairman of the House Calendars Committee. He served in the House from 1989-97 and returned in 2009. He has long been an advocate for open government. Hunter will [...]