State insisting it be given info on Twitter users
By Kolten Parker, Eva Ruth Moravec San Antonio Express-News Originally published July 31, 2013 AUSTIN — State police have demanded Twitter records from two users that officials allege made “terroristic threats” against lawmakers who pushed for abortion restrictions. One targeted user, Denise Romano, an Austin woman with a private Twitter account, explains on her page that posts are “satirical.” The second user’s account is anonymous and was unused for more [...]
Robert Moore, Zahira Torres of El Paso Times to be honored with James Madison Award for reports on school cheating scandal
AUSTIN -- El Paso Times editor Robert Moore and former Times reporter Zahira Torres, who together did extensive reporting on a school test-rigging scandal, are the recipients of the 2013 James Madison Award presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The award is given annually to those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to upholding the principles of the First Amendment. It will be presented Aug. 9 during the [...]
Transparency Committee Proceeding With Probe of Hall
By Evan Smith Published July 27, 2013 The co-chairs of the Texas House’s Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations have formally asked the University of Texas System to preserve all documents related to Regent Wallace Hall, against whom articles of impeachment are being considered, and to avoid retaliation against employees who may be called to testify. In a letter sent Thursday to Gene Powell, the chairman of the [...]
Conference updates: Davis to be keynote speaker + early registration ends TODAY, JULY 26TH!
Friday, August 9th, FOIFT will convene its 2013 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference at the Sheraton Austin. This year’s conference will focus on Transparency in Texas, examining the 83rd legislative session and open government issues in higher education. Registration for the conference is available through the day of the conference, but the early registration period ends this Friday, July 26th. Don’t miss out on the early bird fee! For [...]
Open government in Texas is getting more open thanks to new state laws
By Dave Lieber, Dallas News Published: 25 July 2013 11:04 PM Don’t fall off your chair when you hear this, but the Legislature has enacted major changes in how Texans can monitor their local, county and state governments. These changes are for the better for both officials and the public. Texas is the first state in the nation to create a new way to monitor the work and deliberations of [...]
Parkland Memorial Hospital refuses to release costly report on executive compensation
By Sherry Jacobson Originally posted 7.23.13 Top officials at Parkland Memorial Hospital have been working since last fall on a tough issue related to executive compensation. The hospital’s board of managers wasn’t sure it was paying top Parkland managers enough money to keep them from leaving for better-paying jobs. The hospital has experienced a sweeping overhaul of top managers since it failed a series of government inspections in 2011. Last [...]
Davis, other Texas lawmakers to address annual FOIFT conference
Sen. Wendy Davis, vice-chair of the Senate Open Government Committee, will be the luncheon keynote speaker at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas annual conference Aug. 9. Davis, D-Fort Worth, proposed a package of transparency bills during this year’s regular legislative session related to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Another of her open government bills ultimately included important updates to the Texas Public Information Act. For [...]
Victoria Advocate to file open records complaint against Calhoun County
By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published July 20, 2013 A month after Calhoun County ended a law suit with a former employee, it still refuses to release the terms of the settlement. The Victoria Advocate plans to file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s office seeking the terms under the Texas Public Information Act. The Advocate first requested the settlement agreement on June 18 to shed light on [...]
Conference deadline: Today is the last day to reserve a room at conference rate!
On August 9th, the Freedom of Information Foundation will be hosting its annual meeting at the Sheraton Austin. The deadline to reserve a room for this event at the conference rate of $159 per night for the nights of August 8th, 9th and/or 10th is today, July 19th. For more information on room reservations or to register for the conference, click here.
Tables Turn as Sandefer Requests Zaffirini’s Records
By Reeve Hamilton Originally published 2013 July 19 In June, a new entrant quietly joined the fray in the ongoing open records wars between the Legislature and the University of Texas System: Austin businessman Jeff Sandefer, who filed an open records request with state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, the former chairmwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee Sandefer — the founder of the Acton School of Business, a private MBA [...]
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. [...]